Role purpose

The Director General of ICARDA provides innovative and visionary leadership to direct a growing scientific research program and develops new and creative partnerships in the countries of operation, with other CGIAR centres, National Agricultural Research Centres, and other relevant partners and donors in the public and private sector.

The Director General will expand ICARDA’s proven track record with private and/or public sector research and development-intensive enterprises and ensure that ICARDA is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading conductors of life-changing agricultural research for non-tropical drylands. Understanding the profound importance of ICARDA's presence in the countries where it operates, through privileged host agreements, means these countries are not just operational bases but are central to the organisation's identity and impact.

The role reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Manage ICARDA as its Chief Executive Officer

• Formulate and provide strategic leadership for ICARDA’s agricultural research program and foster commitment of its scientists, to help solve the challenges facing dry areas – namely food insecurity, poverty, and the degradation of natural resources, as laid out in the ICARDA 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy, and subsequent strategies.

• Advance the organisation’s growth by defining country-specific scientific profiles, reinforcing capacity where it is limited, and ensuring cohesive “One ICARDA” delivery across priority country hubs, with due focus on the long-term resilience of ICARDA’s programs in Syria, the headquarters’ operations in Lebanon and other hosting hubs.

• Be responsible for overall financial stewardship of ICARDA, including oversight of budgets, expenditure, and accounting policies and financial controls. Oversee allocation of resources and acquisition and disposal of assets across the regions.

• Strengthen the internal control and risk management environment to support operations in fragile and conflict‑affected settings; safeguard compliance; and drive multi‑year financial planning that links portfolio, capacity and realistic spend.

• Inspire trust from staff of different nationalities and cultures, leading an internationally dispersed senior management team through effective management methods and technologies.

• Ensure that there are clear lines of accountability and responsibility across the team that foster and maintain effective working relationships.

• Embed a learning culture that welcomes constructive challenge, champions safety and duty of care, and leverages digital tools (AI/remote sensing/data platforms) to improve scientific productivity and operational efficiency.

External representation and fundraising

• Spearhead and provide strategic leadership in resource mobilisation, alliance building, and partnership development with scientific, development, and policy communities in both the public and private sectors.

• Develop and grow the partnerships with national agricultural research institutes and collaborate with the other centers within the CGIAR to enhance ICARDA’s role across all regions.

• Identify new and innovative avenues of fundraising and partnership to attract and engage donors ranging from private sector entities, private philanthropy, government bodies and international organisations. Articulating a strong/compelling narrative to donors about the significance of investing in agricultural research and upscaling in post-conflict and fragile states.

• Develop long-term interest and support among governments for the promotion and advancement of agricultural research in non-tropical drylands.
• Represent ICARDA to the public to the highest standards at public events, conferences and to global and national media, acting as a powerful and empathetic advocate for the communities and host countries where ICARDA’s serves.

Governance

• Act as a steady collaborator with the Board of Trustees, ensuring that ICARDA’s governance is upheld to the highest standards and that the Board of Trustees can work and add value in an efficient manner.

Profile

• Deep knowledge and experience of working in Central & West Asia and North Africa (CWANA Region), Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or other drylands agricultural research systems.

• Excellent demonstrated skills in resource mobilisation, alliance building and developing partnerships with scientific, development and policy communities in the public and private sectors.

• Significant international experience in a senior leadership position, in agricultural research, water resources or close relevant areas of expertise.

• Demonstrate experience leading an organisation that has gone through periods of geopolitical or economic instability in the countries they operate is an asset.

• A nuanced understanding of the geopolitical and socio-economic dynamics of the Levant.

• Ability to lead, inspire, and manage change in a large multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment, to foster teamwork and create a Center of Excellence.

• Significant international research and development experience at the highest level, including the application of research results to product delivery strategies for developing countries’ conditions (addressing food security, poverty alleviation, human nutrition and health, and building agro-ecosystem resilience).

• A track record of progressively responsible leadership experience in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary settings, including management of an organisation or business unit in the public or private sector or academia.

• Demonstrated senior-level experience in financial management and organisational stewardship, including oversight of complex, multi-donor budgets; establishment and strengthening of financial controls and risk-management frameworks.

• Outstanding strategic and tactical communication, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.
• Master’s degree or above in a field relevant to agricultural, water resources, or related natural sciences in in developing countries.
• Excellent command of English is required, and good command in Arabic is highly preferred.
• A personal approach that exemplifies the values of the highest scientific and professional standards, with demonstrated commitment to collaboration, gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Terms of Appointment

This is a full‑time appointment. Additional hours and extensive travel may be required. The contract is for 5 (five) years, renewable based on satisfactory performance and board approval. One year probation will apply.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 31 March 2026 (23:59 hrs, GMT +2). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to undertake this assignment.