Senior Operations Manager CSARC

About CSARC: The CIP – South Asia Regional Center (CSARC), Agra,
serves as a key hub for agricultural research and development focused on potato
and sweetpotato systems in South Asia. The center supports research initiatives
aimed at improving crop productivity, climate resilience, and sustainable
farming practices. It collaborates with national research institutions,
government agencies, private players and development partners to promote
innovative agricultural solutions.

Requirements

Key responsibilities:

Mission and purpose of the role

• Provide leadership and oversight in the planning,
  coordination, monitoring, and execution of CSARC's research, operational, and
  institutional programs under the overall guidance of CSARC Director.
  
• Working
  closely with Country manager and support service teams, provide direction for
  research support services, operational functions, and supply chain management
  to ensure efficient service delivery, compliance with institutional policies,
  and achievement of program objectives.
  
• Lead the
  continuous review and improvement of operational processes, governance frameworks, and management
  systems related to research operations, procurement, supply chain, risk management, and organizational
  effectiveness at CSARC.
  
• Develop and
  oversee integrated resource planning to support research programs,
  institutional initiatives, and capacity -building activities, ensuring the
  effective allocation of financial, human, and operational resources.
  
  

 Who you will work with

• Act as the
  primary liaison between the CSARC Regional Director's Office, regional country
  offices and internal teams, government agencies, donors, research partners, and
  other external stakeholders to ensure effective communication and alignment
  with institutional priorities.
  
• Lead the
  negotiation, coordination, review, and execution of institutional agreements
  (MoUs, MoAs, and LoAs) with government agencies, National Agricultural Research
  and Extension Systems (NARES), universities, public -private institutions, and
  other strategic partners.
  
• Foster
  effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and external partners to
  ensure the successful delivery of research programs, institutional commitments,
  and reporting obligations.
  
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee high -level meetings,
  government delegations, donor missions, executive visits, workshops,
  conferences, policy dialogues, and institutional events, ensuring strong
  stakeholder engagement and effective follow -up on strategic actions.
  

 What You'll
Accomplish

• Oversee the planning, governance, and successful execution of CSARC
  Coordination Committee meetings, Research Committee meetings, workshops,
  conferences, policy dialogues, capacity -building initiatives, and other
  governance forums, ensuring timely documentation and implementation of agreed
  actions.
  
• Provide oversight and coordination of infrastructure development
  activities, ensuring timely statutory approvals, contractor coordination,
  regulatory compliance, and completion of key project milestones.
  
• Coordinate cross -functional efforts to ensure operational
  readiness of laboratories, offices, research facilities, and farm operations,
  including installation of laboratory equipment, IT infrastructure, HVAC
  systems, utilities, and other operational assets.
  
• Lead the
  preparation, consolidation, and quality assurance of annual reports, project
  reports, institutional reports, management updates, audit documentation, and
  other strategic reporting requirements.
  
• Oversee procurement planning and coordination for research inputs,
  laboratory equipment, agricultural machinery, and operational resources in
  accordance with institutional policies and project needs.