Enterprise AI Transformation Lead Consultant (with hands on delivery)

CGIAR

About The Position

Consultancy Contract. Project Start Date: May 2026. Project Duration: Six (6) months - Extension possible contingent on expansion of use cases Deadline for Applications: 20 April 2026 at midnight CET About CGIAR CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. CGIAR science is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services. Its research is conducted closely with hundreds of partners, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, development organizations, and the private sector. Background and Objectives The CGIAR System Organization (SO) is implementing an AI Strategy to enable an Enterprise AI Transformation that strengthens governance, improves executive decision making, and increases operational efficiency in a highly volatile funding environment. While the SO benefits from a strong, Microsoft centered digital backbone, decision making and operational processes remain fragmented and largely retrospective, limiting the organization’s ability to anticipate risks, respond proactively, and reduce leadership burden. The AI Strategy introduces an AI enabled executive decision and operations layer that integrates data across core enterprise platforms—including ERP, CRM, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), collaboration tools, and other enterprise and specialist systems introduced over time. The objective is to move beyond descriptive reporting toward proactive, model driven steering, using AI advisers to support leadership, strengthen institutional memory, and improve governance and operational outcomes across the organization. The objective of this consultancy is to provide product level coordination and hands on delivery enablement for Enterprise AI Transformation . The consultant will ensure that the AI Strategy is translated into a structured, governed, and phased product delivery, with clear milestones, aligned stakeholders, managed risks, and measurable outcomes. The role combines two complementary dimensions: Working Agents Delivery: hands on delivery of the design, build, and operation of AI solutions, leveraging Microsoft low code platforms (notably Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry), in close collaboration with internal teams and external vendors. AI product coordination: structuring, coordinating, and governing AI initiatives across the System Organization to ensure coherence, prioritization, and alignment with enterprise governance and strategic objectives; and external vendors.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience leading or managing complex digital, data, or AI transformation products or initiatives in an enterprise context.
Demonstrated experience working closely with senior leadership and governance bodies, translating strategic objectives into actionable delivery.
Proven hands on experience designing, building, and operating AI agents using Microsoft low code platforms—particularly Copilot Studio and Foundry—or comparable enterprise AI platforms.
Practical experience integrating AI solutions with enterprise data sources and delivering AI enabled decision support or operational use cases.
Strong coordination, communication, and executive level reporting skills, with the ability to bridge technical and non technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in international and/or multi entity organizations, with an understanding of complex governance and operating models.
Familiarity with the Microsoft enterprise ecosystem, including Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure AI services.
Demonstrated experience managing and coordinating external vendors and consultants, ensuring delivery against agreed scope, timelines, and outcomes.

Responsibilities

Deliver design, build, configuration, governance, and lifecycle management of AI agents, with a strong focus on Microsoft low code platforms (notably Copilot Studio and Foundry) and related Microsoft technologies.
Support the integration of AI solutions with enterprise data sources and systems, ensuring architectural coherence, security, compliance, and alignment with enterprise data and AI standards.
Translate the approved AI Strategy into a set of clearly defined Enterprise AI Transformation products, aligned with the agreed phased roadmap and governance model.
Define and maintain AI product workstreams for AI for Management & Governance and AI for Operations, including clear scope, sequencing, dependencies, and success criteria.
Establish and operate AI product governance structures, including decision making forums, escalation mechanisms, reporting cadence, and alignment with existing enterprise governance bodies.
Act as the primary coordination point between external vendors, internal technical teams, and business stakeholders, ensuring clarity of scope, roles, and delivery expectations.
Coordinate and support the delivery of AI products, including executive AI advisers, decision support use cases, scenario modelling, institutional memory, and operational AI solutions.
Identify and manage cross product risks and dependencies, including data readiness, security, capacity, and adoption risks.
Support change management activities to enable adoption of AI solutions, with a focus on senior leadership and governance users.
Support oversight of external vendors and consultants, monitoring delivery against agreed scope, milestones, and outcomes.
Track delivery against the approved investment envelope and flag deviations or risks early.