Research Program Manager, Horticulture

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR); Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) seeks a senior Horticulture Research Program Manager to lead its horticulture portfolio and advance development outcomes. This EL2 specialist role guides investment priorities, shapes research agendas, and strengthens connections with governments, CGIAR centres, universities and development partners to improve livelihoods and resilience.

The successful candidate will translate horticultural expertise into strategic investments,

Qualifications

• Advanced horticultural knowledge with ability to translate expertise into strategic R&D investments.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills for senior decision-makers.
• Experience in building partnerships with governments, CGIAR centres, and partner institutions.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for the horticulture R&D portfolio.
• Identify emergent opportunities, risks, and partnerships aligned with country priorities.
• Broker partnerships across Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
• Advise executive leadership on portfolio strategy and governance.
• Lead program planning, monitoring and learning using structured approaches.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Research-for-development

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

PhD or Master's in Horticulture/ Agriculture/ Natural Sciences

Job description

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) – Canberra ACT

ACIAR is a small agency with a domestic and international focus. It comprises three branches: Research, Partnerships and Corporate.

Reporting to the General Manager, Research, the Horticulture Research Program Manager (RPM) will provide strategic leadership for ACIAR’s horticulture research-for-development portfolio. The role shapes investment priorities, identifies emerging research opportunities and risks, and brokers partnerships that connect Australian expertise with partner-country priorities across Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Working at an EL2 Specialist level, the RPM will advise on portfolio strategy, influence research agendas, and ensure ACIAR investments translate high-quality science into sustainable development outcomes for partner countries and Australia.

The Horticulture program supports collaborative, co-designed research that strengthens horticultural systems, improves livelihoods and nutrition, and builds resilient innovation systems. The RPM will guide investments across whole-of-chain and whole-of-system approaches, drawing on strong horticulture expertise while focusing on strategic investment, partnership development and research leadership.

We are looking for a science leader and partnership broker who can set direction for a complex portfolio, commission high-value research, and work with governments, CGIAR centres, national agricultural research and extension systems, universities, private sector partners and other stakeholders to shape shared research priorities.

The role requires deep horticultural expertise combined with the ability to translate that expertise into strategic research investment and development outcomes. The successful candidate will bring internationally credible research-for-development expertise, sound judgement and strong communication skills. They will be able to influence multidisciplinary teams, negotiate priorities across organisational and cultural boundaries, advise senior decision-makers, and represent ACIAR effectively in national and international settings.

The successful candidate will be able to provide strategic advice to the executive, identify emerging research opportunities and risks, and foster productive partnerships that deliver practical, equitable and sustainable outcomes.

The position is based at our headquarters in Canberra, and we are seeking someone with the ability to travel internationally to establish new investments or review existing project activities.

The key duties of the position include:

Lead ACIAR’s horticulture program and contribute to whole-of-agency priorities through the following duties:

• Set strategic direction for a horticulture research-for-development portfolio that improves productivity, profitability, food security, nutrition, climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
• Influence investment priorities across regions by identifying emerging horticultural research opportunities, risks and partnerships that align with partner-country priorities, ACIAR strategy and Australia’s international development objectives.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with governments, CGIAR centres, national agricultural research and extension systems, universities, industry and development partners to shape research agendas and strengthen research capability.
• Represent ACIAR in national and international forums and provide strategic advice on emerging horticultural research opportunities, risks, partnerships and portfolio strategy.
• Support program planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning using approaches such as Theory of Change, aligned with the ACIAR 10-Year Strategy, reporting framework and whole-of-government priorities.
• Identify and manage strategic, scientific and operational risks across the portfolio.

Other duties:

• Provide expert advice and strategic input across the ACIAR research portfolio, including peer review, investment design, portfolio reviews, internal committees and whole-of-agency initiatives.
• Ensure consistent adherence to ACIAR policies, procedures and systems.
• Provide expertise, experience and support in market scanning for research and capacity development related procurement activities.

Eligibility

• Australian Citizenship – our successful candidate must be an Australian citizen.
• Security Clearance – our successful candidate may be required to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance.
• Mandatory Qualifications/ Experience – our successful candidate will have a combination of advanced academic qualifications (typically a PhD or Master's in Horticulture, Agriculture or Natural Sciences, or a related field).

Getting to know the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is a statutory agency within the Australian Government’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio. It operates under the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Act 1982.ACIAR invests in collaborative research and knowledge-sharing partnerships to improve the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farming, fishing and forestry communities in Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific. We work with governments and institutions to grow food more efficiently, increase food system resilience, improve human nutrition, empower women and girls, reduce poverty, and manage natural resources sustainably. Our partnerships prioritise economic, social and environmental benefits for partner countries, and contribute to the development of our international and Australian partner institutions’ research, policy and leadership capabilities.Further information on our current projects, programs and priorities can be found at https://www.aciar.gov.au/.It’s important to note that ACIAR are responsible for commissioning research, not undertaking research.