We are seeking a Program Manager to provide administrative and operational leadership for the USAID Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement (ILCI) housed at Cornell University’s Department of Global Development. The vision for ILCI is to serve as a support system for national agricultural research institutions in target regions to identify, develop, pilot and transfer appropriate tools, technologies and methods, equipping them to deliver increased genetic gain and new varieties for key product profiles that advance economic growth, resilience and nutritional development goals of the Global Food Security Strategy.
ILCI encompasses multidisciplinary areas of inquiry: 1) Priority Setting; 2) Trait Discovery; 3) Genomics; 4) Phenomics; and 5) Breeding Informatics, 6) Institutional Capacity Evaluation, and 7) Cross-Cutting Themes (gender, youth resilience and nutrition). ILCI’s partners hosting Center of Innovation institutions include Costa Rica, Haiti, Senegal, Uganda, and Malawi, with likely expansion through competitive and commissioned awards.
The Program Manager will report to the ILCI Associate Director and facilitates the ILCI project’s day-to-day operations and will act as the primary point person for the project partners in project administration, interacting with both participating scientists and their institutions’ administrative staff. The Program Manager will ensure the project remains on target by working with ILCI directors to guide overall project management through monitoring and reporting of progress in the context of defined objectives, activities, targets, and outputs.
They will be responsible for coordinating ILCI conference calls, consulting with partners and project directors on financial and budget matters, liaising directly with the ILCI financial officer on project reporting, purchasing and financial updates and lead planning and implementation of international ILCI project meetings. The Program Manager will work with the ILCI communications officer, events coordinator, and financial officer, and contribute to advocacy efforts to mobilize and coordinate additional financial and scientific resources. The Program Manager will help manage Associate Awards as and when they are secured.
The applicant should have a strong understanding of project management, strategic planning, international agriculture, and trans-disciplinary and transnational communications. This position will be responsible for overall project administration, budget management, reporting and communications for a large international, multi-disciplinary team.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Cornell, and we are committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community. The search committee is particularly interested in candidates who through their service, research or teaching will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the community.
This is a fixed-term position with the possibility of renewal annually through 9/30/2024, contingent on successful performance, available work and continued funding.
The position will remain open until filled.
Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available for this position.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree; more than 3 years and less than 5 years experience or equivalent.
- Experience with international program management with numerous and diverse partners.
- Knowledge of international agriculture research and community.
- Strong understanding of international agriculture and communication and project management strategies.
- Proven sensitivity in working and communicating with persons from other cultures.
- Excellent organizational and communications skills required, applicant must be highly organized, efficient and detail oriented.
- Ability to lead and work in teams across time zones, but also work independently.
- Ability to listen to and synthesize sometimes-conflicting ideas from multiple stakeholders.
- Must be able to work under pressure, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines. Must be flexible and adaptable to fast paced work environment.
- Must be able to solicit cooperation and contributions from stakeholders within relevant internal and external cooperators and support groups.
- Demonstrated strong experience in proposal and report writing.
- Experience in Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Excel, project management software, and Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills
- Must be willing and able to travel internationally on a regular and sometimes extended basis to ILCI focus countries in Latin America, West and East Africa. This may require 2-3 international trips per year, approximately a week in duration in country.
- Maintain valid passport.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or minimum 5 years experience in program management field or equivalent education and experience.
- Minimum five years experience in managing multi-institutional, international management, and research programs.
- Working knowledge of French, Spanish or Portuguese.
- Demonstrated experience in group facilitation.
