Business Operations Analyst - Africa- CIMMYT
IT, Operations
Nairobi, Kenya
Posted on Jul 12, 2026
About Us
CIFOR & ICRAF in action
Landscape Alliance transforms science into action, unlocking the power of trees, forests and agroforestry landscapes to advance planetary health and human well-being. It is the shared operating name of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), two independent International Organizations and CGIAR Research Centers working together through a common strategy, governance and leadership structure.
CIFOR and ICRAF bring together decades of scientific leadership in forests, trees, agroforestry, biodiversity, climate, food systems and livelihoods. CIFOR, headquartered in Bogor, Indonesia, advances research on forests and landscape management to inform policies and practices that improve human well-being, protect the environment and increase equity. ICRAF, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, harnesses the benefits of trees for people and the environment, generating knowledge that helps governments, development partners and farmers make farming and livelihoods more sustainable.
Overview
About our organization: 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. For more information, visit: cimmyt.org CIMMYT is hosted by World Agroforestry (ICRAF), a member of the CGIAR that is headquartered on United Nations Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya. We invite you to learn more about CIMMYT and World Agroforestry by accessing our web sites: www.cimmyt.org and www.worldagroforestry.org CIMMYT is looking for a: Business Operations Analyst – Africa The Business Operations Analyst – Africa serves as a strategic partner to the Regional BSD Manager by providing operational analytics, business intelligence, performance monitoring, governance support, project coordination, and reporting across all Business Services Department (BSD) functions in Africa. The role supports Procurement, Fleet Management, Travel Management, Inventory and Warehouse Management, Asset Management, Vendor Management, and other BSD operational activities by establishing performance monitoring frameworks, coordinating strategic initiatives, tracking action plans, supporting training and change management efforts, and transforming operational data into actionable business insights. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring regional visibility of operational performance, monitoring execution of strategic priorities, supporting compliance with institutional procedures, and enabling data-driven decision-making across BSD operations in Africa.
Job Description
1. Regional Reporting and Business Intelligence.
- Develop and maintain BSD regional dashboards, scorecards, and management reports.
- Extract, validate, analyze, and synthesize data from D365 and other institutional systems.
- Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual operational performance reports.
- Prepare executive presentations, briefing materials, and management updates.
- Develop reporting tools that provide visibility into operational performance, risks, trends, and opportunities.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning exercises through data analysis.
2. Strategic Project and Action Management.
- Coordinate regional BSD projects and strategic initiatives.
- Maintain project trackers, action logs, milestone reports, and risk registers.
- Monitor progress against implementation plans and escalate delays where appropriate.
- Facilitate follow-up on management decisions and agreed action items.
- Support implementation of process improvements, system enhancements, and transformation initiatives.
3. Procurement Performance Monitoring.
- Monitor procurement cycle times, sourcing activities, and service delivery performance.
- Track LTAs, strategic sourcing initiatives, and procurement work plans.
- Analyze procurement spend and supplier performance trends.
- Monitor compliance with procurement procedures and documentation requirements.
- Identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost optimization.
4. Fleet Management Performance Monitoring.
- Monitor fleet utilization, maintenance costs, fuel consumption, and vehicle performance indicators.
- Support fleet lifecycle planning and replacement reporting.
- Track compliance with fleet procedures and regulatory requirements.
- Develop fleet performance dashboards and management reports.
- Identify trends and opportunities to improve fleet efficiency and reduce costs.
5. Travel Management Performance Monitoring.
- Monitor travel expenditures, travel service levels, and vendor performance.
- Analyze travel patterns and identify optimization opportunities.
- Support travel compliance reporting and performance monitoring.
- Develop travel-related dashboards and management reports.
6. Inventory and Warehouse Management Monitoring.
- Monitor inventory levels, stock movements, and warehouse utilization across the region.
- Analyze inventory turnover rates and identify slow-moving, obsolete, or excess stock.
- Track inventory accuracy and reconciliation results.
- Monitor warehouse compliance with institutional procedures and controls.
- Support reporting on inventory valuation and asset accountability.
- Identify opportunities to improve inventory management efficiency and reduce operational risk.
- Develop inventory and warehouse performance dashboards.
7. Training, Compliance, and Change Management.
- Track completion of BSD training programs across the region.
- Monitor adoption of new systems, procedures, and operational processes.
- Coordinate training, follow-up and compliance reporting.
- Support development and maintenance of user guides, SOPs, and operational documentation.
- Monitor implementation of audit recommendations and corrective actions.
8. Governance and Operational Excellence.
- Support regional governance forums and operational review meetings.
- Prepare management reports and meeting materials.
- Maintain departmental risk registers, issue logs, and action trackers.
- Support audits, compliance reviews, and management assessments.
- Lead process mapping and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Recommend operational improvements based on performance analysis.
9. Stakeholder Coordination and Leadership Support.
- Serve as a coordination point between country offices, regional leadership, HQ teams, and external service providers.
- Facilitate communication and information sharing across BSD functions.
- Support preparation of executive communications and leadership updates.
- Promote standardization of reporting and performance management practices across Africa.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the Regional BSD Manager by providing analytical support and recommendations on operational priorities and risks.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Logistics, Finance, or a related field.
- Master's degree is an added advantage.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in business operations, supply chain, procurement, inventory management, analytics, project coordination, or operational excellence.
- Experience supporting regional or multi-country operations.
- Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Education, Experience and Technical skills
•Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Data Analytics, Information Systems, Logistics, Finance, or a related field. •Master's degree is an added advantage. •Minimum 5 years of experience in business operations, supply chain, procurement, inventory management, analytics, project coordination, or operational excellence. •Experience supporting regional or multi-country operations. •Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Personal Attributes and Competencies
•Business analysis •Strategic thinking •Project coordination •Stakeholder management •Executive communication •Data-driven decision making •Continuous improvement •Problem solving •Attention to detail •Ability to influence without direct authority.
Terms and conditions
•This is a Locally Recruited Staff (LRS) position. CIFOR-ICRAF offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and qualifications. In Kenya, employment contracts are issued under ICRAF in compliance with Kenyan labour law. Locally recruited staff are eligible for a non-contributory pension scheme, comprehensive medical insurance, paid annual and statutory leave, and learning and development opportunities in line with CIFOR-ICRAF policies. •The appointment will be for a period of two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources. •The duty station will be in Nairobi, Kenya. •We will acknowledge all applications but will only contact short-listed candidates.
