Overview
IAES SENIOR EVALUATION MANAGER: CENTER EXTERNAL REVIEWS Jobs in Nairobi County, Kenya at Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Title: IAES SENIOR EVALUATION MANAGER: CENTER EXTERNAL REVIEWS
Company: Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Location: Nairobi County, Kenya
THE ORGANIZATION
On behalf of CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES), the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), is seeking to hire a Senior Evaluation Manager for Center External Reviews, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future (https://www.cgiar.org/).
IAES delivers CGIAR’s independent evaluation plan and serves as the secretariat for the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) and the Independent Science for Development Council (ISDC).To learn more, read about IAES, CGIAR’s integrated partnership model, and the Centers and Alliances that are part of CGIAR.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Evaluation Function within IAES has two interrelated pillars guiding its evaluative work. One pillar involves conducting external evaluations of CGIAR research centers, a key responsibility of this position. The incumbent will work with another IAES Senior Evaluation Manager responsible for the research portfolio evaluation pillar, as well as IAES workstreams, CGIAR, and Center MEL colleagues, to ensure information from independent evaluations is timely, high quality, accessible, and available to support management, learning, and decision-making
The role requires experience in evaluation of organizations or research institutes, and a track record of: designing, planning, overseeing, providing quality assurance, analyzing, and reporting on evaluations. Experience working in independent evaluation offices or implementing evaluation in the context of research for development or academic institutions is desirable.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Role Summary
The Senior Manager leads the Center External Review (CER) framework, ensuring consistent standards, methods, ratings, templates, and review cycles across CGIAR Centers. The role manages evaluator selection, quality assurance, review delivery, and cross-Center synthesis products. It also prepares reporting for governing bodies, monitors implementation of agreed actions, and contributes to the CGIAR MEL Community of Practice.
Specific Responsibilities Reporting to the IAES Director and aligned with the multi-year evaluation plan:
Leading the Center External Review pillar
- Lead the CER component of the CGIAR evaluation program.
- Prepare timely evaluation information for CGIAR governing bodies.
- Ensure compliance with CGIAR evaluation policies, standards, guidelines, and IAES procedures.
- Manage quality assurance processes and contribute to peer review.
- Coordinate consultation and steering processes for CERs.
- Strengthen communication and knowledge management to promote use of evaluation findings.
- Organize validation meetings, workshops, recommendation refinement sessions, and after-action reviews.
- Represent IAES evaluation activities at relevant meetings.
- Support governance processes through evaluative inputs and knowledge management.
- Contribute to thematic evaluations and provide support across evaluation portfolios
Planning and Resource Management
- Prepare workplans and manage financial and human resources within area of responsibility.
- Support maintenance of a roster of evaluation and technical experts.
- Foster collaboration, learning, and knowledge sharing within IAES.
- Manage CER budgets in collaboration with the Senior Evaluation Manager and Finance Specialist.
- Contribute to IAES planning, reporting, and cross-functional priorities.
- Supervise analysts, consultants, and other project personnel.
Contributing to CGIAR Evaluation and MEL Systems
- Coordinate with CGIAR MEL professionals to strengthen harmonized evaluation approaches.
- Contribute to the CGIAR MEL Community of Practice.
- Support development and implementation of CGIAR evaluation plans.
- Assist with reviews of evaluation policies, frameworks, standards, and methodologies.
- Ensure evaluation information is accessible through CGIAR MEL and knowledge-management systems.
- Maintain engagement with professional evaluation networks and emerging practices.
EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Master’s degree in evaluation, organizational development, social sciences, or a related field.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, including 3-5 years managing complex evaluations or review programs in international, research, academic, or non-profit organizations.
- Strong experience in program, budget, and consultant management.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and engage senior stakeholders.
- Experience in multilateral organizations, evaluation offices, or research-for-development institutions is desirable.
- Expertise in data collection, analysis, synthesis, mixed-method evaluations, reporting, and knowledge management.
- Excellent written and spoken English; French or Spanish is an asset.
- Strong interpersonal, diplomacy, and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Teams, SharePoint, and online collaboration tools.
- Familiarity with evaluation and survey software such as MaxQDA, Kobo Toolbox, SurveyMonkey, or similar platforms.
Terms of employment
This is a two-year Internationally recruited position, hosted by the Alliance, subject to a probationary period of 6 months and renewable based on performance, availability of funds, and IAES needs. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with approximately 20% international travel.
The salary is level 11, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT offers an attractive remuneration package including non-contributory retirement plan, home leave and housing allowance, as well as medical insurance. Salary and benefits are denominated and paid in US dollars.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and strive for gender, diversity and inclusion in our staff, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic.
Applications
Please apply online through the website https://www.bioversityinternational.org/jobs/ by submitting in English a curriculum vitae and a motivation letter, and, optionally, a writing sample pertinent to the role advertised, along with the contact information of at least three references. Applications MUST include reference number Ref: (RFP500589)– IAES Senior Evaluation Manager: Center External Reviews. Please note that all application documents should be saved as one document using the candidate’s last name, first name for ease of sorting.
Note: The Alliance does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training). The Alliance also does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
Conflict of interest
IAES is an independent office of CGIAR. Applicants should review the IAES conflict of interest policy prior to submitting applications; prior to hiring, a declaration of interest is required. Only eligible and qualified candidates will be contacted. N.B. This position is not on the CGIAR research professional track, and this is not a research role. However, applicants with experience evaluating research, academic or scientific agencies, will be viewed favorably.
Applications closing date: 30th August 2026
Please note that email applications will not be considered.
We invite you to learn more about us at: http://alliancebioversityciat.org
For more information about IAES https://iaes.cgiar.org/
