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.