CIMMYT reviews

3.1

54% would recommend to a friend

(79 total reviews)

37% positive business outlook

CIMMYT has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 79 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The CIMMYT employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the ONG y Organizaciones sin fines de lucro industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

79 reviews
3.0
Sep 18, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

When you work with CIMMYT, your work contributes to building the foundation of food system development on a world scale. A wonderful intercultural staff and work experience.....if that is what you are looking for and where you function well. This work affords you a great sense of purpose and significance in your day to day activities.

Cons

HUGE pay and benefits gap between national and international employees. This reality creates tension and an almost colonial feel to the institutional hierarchy. CIMMYT struggles to play well with local national/host country institutions. There is often an impression (mostly unfair) of CIMMYT as elitist and somewhat of an ivory tower. CIMMYT often lacks the institutional ability to navigate local politics, institutional relations, etc. because it is an agricultural scientific organization run by agricultural scientists. This results, often, in good science not making it to the field or to the intended recipients.

3.0
May 28, 2017

Mixed bag

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- International organization - international trips, network - Good benefit package - Possibility of on-campus housing or off-campus paid by the organization. - Green revolution center and well known

Cons

- Politics every where - Some scientists are arrogant and feel that CIMMYT is their property . One of my fellow working wheat physiology has a lot to say about a distinguish scientist. Check scientist you are working with good one. - Housing management is poor - a lot of politics. apply for on-campus housing but there is not such criteria or line, you have keep pushing otherwise they can do anything ! - Human resource has a lot of people does not translate to productivity. They do not treat best while interviewing. Very poor hiring agent ! Driver will pick-up from the airport and house you in dorm very small room. You have to figure out way to dinning place ( do not provide food in Sunday evening and you may have to fast). If you do not know Spanish it is further mesh.

2.0
Aug 17, 2025

Toxic culture, low trust, and poor work-life balance

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Competitive pay and benefits. Interesting work that benefits farmers in developing countries. Some very nice colleagues

Cons

CIMMYT has experienced a clear decline in recent years due to an increasingly autocratic leadership style - eminating from the top. At HQ, staff trust is very low, stress levels are high, and work-life balance is disregarded. Unprofessional behavior is tolerated, and many skilled employees have left in the past year, with more departures likely. Flexible work arrangements for operations staff were revoked, requiring five days a week in the office. For employees commuting from Mexico City, this means 12+ hours of weekly travel and appears rooted more in control and mistrust than in operational necessity. Early morning and evening meetings are still expected, alongside the commute. Very money oriented and funds are drying up - staff are under increased pressure to produce, with little reward, positive feedback or support. Even previously collaborative colleagues are becoming toxic under pressure. Multiple teams have raised concerns about excessive demands and unhealthy leadership practices. While change is inevitable, the uncertainty lies in how long it will take and how much further the organization will erode in the meantime.

Viewing 10 - 12 of 79 Reviews

Glassdoor has 169 CIMMYT reviews submitted anonymously by CIMMYT employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if CIMMYT is right for you.