The Regional Programme Associate, is a key role in within our newly launched Tech for Development initiative, which has been enabled by a dynamic external partner, across existing and new operations in our Government Advisory and Tech & Public Policy divisions.
This landmark initiative will be delivered in 30 countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia and aims to transform developing and emerging nations through the application of sustainable scaled technology and innovations across public services, food systems and agriculture, healthcare and green energy.
In delivering the Tech for Development initiative, a central team will work closely with TBI Government Advisory country teams and executive directors to identify, design, implement, and scale new technology-enabled transformation projects aligned to Centre of Government priorities and opportunities across the technical sectors of focus.
Reporting to Deputy Global Director, Tech for Development, but with a close working relationship with the Global Director, Tech for Development, the Regional Programme Associate will play a critical function in supporting the development and coordination of a cohesive portfolio while still meeting Government and country and regional specific needs.
The postholder will support coordination across the programme’s matrixed structure including technical sector teams and geographic/regional structures. You will work closely with Country Teams (including Country Heads, Heads of Tech, and Tech for Development sector experts) and our Heads of Sector.
You will guide and support teams and track progress from new Tech for Development project scoping and design through to projectisation start-up. Although, country teams will stand-up implementation and delivery teams, the incumbent will provide surge support as needed bringing familiarty of the Tech for Development programme, objectives and key results, and regional knowledge.
We will be reviewing applications received on a rolling basis.
Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of this role will include:
- Support Country Heads, Heads of Tech and their teams in the completion of project design analyses and templates from initial scoping through to project start-up including supporting development of workplans
- Work closely with Tech for Development Heads of Sector (e.g. Head of HealthTech) and Sector Associates to support technical input into critical project stages
- Advise, guide on Tech for Development objectives, programme norms, and emerging best practices
- Work across relevant sectors in the Tech for Development portfolio including Health-Tech, Ag-Tech, Climate/Green-Tech, Digital ID, and E-Government
- In new countries for TBI, play a hands on role in facilitating opportunity scoping and relationship building to enable the expansion of the Tech for Development programme across all sectors including developing presentations for new country clients and senior government officials
- Support country teams scoping and opportunity identification including mapping analyses, competitive assessments, and research
- Contribute to capturing/sharing/incorporating lessons learned across countries in the regional and global Tech for Development portfolio
- Support the engagement of external consultants working with Country Heads and their teams, or Central team for new presence countries, to manage TORs and deliverables
- Support activity/program inception phase implementation and gap-fill to support implementation as in-country implementation teams are put in place
- Anticipate, identify and elevate challenges/roadblocks to relevant Tech for Development and internal stakeholders, Sector Leads, Tech for Development Manager and Global Director Tech for Development, proposing courses of action for consideration
- Contribute to the development and iteration of the Tech for Development playbook and activity development templates and guide teams through their completion
- Provide direct inputs into Tech for Development central dashboards (Monday.com) to ensure timely management of the overall portfolio
Person Specification
The successful candidate should demonstrate the majority of the following:
- Between 3 to 5 years’ experience as an advisor or project manager in a consulting firm, foundation/NGO, or private sector organization supervising and executing across multiple workstreams simultaneously
- Experience with international development, public sector, and technology for development programming is highly desired
- Demonstratable strength in project management, structured problem solving, top-down communication, and portfolio thinking
- Excellent communication skills, from executive office level through to technical level, and who is adept at speaking to senior leadership, knows how to navigate ambiguous environments and is comfortable at managing up and beyond hierarchy
- Experience developing executive and senior level briefings for internal and external audiences
- Experience in maintaining dashboards to facilitate nimble performance tracking and coordination
- Direct experience working in LMICs is highly desired
- Experience in working in entrepreneurial and matrixed environments and who is comfortable working in ambiguity while closely collaborating with global functional and geographic teams
- Who commits to business objectives and pulls out the stops to make sure they are always met
- Relevant language skills for the region highly desired
About The Institute
The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people
We do this within two connected divisions:
Government Advisory
Our Advisory Practice works directly with political leaders and governments around the world to implement reforms that improve the lives of their citizens. It has both non-profit partners and a client base and its outputs cover a range of disciplines and projects across countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South Asia. We are currently in a rapid expansion phase from c. 18 countries at present, to 30 by December 2022.
Policy Futures
Our Policy Futures work encompasses three broad areas:
- Renewing the Centre: developing a bold and innovative domestic policy programme to help renew the centre ground of British politics;
- Tech and Public Policy: exploring the policy challenges and opportunities presented by the technological revolution; and
- Extremism Policy Unit: creating solutions designed to tackle the threat of extremist ideologies in the UK and around the world.
As an organisation, the core beliefs we all embrace are:
- Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork
- Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity
- Optimistic Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results
TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work. It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\’re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.
How to apply
Please apply on our careers page.
TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work. It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\’re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.