The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a dynamic and multi-skilled professional to join its headquarters in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, as the Board Secretary.

The Board Secretary at IWMI plays a pivotal role in ensuring effective governance and Board operations. The Board Secretary serves as the primary liaison between the Board of Governors, management, and key stakeholders. Responsibilities include coordinating Board meetings, maintaining official records, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting legal and governance matters. Additionally, the role involves facilitating Board member onboarding, training, and engagement while strengthening IWMI’s relationship with the Sri Lankan Government.

The Board Secretary leads the Board Secretariat, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and adherence to best governance practices, and directly supervises the Board Coordinator.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In collaboration with the Board Chair, Committee Chairs and Director General (DG), prepare, finalize and distribute meeting agendas, minutes, summaries, papers and other necessary documentation prior to and between Board meetings;
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of Board meetings and decisions for compliance and reference;
• Manage the inventory of Board-related documents and ensure secure storage and access to sensitive information, including those of standing and ad hoc committees.
• Ensure that all follow-up actions from Board meetings and decisions are completed effectively and that critical interim information is transmitted to ensure execution of directives;
• Supervise logistics for Board activities, delegating meeting logistics and Diligent platform updates to the Board Coordinator;
• Manage the Board budget, ensuring timely expenditure in compliance with IWMI policies and procedures;
• Support the Nominating Committees by maintaining a database of potential candidates for Board membership;
• Organize and facilitate the onboarding and training of new Board members to ensure their smooth integration;
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements related to corporate governance and Board operations, inclusive of existing governance instruments to ensure compliance with relevant laws and consistency with CGIAR’s governance documents (e.g. CGIAR Charter/Framework and Internal Rules Framework);
• Collaborate with the Board Governance Committee and management in updating key governing instruments, such as the Headquarters Agreement and Charter;
• Ensure Host Country Agreements are current and renewed in all countries where IWMI operates, providing support to Country Representatives to facilitate this process;
• Support negotiations with governments regarding Headquarters and Host Country Agreements, where required;
• Serve as the primary contact for signing Hosting Agreements with CGIAR centers and other institutions in countries where IWMI lacks legal status;
• Serve as a conduit between the Board and IWMI’s appointed legal firm in legal-related matters;
• Collaborate with IWMI’s Legal Officer to design and execute governance and corporate services agreements, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements;
• Maintain an excellent relationship with the Sri Lankan Government by working closely with the DG and the Sri Lankan representative on the Board;
• Liaise with CGIAR governance and legal teams on governance and legal-related matters.

Requirements

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Essential,

• Bachelor’s degree in law, governance or a related field.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in governance, legal affairs, or a similar role, with at least 3 years as a Board Secretary or equivalent at a multi-national and/or international organization.
• Experience working with senior management and Board-level executives.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing legal documentation, regulatory compliance, and governance frameworks.

Desirable,

• A Master’s degree or professional certification such as chartered secretary or governance professional.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Essential,

• Strong understanding of governance principles and Board operations.
• Familiarity with Sri Lankan legal and regulatory frameworks related to corporate governance.
• Knowledge of Board management tools such as Diligent or similar platforms.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including drafting reports and minutes in English.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Governance software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Capability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to liaise with Board members, government officials, and other stakeholders.

Benefits

This is a nationally recruited position and only Sri Lankan nationals will be considered. IWMI offers a competitive salary and benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and long-term disability coverage. The duration of the contract will initially be for a period of three years with the possibility of extension.

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications until the position is filled & applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references, which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.