Director, People and Culture (Closing Date: 12th March 2024)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture(IITA), Nigeria

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) invites applications for the internationally recruited position of Director, People and Culture (Pamp;C).

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of the One CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food-secure future. Please visithttp://www.iita.org/for more information on IITA.

IITA is transforming the People and Culture (Pamp;C) Unit by significantly enhancing the responsibilities of the Head of Pamp;C role. We believe changing this position to a Director function will further align our organization's structure with our strategic goals and elevate the overall impact and importance of a Pamp;C department. The primary objective of the People and Culture Director is to develop and implement effective strategies, policies, and programs that foster a positive work environment, enhance employee experiences, and contribute to the professional growth and well-being of the organization's workforce. The Director will focus on attracting, developing, and retaining highly competent and diverse talent.

As a member of IITA’s Senior Management Team (SMT), the People and Culture Director will report directly to the Director General, providing regular updates on key initiatives, progress, challenges, and People and Culture-related matters as required.

The primary objective of the People and Culture Director is to develop and implement effective strategies, policies, and programs for the Institute, aligned with the CGIAR People and Culture agenda, that foster a positive, inclusive work environment, enhance employee experiences and engagement, contribute to the professional growth and well-being of the organization's workforce and enable the Institute to attract, develop, and retain a highly competent and diverse workforce to deliver on its critical mission.

Position Responsibilities

The People and Culture (Pamp;C) Director will have the following key responsibilities:

A. Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive IITA people and culture strategy aligned with the organization's overall goals and objectives and with the broader CGIAR People Strategy and Culture Framework.
• Collaborate with senior management to identify and prioritize Pamp;C-related initiatives that drive organizational effectiveness and foster a highly engaged workforce.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on Pamp;C matters to senior management and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide guidance and support in workforce planning, talent acquisition, and succession planning, leveraging an explicit competency and equity lens, as well as a focus on personnel costs and overheads.
• Ensure IITA’s Pamp;C initiatives are aligned with the business objectives of both the Institute and CGIAR’s global group working in partnership to contribute to organizational growth.

B. Leadership and Team Management:

• Provide inspiring leadership to IITA’s Pamp;C team, fostering a high-performance culture and promoting employee growth and development.
• Manage, develop, and motivate staff, enabling them to effectively carry out their responsibilities.
• Foster strong and effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including senior management and employee representatives of IITA and the CGIAR Global Pamp;C Group and Community of Practice (CoP).

C. Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Development:

• Develop and implement processes, guidance, and tools to support the identification of talent needs and the planning for its acquisition and/or development.

• Develop and execute effective, inclusive recruitment and selection strategies to attract and hire top talent from a diverse pool of candidates.
• Design and implement effective talent management programs, including performance management, reward systems, career development, and succession planning.
• Develop strategies to retain and motivate high-performing employees.
• Facilitate a culture of learning and development to enhance employee skills and competencies.
• Implement robust performance management systems that align individual goals with organizational objectives and promote a culture of continuous learning, development, and improvement.
• Develop and oversee talent development initiatives together with IITA’s Capacity Development Office, including coaching and mento

Job Rewards and Benefits