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. For more information, visit https://www.cimmyt.org/es/ CIMMYT is looking for a Business Service Manager – Kenya who can lead and coordinate Business Services operations, ensuring that procurement, logistics, fleet and travel, inventory, and warehouse management effectively support research programs and country priorities. The position plays a key role in ensuring efficient and compliant service delivery within a shared services model, working closely with Country leadership, Programs, Finance, Legal, IT, HR, and other Operations functions. The incumbent will be responsible for strengthening operational coordination, ensuring compliance with CIMMYT policies, donor requirements, internal controls, and applicable Kenyan regulations, and contributing to the effective delivery of CIMMYT’s research and institutional objectives in Kenya. Key Responsibilities and Activities: 1. Procurement and Logistics Management • Provide oversight of end-to-end procurement of goods, services, and works, ensuring timely, cost-effective, transparent, and compliant processes. • Ensure procurement activities comply with CIMMYT policies, the ERP system, applicable Kenyan laws, donor requirements, and recognized good practices. • Review and provide oversight of Procurement Requests to ensure completeness, appropriate specifications, approvals, and supporting documentation. • Work with Buyers and Program teams to strengthen procurement planning and improve the quality and timeliness of procurement requests. • Coordinate vendor sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, onboarding, and maintenance of the vendor registry. • Ensure vendor selection processes are transparent, competitive, and compliant with applicable policies and procedures. • Monitor procurement transactions and proactively identify and address risks or delays that could affect program delivery. • Monitor delivery of goods and services against approved specifications, timelines, and requirements. • Coordinate with Finance to support timely payment of procurement transactions by ensuring complete documentation is submitted. • Support customs clearance, shipping, and related processes for international orders in accordance with applicable Kenyan regulations. • Provide accurate procurement reports and supporting documentation for management reviews, audits, and other institutional requirements. • Conduct periodic staff awareness and refresher sessions on procurement policies, procedures, and system requirements. 2. Fleet and Travel Management • Oversee management of CIMMYT's institutional vehicle fleet across Kenya, including vehicle allocation, scheduling, maintenance, insurance, roadworthiness, fuel management, and safe use. • Provide management oversight and control of fleet records, ensuring accuracy and completeness of vehicle documentation, assignments, maintenance and service histories, fuel consumption, and driver records. • Monitor fleet utilization, operating costs, and compliance with established controls, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, cost effectiveness, and value for money. • Ensure fleet operations comply with CIMMYT policies, applicable regulations, and established safety standards. • Provide oversight of institutional travel arrangements, including ground transportation, inter-station travel, and support for visitors and mission travel, ensuring appropriate controls, coordination, and adherence to applicable policies and procedures. • Ensure travel arrangements and processes comply with applicable CIMMYT policies, authorization requirements, and safety protocols, particularly for field and remote-location travel. 3. Inventory, Warehouse, and Field Operations • Oversee inventory and warehouse management across CIMMYT's Kenya locations and research stations. • Maintain strong controls over operationally critical inventory, including agrochemicals, fertilizers, fuel, consumables, harvested produce, and other materials. • Ensure warehouses are appropriately organized, with clear zoning, storage standards, stock movement controls, and regular physical verification. • Maintain accurate inventory records and ensure traceability through appropriate documentation, batch tracking, reconciliations, and stock controls. • Coordinate inter-station inventory movements and ensure that all transfers are properly documented and reconciled. • Support the implementation and effective use of Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) inventory and warehouse functionality. • Work with relevant teams to strengthen inventory controls, reduce losses, and improve visibility of stock across locations. 4. Governance, Compliance, Internal Controls and Risk Management • Ensure day-to-day business services operations comply with CIMMYT policies, procedures, internal controls, and applicable regulatory requirements. • Strengthen governance through effective documentation, segregation of duties, approval controls, and operational traceability. • Ensure appropriate controls are in place for the storage and handling of agrochemicals and other operational materials, including compliance with occupational health and safety requirements. • Identify and promptly