SRI Executive Search has been contracted by The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to assist with the search for an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Managing Director, Asia.

About The Alliance

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives in a climate crisis.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and malnutrition.

These four interconnected global crises have put at stake the wellbeing of our planet for years. Fueled by COVID-19, their impact on agriculture, landscapes, biodiversity, and humans is now stronger than ever.

Reversing this negative trend is a challenge, but also an opportunity for bold choices and integrated solutions.

Established in 2019, The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) was created to address these four crises, maximizing impact for change at key points in the food system.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is a CGIAR Research Centre. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future.

For more information, visit: www.alliancebioversityciat.org/.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Director General, the Managing Director, Asia provides strategic leadership for the Alliance's research-for-development agenda and institutional presence across the Asia region. The role is accountable for shaping and implementing an integrated regional strategy that advances scientific impact, strengthens partnerships, and enhances organizational sustainability in alignment with the Alliance Strategy and CGIAR priorities.

Working in close collaboration with Research Leadership, Global Directors of Strategic

Partnerships and Engagement, People and Organizational Development, Business Operations and Finance, Head of the Legal Office and other corporate functions, the Managing Director cultivates and stewards strategic relationships with governments, research organizations, development partners, the private sector, funders and investors, and regional stakeholders to advance the Alliance's mission. The role identifies and develops regional partnership and resource mobilization opportunities, contributing to the Alliance's institutional priorities through coordinated engagement and pipeline development.

As the Alliance's senior representative in Asia, coordinating with the Director General and global functions, the Managing Director promotes the organization's visibility, reputation, and influence across the region, ensuring coherent institutional positioning while fostering collaboration across regional and global teams. The role also provides leadership for cross-functional coordination to enable effective regional delivery of the Alliance's research and development objectives.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose

What is the focus of the job encompassing the scope, depth, and difficulty of the work. It includes the geographical scope of the work (country, Region, global).

Lead the execution of the Alliance's Strategy in Asia, aligning research, institutional priorities, and operational capabilities to address priorities of countries and maximize impact across the region.
Guide the implementation of regional engagement, partnership, and resource mobilization priorities in alignment with institutional strategies, contributing to sustainable growth and long-term impact.
Strengthening the Alliance's positioning and influence across Asia by cultivating strategic relationships with governments, research institutions, development organizations, CGIAR entities, the private sector and other regional stakeholders.
Provide strategic leadership for the Alliance's regional presence by fostering an integrated operating environment that enables effective collaboration between research, corporate functions, and regional teams.
Ensure the effective stewardship of regional operations, governance, enterprise risk management, compliance, business continuity, institutional reputation, and organizational resources in alignment with Alliance policies and governance frameworks.

Engagement

Responsibilities related to internal and external interaction with different parties (employees, colleagues, supervisors, donors, organizations, stakeholders, beneficiaries, etc.), according to the scope of the position.

Partner with Research Leadership, the Global Directors of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, People and Organizational Development, Business Operations and Finance, Head of the Legal Office and other corporate functions to ensure effective collaboration and the consistent implementation of institutional strategies and priorities, policies, standards, and governance frameworks across the Asia region.
Build and sustain strategic relationships with governments, CGIAR entities, research organizations, development partners, funders and investors, and the private sector to advance the Alliance's research-for-development agenda in Asia.
Represent the Alliance in regional and international forums, strengthening institutional visibility, fostering strategic collaboration, and promoting coherent organizational positioning in coordination with relevant global functions.
Identify and advance regional partnership and funding opportunities, working collaboratively with the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement function to support institutional resource mobilization priorities and pipeline development.
Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing environment across regional teams, promoting cross-functional integration, knowledge sharing, and organizational alignment.
Champion and role-model the Alliance Culture Framework, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture while reinforcing the leadership behaviours expected across the Alliance.

Delivery

What the role needs to deliver to fulfill its purpose.

Deliver the Alliance's Strategy in Asia by achieving agreed strategic objectives, organizational priorities, and measurable research-for-development outcomes.
Ensure the sustainable growth of the regional portfolio by advancing strategic partnerships, supporting resource mobilization efforts, and maintaining a strong pipeline of opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.
Strengthen the Alliance's regional influence and reputation through effective stakeholder engagement, coordinated institutional representation, and high-impact regional collaborations.
Ensure efficient, compliant, and integrated regional operations by fostering cross-functional coordination, sound governance, and effective stewardship of organizational resources.
Build an agile, collaborative, and high-performing regional organization that enables innovation, organizational learning, and continuous improvement in support of the Alliance's mission.

Profile

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or PhD preferred) in Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, International Development and Finance, Public Policy, Business Administration, or another relevant discipline.

Experience

At least 15 years of progressive leadership experience in international organizations, with a strong track record in research for development, international development, development financing, or related sectors.
Demonstrated success providing strategic leadership across complex regional operations and multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams in multicultural and matrixed environments.
Proven ability to build, lead and sustain strategic partnerships with governments, research institutions, development organizations, CGIAR entities, financial institutions, and the private sector, contributing to resource mobilization and organizational impact.
Proven ability to represent organizations at senior levels, experience in high-level advocacy and ability to inspire and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience in driving organizational change and fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve strategic objectives.

Technical Competencies

Strong understanding of the research-for-development landscape, regional priorities, and stakeholder ecosystems in Asia.
Strategic leadership, systems thinking, and sound decision-making to translate institutional priorities into regional impact.
Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse cultural and institutional contexts.
Knowledge of partnership development, resource mobilization, and organizational governance within international organizations.
Strong competencies in securing funding through engaging and stewarding relationships with philanthropy, financial institutions, and private sector financing.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in the English language, with the ability to communicate with all levels internal and external to the organization.

Terms of Appointment

Organizational Unit: Asia Region

Reports to: Director General

Role Location

Malaysia

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you click Apply and complete the Application Form by 21 October 2026 (23:59 hrs, GMT +8). 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.

Internal candidates are welcome to apply.

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