Reports to: General Counsel (Governance and Corporate)
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Main purpose of the position
The Corporate Governance Officer will serve as the primary coordinator for the ICARDA Board of Trustees. The incumbent will provide high-level administrative, logistical, and governance support to ensure the efficient functioning of the Board and its committees, in line with international standards of corporate governance in intergovernmental organizations.
About ICARDA
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international autonomous, non-profit research organization supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
ICARDA's mission is to reduce poverty and enhance food, water, nutritional security, and environmental health in the face of global challenges, including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development, and capacity development that consider gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organizations, other CGIAR research centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.
Main responsibilities
Board Coordination and Support
· Serve as the Secretariat support to the Board of Trustees and its committees.
· Coordinate and prepare materials for Board meetings, including agendas, background documents, and action logs.
· Manage the timely submission, verification, proofreading, and quality assurance of all documentation submitted to the Board.
· Upload and maintain accurate records of Board documents on Diligent Boards and other governance platforms.
Logistical and Administrative Support
· Coordinate Board meeting logistics, including virtual/hybrid/in-person meeting arrangements.
· Facilitate travel arrangements, per diem payments, and honorarium processing for Board members.
· Support the agenda-setting process for the Board Chair and maintain proactive engagement with all Board members.
· Act as the primary point of contact for Board members regarding administrative or procedural queries.
Governance and Policy Development
· Proactively identify areas of improvement within existing governance practices and propose policy updates or new governance frameworks.
· Ensure alignment of ICARDA’s governance practices with international standards and CGIAR policies.
· Support the General Counsel in corporate governance reviews, policy formulation, and institutional compliance initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
· Foster active and effective communication among Board members and between the Board and ICARDA Management.
· Draft formal correspondence, summaries, and briefing notes as required.
· Represent the Governance Office with professionalism and diplomatic tact, especially in cross-cultural settings.
Requirements
Education, qualifications, and experience
· A university degree in Law, International Relations, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field. A postgraduate qualification is desirable.
· Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in governance, legal affairs, or board/committee coordination in an international, intergovernmental, or nonprofit organization.
· Prior experience supporting governance bodies or Boards of Trustees is highly desirable.
· Prior experience with CGIAR or a similar research-for-development organization is a strong asset.
· Hands-on experience with Diligent Boards and other board governance platforms.
· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in Arabic and/or French is an asset.
· Strong organizational, analytical, and document management skills.
· Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills, with experience working in diverse, multicultural environments.
· Proactive, solutions-oriented, and capable of working independently and under pressure.
· High attention to detail, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information.
Benefits
Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits
This is a nationally recruited staff position open for Egyptian nationals for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months’ maternity leave, 15 days’ paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued need for the position and satisfactory performance. The first year will be a probationary period.
Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.
Only shortlisted applications will be contacted.
