Executive Director, Africa at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Key Responsibilities

• Work with the Managing Director, Africa to drive a performance-oriented culture within the five regional and seventeen country teams anchored in TBI’s core values. This includes reviewing and maintaining the strategy, objectives and key results for the Africa Advisory team, and establishing a clear measurement framework
• Act as a thought partner to the Managing Director, Africa in identifying new opportunities and partners to drive impact for the Institute’s programmes across Africa
• Lead on specific initiatives as agreed with the Managing Director, Africa
• Support cross-functional teams in the development and roll-out of tools and processes to drive impact, increase efficient delivery of programmes, operations, people and financial management
• Build and manage a high-performing team of associates reporting directly to the Managing Director Africa
• Focal point for actioning the ‘One-TBI’ agenda within the Africa Advisory team, which is focused on building an organisation combining the best of our technology, policy and advisory global teams into a coherent offer for our clients
• Establish and maintain effective and trusted relationships with senior politicians in government, including Presidents, PMs, Ministers and Special Advisors, securing mandates with multiple key counterparts as a regular point of contact
• Shape and embody a positive culture that drives ambition, innovation and delivery
• Oversee the management of our Africa associates, a group of talented and high performing staff members providing rapid response support on demanding regional programmes
• Develop and lead coherent fundraising strategies, map donor opportunities across a wide group of stakeholders. Engage with key donors, relevant external stakeholders such as other not for profit organisations, media, suppliers and agencies
• Support the Manging Director, Africa to ensure expenditure is utilised in line with budget, with robust management accounts and accountability established amongst budget delegations
• Ensure all necessary risk, legal and financial processes are in place for the successful delivery of work and safety and security of employees
• Co-chair the Security and Operations Leadership Group for Africa alongside the Global Director for Security and Operations
• Support the roll out of a new global operations framework, bringing enhanced operational support to country and regional teams
• Provide direct advice to the TBI Executive Chairman as well as CEO, Board and wider leadership team.

Person Specification

The Executive Director will be an experienced and successful leader:

• With extensive multi-country leadership and programme management experience in a public or private sector-focused professional services advisory firm or other organisational leadership
• Who is a skilled written and verbal communicator and influencer, with documented experience providing strategic counsel to corporate executives and/or senior government officials at ministerial level and above
• Who is strategic, entrepreneurial, can challenge the status-quo and develop plans for successful delivery of challenging objectives
• With exceptional attention to detail for written deliverables and the proven ability to deliver quality written outputs under tight deadlines
• With a track record of success in generating new business and developing an organization;
• With demonstrable expertise and interest in economics, public policy, or international relations
• With outstanding leadership and management skills and the proven ability to build and inspire multi-country teams to achieve exceptional objectives
• Who is passionate about Africa and has worked or consulted in developing and emerging economies and is sensitive to a diverse range of cultural and regional norms, and fosters a positive spirit of collaboration