(RFP500316) - Senior Manager, Enterprise Systems

The Organization

The Alliance of Bioversity International and 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, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.

About the position

The Alliance, comprising two Legal Entities, Bioversity and CIAT, seeks to enhance its operational efficiency through the selection and implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The current ERP and its interfacing applications require a comprehensive assessment to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. The new ERP solution must effectively manage key processes across the Alliance departments including Grant Management, Procurement, Administration/Operations management, Human Resource Management, Financial Management Information System, Pipeline, and Funders relationships management (CRM).

The Senior Manager, Enterprise Systems, will oversee the entire project lifecycle, from system selection to implementation and optimization. Before selecting the new ERP, they will analyze the current business state, identify pain points, and define necessary improvements in collaboration with stakeholders. Once the system is selected, they will lead the implementation process, ensuring:

1. The ERP integration aligns seamlessly with the Alliance's operational workflows.
   
2. End-user training and ongoing support are effectively delivered.
   

    
   

   System performance is continuously monitored, with updates implemented as needed.
   

    
   

   Key Responsibilities.
   Lead the assessment of the current ERP system and interfacing applications.
   

   ·       Conduct a comprehensive evaluation and consultations with key stakeholders to understand the organization's needs and limitations.
   

   ·       Conducting a detailed evaluation of the current ERP system and its integration with other applications.
   

   ·       Gathering stakeholder feedback to identify pain points and desired features.
   

   ·       Documenting findings and provide recommendations for improvements or replacements.
   Defining Clear Goals for the new ERP System
   

   ·       Assemble a project team to drive the process of ERP requirements definition, software comparison, selection, and implementation.
   

   ·       Outline the Alliance challenges that the new system will help overcome.   
   

   ·        Document processes and nuances of business and high-level or unique process flows  
   

   ·       Identify and document critical business processes, high-level workflows, and organizational challenges the new system should address.
   

   ·       Identify Core Functionalities and Features
   

   ·       Validate project timeline and budget with Senior Management Team.
   Managing the selection process for a new ERP system that aligns with organizational needs.
   

   ·       Develop selection criteria and prepare a Request for Proposal (RFP) for ERP vendors.
   

   ·       Coordinate vendor demonstrations, evaluations, and technical assessments.
   

   ·       Lead discussions and negotiations (timeline, milestones and deliverables, instalments payment) with selected vendors.
   
   Overseeing the implementation of the chosen ERP solution, ensuring successful integration and user adoption.
   

   ·       Establish a project plan with timelines, roles, milestones, and budget estimates.
   

   ·       Oversee the implementation team and ensure effective communication with stakeholders.
   

   ·       Oversee data migration, system configuration, and user training.
   

   ·       Collaborate with vendors for timely post implementation service delivery and hands-on technical support.
   

   📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

   ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

   ·       Develop and execute a change management plan to facilitate user adoption.
   
   

   Requirements

   Requirements
   

   • Master's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
     
   • Fluency in Spanish and English is required; French is an asset.
     
   • Proven experience in ERP project management, including the implementation, integration, and optimization of systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or Workday.
     
   • Minimum 8 years of experience in leading complex ERP projects, ensuring successful execution within scope, timeline, and budget.
     
   • Certifications such as LEAN Management (such as Lean Six Sigma) are highly desirable.
     
   • Strong track record in leading cross-functional teams, driving stakeholder engagement, and managing organizational change.
     
   • Ability to assess, optimize, and redesign business processes to maximize ERP efficiency and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
     
   • Expertise in managing vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and ensuring service-level agreements (SLAs) are met.
     
   • Experience in developing and executing change management strategies to facilitate ERP adoption and user training.
     
   • Strong understanding financial, operational, and administrative processes, ensuring the ERP solution aligns with enterprise needs and future scalability.
     

      
     

     Terms of employment
     

     This is an internationally recruited position and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya; Rome, Italy, or Cali, Colombia. The initial contract will be for up to two (2) years, subject to a probation period of six (6) months and is renewable depending on the performance and availability of resources.
     

      
     

     This position is graded at BG11 level, with a minimum basic annual salary of USD89,885 per annum on a scale of BG01 to BG14 (BG14 being the highest level according to the Alliance job classification framework policy). We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits including but not limited to insurance, retirement plan, staff training and development, paid time off and flexible working arrangements.
     

      
     

     The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT is committed to fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority. We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, marital status, and gender identities. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
     

      
     

     Applications
     

     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 RFP500316 - Senior Manager, Enterprise Systems as the position applied for. Application and CV should be saved as one document using the candidate's last name and first name for ease of sorting.
     

      
     

     Applications closing date: Monday, 2nd June 2025
     

     Please note that email applications will not be considered.
     

     Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
     

     We invite you to learn more about us at:
     

                                        http://alliancebioversityciat.org