Head of Operations - Africa at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Key Responsibilities

Operational Services

• Ensure the delivery of timely, effective and quality support to local and regional stakeholders across the administrative, Legal, HR, IT, Travel, Security functions
• Ensure that the structure and delivery of programmes within Africa meet operational best practice requirements, including in relation to security
• Identify, assess, and inform regional leadership of any internal and external issues that may affect operations at an organizational level recommending interim or permanent solutions wherever possible and applicable
• Lead or collaborate with others in special projects and troubleshooting assignments directed from regional leadership
• Report on the operational performance as part of monthly global meetings of Head of Operations and representatives from Internal Operations

Systems, Policies and Processes

• Support in the drafting global policies and required regional amendments
• Ensure that all required global policies and procedures across IT, HR, Finance, Legal and Security are implemented within the region
• Be an advocate and champion of the implementation of new global policies and ways of working within the region
• Working closely with a Regional Finance Manager and Business Partners, support leadership to plan, administer and manage budgets and where necessary, financial reporting
• Working closely with a Regional Security Advisors, Regional and Country Directors, and the Security and Technical Operations team, ensure that essential security packages are maintained (including risk registers, relevant risk reduction measures (security SOPs and contingency plans as required) and welcome packs) together with all security and safety protocols
• Support and collaborate on relevant Enterprise Risk Management fora

Regional growth

• In support of the growth of our work in Africa work closely with the Executive Director, Africa], the Executive Director, People and Operations] Executive Director, New Operations and Performance and other leaders to establish the Institute’s presence in new territories
• Work closely with regional and central Legal, HR, Security and Recruitment roles to operationalise new territories, in accordance with all global policies and procedures
• Ensure that global standards and policies are implemented in the operationalisation of the establishment of new country programmes

Office Presence and Fixed Assets

• Managing the administration, compliance and suitability of the region’s office locations and fixed equipment in accordance with asset management processes
• Collaborate closely with relevant Internal Operations role, based in London, to manage the expansion the office footprint in the region per business requirements

Team and People Management

• Oversee the successful delivery of regional roles in Africa, either through matrixed or direct line management

Person Specification

The Head of Operations will possess the following qualifications, skills and experiences:

• Extensive experience in the delivery of internal operations of an advisory firm, financial services firm, or industrial firm
• Outstanding leadership and management skills and the proven ability to build and inspire teams to achieve objectives
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage office administrative, operational finance, operational human resources, legal and recruiting functions
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with and providing advice to senior leaders and stakeholders
• Experience in navigating growth and ambiguous environments and managing up and beyond hierarchy  
• A detailed understanding of the general policies and regulations governing business operations in Africa
• An entrepreneurial attitude, be proactive and highly organised, and excited by the opportunity to build global systems and processes
• A proven ability to work with staff from diverse cultural, geographic and educational backgrounds in delivery-focused professional settings
• Business fluency in English required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or in any other discipline with post graduate degree in a business discipline advantageous
• Candidates must have the right to work in Nairobi, Kenya