Internal Vacancy Announcement

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.

The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About The Position
This position leads the Business Development and Diversification (BDD) Unit within the Strategic Partnerships, Engagement and Communications (SPEC) Department. The role is responsible for spearheading the Alliance's engagement with a diverse range of funders, generating innovative and strategically aligned funding opportunities, and driving the diversification of the resource base.

These efforts must be closely aligned with regional and research needs, ensuring that resource mobilization priorities reflect both scientific and regional strategies. Working in close collaboration with research teams and Regional Managing Directors (MDs), the Senior Manager will leverage donor intelligence, market analysis, and proactive relationship-building to position the Alliance to secure sustainable funding from bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic, and private sources. This function is vital to transitioning from reactive to intelligence-driven fundraising and enhancing the organization's agility and institutional coherence in resource mobilization.

The Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of strategies and plans, in collaboration with research teams and Regional Managing Directors (MDs), to generate and secure new funding opportunities aligned with the Alliance's research and innovation priorities.
• Explore and operationalize innovative funding modalities (e.g., outcome-based finance, licensing, venture creation) that expand and diversify the organization's resource base while responding to research needs, in close coordination with scientists and MDs.
• Cultivate relationships with key donors and funders across philanthropic, private, bilateral, and multilateral landscapes, ensuring long-term engagement and institutional visibility.
• Coordinate with Research, Regional teams, and other SPEC units to align opportunity generation with institutional priorities and co-design investment-ready concepts and pursuit strategies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the BDD team—managing performance, fostering continuous learning, and promoting a collaborative, empowering, and values-driven work environment.
• Manage a coherent business development plan, with clear KPIs, and a prioritized opportunity pre-pipeline, reporting regularly on funds secured and high-value opportunities advanced.
• Convene and coordinate time-bound internal task forces for high-value project origination, ensuring alignment of internal and external capacities and accelerating proposal development for targeted opportunities.
• Design, lead, and advocate for new policies, programs, and frameworks within business development and diversification that respond to emerging institutional priorities and client needs, positioning the Alliance as a center of expertise and thought leadership in innovative resource mobilization.

Requirements
Qualifications and Experience

• Master's degree in international development, Business Administration, Public Policy, Economics, or another relevant field related to resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, or innovation financing.
• Professional-level proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in business development, donor relations, or resource mobilization, preferably in international organizations, nonprofits, or research institutions.
• Demonstrated success in securing significant funding from bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic, and/or private donors.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing funding diversification strategies and building strategic partnerships.
• Extended expertise in substantive work and program/functional management.
• Proven experience leading and managing teams, ideally within multicultural or international organizations.
• Track record of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in managing (adjust according to area).
• Strong knowledge of international donor landscape, including trends and expectations in development and research funding.
• Expertise in designing investment-ready concepts, funding proposals, and innovative finance mechanisms (e.g., blended finance, licensing, royalties, outcome-based financing).
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills to engage with donors, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Familiarity with CRM tools, funding pipelines, and performance tracking systems.
• Ability to lead cross-functional task forces and drive initiatives in complex institutional environments.

Terms of employment
This is a nationally recruited position which will be based in any of the regional hubs where we have legal presence. The initial contract will be for two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six months and is renewable depending on performance and availability of resources.

This position is graded at BG11 level in a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.

The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications
Applicants are invited to visit to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include the position title on the cover letter
"Senior Manager, Business Development and Diversification".
The Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name, first name for ease of sorting. The Alliance collects and process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Applications closing date: 22nd October 2025
Please note that email applications will not be considered.

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