Country Representative

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is seeking a dynamic leader with exceptional management aptitude and a deep understanding of water, land and agricultural development challenges and opportunities in Southern Africa.

The Country Representative - South Africa (CR) represents the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the CGIAR’s Water Systems Unit in South Africa. The CR also maintains strong links with the One CGIAR Regional Director and Country Managers, other CGIAR units, and national and international partners. The CR in South Africa also represents IWMI and the Water Systems unit at regional level. The primary responsibilities of the R-WSL are:

- Manage all staff, interns and consultants at IWMI’s assigned office
- Coordinate business development in South Africa and in the region to sustain and grow a viable funding pipeline including with other CGIAR units
- Represent IWMI and the CGIAR Water Systems unit in relevant national and regional forums and, in coordination with the CGIAR Regional Director, develop and strengthen relationships with government agencies, national research organizations and implementing partners, to expand and promote uptake of research outputs
- Country office management (people management; financial management; governance and risk management)
- Participate in research projects and programs aligned with personal expertise.

The CGIAR is a global partnership of research for development international organizations that aims to strengthen delivery of research and innovation, in order to tackle the complex and interconnected challenges to food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. The current CGIAR Research Centers and Alliances are the foundation of the One CGIAR and are in the process of adopting an integrated approach to how they operate in the implementation of the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework.

It is expected that the Country Representative will spend a minimum of 55% of their time on duties representing IWMI/the CGIAR Water Systems Unit, and managing people and operations, with the remaining time on project-specific research activities.

**Duties & Responsibilities**:
**Lead country program development and implementation**
- Develop the strategic direction of the country office, ensuring consistency with IWMI’s and the CGIAR’s Research and Innovation Strategy, strong alignment to country and regional development priorities and research needs, and complementarity with the roles of partner organizations.
- Coordinate development, funding and management of the project portfolio of the office through contributions to and leadership of the design and development of programmatic and project proposals.
- Build a strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration among country office staff, with other CGIAR and IWMI units and external partners.
- Manage country office staff to ensure delivery of high quality, timely research and outputs that meet the requirements of partners and clients.
- Provide substantive advice to the Director General, Deputy Director General, senior management and One CGIAR leadership on the country or regional strategic direction in relation to water systems science and planning of relevant programs and projects.

**IWMI representation**
- Manage IWMI’s relationship with the host-country governments for the Country Office in accordance with host-country agreements.
- Strengthen existing and develop new working relationships within the CGIAR and other research and development partners, national and regional authorities, and different stakeholders, to raise the profile and visibility of IWMI and CGIAR’s water systems science.
- Proactively contribute to CGIAR/IWMI’s fundraising efforts by identifying relevant initiatives, developing a close network with donors, coordinating the preparation of proposals, and providing strong intellectual inputs in coordination with relevant strategic program directors (SPDs), research group leaders (RGLs) and the Business Development Unit (BDU).
- Promote the uptake of CGIAR/IWMI research outputs in coordination with the SPDs and research groups.
- Lead country-level communications/outreach activities in coordination with the Global Communications and Resource Mobilization and Partnerships teams. One CGIAR resource mobilization and communications teams.
- Serve as IWMI’s primary point of contact for One CGIAR programmatic coordination and integration at country/regional level, and for the CGIAR Initiatives in which IWMI is participating, in coordination with relevant leaders of Strategic Programs and projects.

**Office management and administration**
- Take overall responsibility for the management of the office, including annual budgeting, risk and compliance management and monthly financial reporting.
- Proactively and effectively manage resources and promote stewardship, ensuring research and operations teams have and optimize the appropriate human, financial, and m