Description
CIMMYT is a cutting edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. For more information, visit: cimmyt.org
CIMMYT is looking for an outstanding, self-motivated, and result-oriented professional for the position of Partnership Excellence Specialist.
Partnerships are central to how CIMMYT operates, they shape our science, deliver our innovations, enable resource mobilization, and amplify our impact. This role exists to make those partnerships work better: more consistent, better governed, and more clearly tied to results.
As Partnership Excellence Specialist, you will report directly to the Chief Transformation Officer and lead the design and implementation of a risk-based, systems-enabled partnership management framework across the organization. You will enhance how CIMMYT identifies, selects, manages, and monitors its partners, reducing fragmentation and strengthening the organizational capability to sustain high-quality partnerships at scale.
This is a hands-on individual contributor role. You will co-develop tools, frameworks, and processes, in collaboration with colleagues working across Finance, Programs, Legal, Grants Management, and IT, and then support teams in adopting and using them. A near-term priority will be translating internal audit findings into concrete improvements to financial oversight, compliance monitoring, and systems controls across the partnership lifecycle. Over time, the role will evolve from framework-building toward continuous improvement and stewardship of the partnership management function.
This role requires strong financial acumen, with the ability to interpret budgets and financial reports, project funding structures, and risk indicators, and convert these into actionable organizational tools and controls, monitoring approaches, and data-driven insights. The role is not responsible for financial transactions or accounting operations.
The location of this position will be CIMMYT’s headquarters in Texcoco, near Mexico City.
Key Responsibilities
1. Partnership Lifecycle Framework
• Design and implement standardized process improvement across the full partnership lifecycle: identification/selection, due diligence, contracting and negotiation, management and monitoring, and renewal/exit.
• Develop workflows, templates, and documentation standards that enable consistent, auditable practice across programs and partner categories, aligned with existing institutional policies and roles.
• Capture and document lessons learned and best practices and translate these into targeted improvements in process design and continuous improvement initiatives.
2. Technical and Financial Performance Frameworks, Tools & Data Solutions
• Support the development of partnership trackings system covering contractual agreements, deliverables, financial and technical performance metrics, risks, and project progress.
• Support the development and implementation of consistent standard organizational requirements for partner financial reporting and expenditure information, ensuring consistency, transparency, and auditability.
• Develop tools to track reporting timelines, gaps, and follow-up actions, including visibility for escalation where needed.
• Work closely with Finance, Legal, and ERP teams to ensure solutions are aligned with or enhancing existing policies, workflows, and system capabilities, without duplicating roles or controls.
3. Partner Selection & Due Diligence Enablement
• Design structured tools, criteria, and templates to support transparent, consistent partner selection.
• Coordinate enhancements to CIMMYT's risk-based due diligence approach, calibrated by partner type, funding level, and risk profile.
• Improve tracking and visibility for due diligence status; identify opportunities to reduce timelines and avoid duplication of effort.
4. Systems, Data & Analytics
- Improve structure, accessibility, and consistency of partnership-related data across systems and repositories.
- Develop practical analytical tools and dashboards to support portfolio-level visibility of partner activity, financial data, and risks, leveraging data analytics and business intelligence (BI) approaches.
- Enhance and roll out improved data standards and practices (e.g., minimum data fields, naming conventions) to improve consistency and reliability.
- Work with ERP and IT teams to support the development of new requirements for pragmatic system enhancements and integration approaches.
6. Risk & Lifecycle Visibility
· Design and implement tools and frameworks for consistent risk identification, tracking, and escalation across the partnership lifecycle, aligned with risk management and internal controls frameworks.
· Establish and support the implementation of quality assurance protocols for partnership agreements and deliverables.
7. Implementation & Stakeholder Collaboration
- Co-design and roll out solutions collaboratively with Finance, Programs, Legal, Donor Relations, ERP, and other stakeholders.
- Design and deliver targeted training for CIMMYT teams on partnership management practices, financial monitoring, and donor compliance.
- Apply a structured change management approach, with stage gates, piloting, and user feedback, to minimize disruption to ongoing delivery commitments.
- Translate financial and technical partnership management concepts into clear, practical guidance and tools for diverse users.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as business management, finance, agriculture, international development, or a similar related field.
• 5+ years supporting oversight of partnership management systems in complex organizations; financial management, consulting, or transformational roles in NGOs, international organizations, or research institutions.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to interpret partner financial reports, funding structures, and risk indicators, and translate these into practical frameworks, controls, and monitoring approaches.
• Experience or exposure to financial controls, internal controls frameworks, audit remediation, or risk management in grant- or partnership-based environments.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing frameworks, procedures, tools, or processes (e.g., financial monitoring, due diligence, risk management, or performance tracking).
• Proven ability to translate complex financial and operational concepts and processes into practical, user-friendly tools, templates, and guidance for diverse stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience in developing dashboards, trackers, or analytical tools (e.g., advanced Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent) including data analytics and data visualization tools to support decision-making.
• Experience working with multiple systems and data sources, with the ability to structure, reconcile, and present data in a meaningful and actionable way.
• Experience working in cross-functional environments, collaborating with Finance, Programs, Legal, Grants management, and/or IT/ERP teams to implement solutions.
• Exposure to risk-based due diligence, partner assessments, or compliance frameworks.
• Experience in change management or rollout of new tools and processes, including user training and adoption support.
• Strong problem-solving and implementation skills, with the ability to independently design, build, test, and refine solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders and drive adoption of new tools and processes.
• Experience working in international and multicultural environments, preferably in Global South contexts.
• Proficiency with collaboration and document management platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Teams, Google Workspace).
Desirable / Added Advantage
· Master’s degree in a relevant field.
· Professional certifications in process improvement, transformation, or project delivery (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, PMP, PRINCE2, Agile) are highly desirable.
· Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Dynamics 365) and contract management platforms (e.g., Icertis), including working with system constraints and enhancements.
· Exposure to data governance, documentation standards, or information management practices.
Benefits
The position is for an initial fixed-term for three (3) years, after which further employment is subject to performance and the continued availability of funds. CIMMYT’s internationally competitive salary and benefits include housing allowance, car, comprehensive health and life insurance, assistance for children’s education, paid vacation, annual home travel airfare, contribution to a retirement plan, and generous assistance with relocation shipment.
Applications must include a CV with contact details (telephone and email address) of 3 work-related references along with the confirmation that Recruitment can contact them) and a cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
This position will remain open until filled.
CIMMYT is an equal opportunity employer. It fosters a multicultural work environment that values gender equality, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Women are encouraged to apply.