Operational Excellence Manager

CIMMYT is a cutting-edge, non-profit, international organization dedicated to solving tomorrow’s problems today. It is entrusted with fostering improved quantity, quality, and dependability of production systems and basic cereals such as maize, wheat, triticale, sorghum, millets, and associated crops through applied agricultural science, particularly in the Global South, through building strong partnerships. This combination enhances the livelihood trajectories and resilience of millions of resource-poor farmers, while working towards a more productive, inclusive, and resilient agrifood system within planetary boundaries. CIMMYT is a core CGIAR Research Center, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources.

CIMMYT is seeking a dynamic, self-motivated, and service-oriented professional for the position of Operational Manager to work within the Business Services Department of CIMMYT.

The position will be based at CIMMYT headquarters in Texcoco, State of Mexico, near Mexico City.

Specific duties :

• Act as the global process keeper for key operational processes, ensuring processes are standardized, documented, continuously improved, and fully aligned with strategic corporate goals and compliance standards.
• Mentor and lead high-impact cross-functional teams globally.
• Champion continuous improvement projects to optimize end-to-end operational performance. Engage teams proactively to solve complex operational challenges, increase productivity, and enhance quality standards.
• Develop, implement, and manage a robust KPI system to standardize and measure operational effectiveness globally.
• Establish governance processes and benchmarking mechanisms that foster transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Conduct comprehensive Operational Maturity Assessments across various locations. Provide detailed gap analyses and devise strategic roadmaps customized to each site’s improvement trajectory, monitoring implementation effectiveness and progress regularly.
• Lead, energize, and expand a global community of Operational Excellence practitioners.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs, facilitate best-practice sharing, and build capability across regions and teams through structured interactions and platforms.
• Lead the strategic development, customization, and global implementation of operational excellence frameworks such as Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and Agile Operations tailored to the specific needs and maturity of regional operations. Ensure methodologies are consistently applied, driving measurable and sustainable improvement.
• Identify and champion the adoption of technological innovations including automation, digital twins, AI, and ML tools to enhance efficiency. Oversee global rollouts and facilitate the training and adoption processes, maximizing technology impact.

Requirements

Benefits

CIMMYT offers an attractive remuneration package and support for continuous professional development. In addition to the provisions of the Mexican Labor Law our package of benefits includes year-end bonus (40 days), vacation premium (56%), life and medical insurance, supermarket coupons, savings fund, social Mexican benefits (IMSS, SAR / Infonavit).