The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT delivers research-based solutions that harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people's lives. Alliance solutions address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. The Alliance works with local, national and multinational partners across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and with the public and private sectors. The Alliance is part of CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
About the position: Based in Rome, Italy, the Manager, Regional Operations and Finance (ROF) – Europe leads the delivery of finance and operations services in Italy, France, and Belgium. Reporting to the Global Director of Business Operations and Finance, the role ensures effective service provision in procurement, travel, hosting arrangements, protocol, facilities, and general administration. The manager is responsible for aligning regional operations with institutional standards, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and supporting hosted entities.
Key duties and responsibilities:
- Lead and coordinate the delivery of operations and finance services across Alliance offices in Italy, France, and Belgium, ensuring compliance with policies, local regulations, and service standards.
- Oversee procurement, travel, hosting, protocol, facilities, and general administration, driving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
- Manage staff performance, planning, and development within the unit.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance service quality and support hosted entities.
- Coordinate with global finance and operations teams; serve as focal point for internal clients and hosted entities in Europe.
- Liaise with external stakeholders, including service providers, partner institutions, and local authorities.
- Monitor service performance, establish quality metrics, and implement corrective actions.
- Guarantee operational readiness and contract compliance for hosting agreements, supporting accurate cost allocation.
- Lead the development and execution of annual work plans and budgets for the unit.
Required qualifications and experience: Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field. Professional-level proficiency in English (spoken and written). Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in operations and financial management, preferably within international or multi-country organizations. Demonstrated experience overseeing procurement, travel, facility management, and administrative services in complex institutional settings. Proven experience leading and developing multicultural teams across multiple locations. Familiarity with hosting arrangements and managing operational partnerships. Strong record of integrity and compliance. Experience with ERP systems and digital tools is desirable.
Terms of employment: Nationally recruited staff position based in Rome, Italy. Initial contract of up to one (1) year with a six (6) month probation period, renewable depending on performance and availability of resources. Graded at BG10 level, with a minimum annual basic salary of Euro 60,670. Eligible applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Italy (Italian nationals, EU citizens with registration from the Anagrafe, or non-EU citizens holding a valid Italian work permit).
Closing date: 17 September 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are invited to visit https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers to get full details of the position and to submit their applications. Applications MUST include reference number RFP500596 – Manager, Regional Operations and Finance Europe as the position applied for. Cover letter and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name, first name for ease of sorting. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications closing date: 17 September 2026. Please note that email applications will not be considered.