Senior Manager Ethics And Business Conduct Policy And Governance H/F - CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is carried out by 13 CGIAR Research Centers in close collaboration with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. These 13 Research Centers have close to 10,000 staff based in over 50 countries.

Established in 2016, the CGIAR System Organization provides governance to the CGIAR System in collaboration with the System Council and has about 60 staff. The System Organization is committed to cultivating a work environment that reflects teamwork, gender equality, and respect for diversity. We endeavor to foster a multicultural environment that is free of any form of harassment and discrimination; and that embraces and values individuals regardless of age, ethnicity, race, gender, national or social origin, marital status, or any other form of personal identity.

Please find more information about CGIAR at www.cgiar.org.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Date Published: 28 August 2026

Closing Date for Applications: 30 September 2026 at 4pm CEST.

About CGIAR

CGIAR has an ambitious agenda to deliver science and innovation and advance the transformation of food, land, and water systems to deliver diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets, and ensure improved livelihoods and greater social equality. CGIAR operates as a matrix with each Center having its own governance and leadership structure operating alongside the integrated governance and leadership arrangements of CGIAR as a whole.

About the position

The Compliance Senior Manager provides senior technical leadership to support the Integrated Partnership Ethics and Business Conduct (EBC) Executive in implementing and continuously improving the CGIAR Ethics and Business Conduct Framework. The role serves as the principal governance and policy advisor to the EBC Executive and leads the development of governance arrangements, operational guidance, reporting standards, capacity-building initiatives, and framework implementation activities across the Integrated Partnership. The position does not undertake case management, investigations, disciplinary decision-making, or employer-of-record responsibilities, which remain with Centers and the System Organization in accordance with the Escalation Framework.

The primary purpose of the role is to lead the design, governance, and operationalization of the Ethics and Business Conduct (EBC) Framework across CGIAR's Integrated Partnership, establishing clear standards, procedures, and reporting approaches that ensure consistency, accountability, and effective oversight; drive policy development and continuous improvement, build capability across stakeholders, and ensure timely, high-quality governance materials inform decision-making by senior bodies and leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose

• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of the EBC Escalation Framework, ensuring coherent, replicable, and comparable approaches across the Integrated Partnership.
• Design and maintain EBC governance structures, operating models, procedures, and standards to strengthen accountability and alignment with CGIAR-wide governance arrangements.
• Serve as principal technical authority for EBC policy and procedural development, drafting and maintaining standard operating procedures, guidance notes, reporting protocols, escalation tools, and governance procedures.
• Establish and maintain classification frameworks, reporting taxonomies, escalation decision matrices, and functional operating standards that enable robust analytics and oversight. · Provide strategic advice to the IP EBC Executive on governance risks, implementation challenges, and policy gaps, recommending solutions that strengthen effectiveness and integrity.
• Lead priority EBC strategic improvement initiatives and benchmarking reviews, ensuring recommendations are actionable and embedded into functional practices.

Engagement

• Coordinate and prepare high-quality governance reports and briefing materials for senior bodies (e.g., Integrated Partnership Board - Audit, Finance and Risk Committee; Audit and Oversight Committee; System Council; Group Leadership Team - please confirm official names), ensuring content reflects risks, trends, system maturity, and framework implementation progress.
• Coordinate the EBC function meetings, facilitate collaboration among Center EBC Leads, and promote consistency in interpretation and application of framework requirements.
• Engage governance and assurance stakeholders to align EBC processes with broader CGIAR governance arrangements and combined assurance expectations.
• Represent the IP EBC Executive in technical and working-level forums, as delegated, advancing shared understanding of policy and governance requirements.
• Build and sustain networks and communities of practice to share lessons learned and emerging good practice in ethics, compliance, and governance.

Delivery

• Deliver aggregated reporting, governance dashboards, maturity assessments, and implementation status reports, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility for decision-makers.
• Develop and roll out training strategies, materials, and outreach initiatives; support onboarding of EBC Leads and governance stakeholders to strengthen capability.
• Plan and manage strategic projects, including scopes, timelines, budgets, risks, and consultant deliverables, ensuring outputs meet quality standards and add value.
• Maintain authoritative repositories, tools, and templates for EBC policies and guidance, ensuring document control, traceability, and version integrity.
• Track and report progress on recommendations arising from governance and framework reviews, enabling continuous improvement and accountability.

The compensation package includes a competitive salary with advantageous tax conditions, comprehensive insurance coverage, a retirement plan, and an education grant. The relocation and repatriation package covers a lump sum allowance, temporary living expenses, shipping allowance, and travel costs for staff members and their eligible dependents.

Staff are entitled to 30 working days of annual leave and 22 working days of medical leave per year, as well as parental or other special leave as applicable. The organization observes 10 official holidays annually and offers flexible work arrangements.

Counselling and well-being support are also available upon request.

System Organization appointments are typically for a fixed term of three years, with a possibility of renewal subject to effective performance, operational needs, and funding.

Please note that the CGIAR System Organization has a mandatory retirement age of 65 years, which may affect the duration of an appointment.

Submitting Your Application

All applications must be submitted online by clicking the Apply button below. If you require assistance or encounter any issues when submitting your application, please contact ****@****.** and include the position title in the subject line. Please note that applications sent to this email address will not be considered.

Please ensure that your resume and cover letter are in English and do not include your marital status, age, or photograph. Documents submitted in any language other than English will not be reviewed.

CGIAR is committed to building fair, safe, and inclusive workplaces. We believe that diversity drives innovation, strengthens excellence, and is fundamental to our mission. We offer a multicultural, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment, with a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and flexible working arrangements. We are intentional about creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity.

We therefore encourage applications from individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities. If you require an accommodation due to a disability, please email ****@****.** with Diversity and Inclusion Accommodation in the subject line.

Candidates should ensure that all communications with CGIAR are sent only to email addresses ending in cgiar.org. CGIAR staff will never charge fees or request payment from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process.

Education, Certifications and Training

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; Master's degree is preferred.
• Formal professional membership or accreditation in governance and ethics or related field is desirable.

Experience

• Progressively responsible experience in ethics, compliance, governance, policy development, risk management, oversight, or related functions within an international or similarly complex organization is required.
• Demonstrated experience preparing governance reports, briefing materials, and presenting recommendations to executive leadership, boards, committees, or other senior governance bodies is required.
• Experience working with boards, governing bodies, audit and risk committees, or comparable oversight structures in an international organization is desirable.

Key Competences

Core competencies

• Accountability: Takes accountability for actions and their impact on organizational success, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of team, project or program outcomes. Shapes organizational policies to uphold and reflect high ethical standards.
• Collaboration and Communication: Expresses ideas clearly and confidently, tailoring messages to the audience, adapting responses based on verbal a