Country Head - Rwanda

Job Reference tbigc/TP/5126/141

This job has been closed.

Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Fixed Term/Full Time
Contract Details:
2 years
Salary:
Competitive
Working Hours:
35 Hours per week
Location:
Kigali
Closing Date:
05/08/2020
Seniority level:
Advisory
Company Industry:
Advisory - Africa
Job Function:
Rwanda

Focus of the Role

The Country Head role is one of the most important in TBI’s advisory work.  It provides leadership and management to the country project, sets and delivers project goals, maintains relations with top counterparts in partner governments, up to and including the President’s office, manages the project budget and impact of work, drives in-country fundraising, and provides the link between the Rwanda project team and the rest of the organisation. The key competencies that we look for in our leaders are set out below within the duties.

Job Introduction

2020 marks the conclusion of the high-level plan that has guided Rwanda’s development over the past 20 years. It is also the departure point for a new Vision 2050 to chart the course of the next 30 years.  Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation set out targets for Rwanda’s transition to a high-income economy, built through private sector-led growth and human capital development. These ambitious targets will require a step change in the approaches used by the Government of Rwanda.  

As Rwanda enters a new phase, while simultaneously addressing the crisis posed by COVID-19, TBI will support the economic recovery from this shock, focusing on stimulating economic growth and human capital development. Among the key drivers of Rwanda’s growth are: improving human capital, local productivity and competitiveness, technological innovation, trade, and financial sector development. TBI’s strategy for its partnership with the Government of Rwanda takes these as the starting point.

Key Responsibilities

  1. Understand and engage with principal stakeholders
  • Build a clear understanding of the wider context, including the role of development partners, private sector and other players;
  • Build relationships with the President’s office, their direct team, and other senior stakeholders to understand the country’s priorities, build TBI’s credibility, and spot and realise opportunities;
  • Deploy resources outside of the team – wider TBI colleagues, including Mr. Blair’s office, the TBI sector practices and strategic partnerships within TBI’s network etc – to support the government of Rwanda where appropriate.
  1. Set the strategic direction of the project and, together with executive management, lead the annual project strategy setting, performance reviews and measurement of impact
  • Develop the strategic direction for the project based on TBI’s mission and approach within Rwanda’s country context;
  • Lead the annual strategy setting process for the country project and the quarterly review process;
  • Using the organizational Theory of Change and impact tools ensure the project has a clear measurement framework.
  1. Contribute to wider leadership and development of TBI
  • Contribute to the wider leadership and development of TBI as an organisation by contributing to corporate decisions both within the Governance pillar and the wider organisation;
  • Contribute to organisational learning by identifying innovations and factors which contribute to or inhibit success and impact.
  1. Maintain a license to operate
  • Ensure that risks to the project and staff are spotted and managed adequately and emergency protocols are in place to maximise the safety and well-being of the team;
  • Set and manage the project budget, including putting in place appropriate financial controls;
  • Ensure policies, procedures and the Code of Conduct are adhered to at all times.
  1. Delivering through your team
  • Recruit and lead a team that is bought into the shared strategy, is aligned across workstreams, solves problems together and holds each other accountable for impact;
  • Performance manage staff effectively, including building a culture of feedback and nurturing the next generation of TBI leaders;
  • Oversee a planning and evaluation cycle to regularly assess whether the strategy is ‘working’, and adapt rapidly in response to new challenges and opportunities;
  • Be the interface between the Project team and the rest of the organisation by representing the team’s views and communicating issues and priorities from the rest of the organisation to the team.
  1. Fundraising
  • Understand the project country’s fundraising and business development market by mapping donor opportunities that complement the Government’s agenda amongst a wide group of stakeholders (predominantly: foundation offices; bilateral and multilateral donor agency offices and staff; development contractors and INGOs – both not-for profit and for-profit);
  • Build and maintain intelligence and relationships to inform project and/or pillar-wide fundraising strategies and ultimately to secure project funding;
  • Input to the development of marketing materials, presentations and bids as required.  Input to the development and implementation of donor trips/meetings etc as required.

Person Specification

We are looking for outstanding individuals with a proven track record of leadership and delivery in the public or private sectors. All candidates will be required to have at least 10 years of experience in a leadership role, managing teams and project budgets. Above all, we are looking for individuals with high levels of enthusiasm, resilience, and a can-do attitude. We create international and multi-disciplinary teams and are looking for individuals with a solid background in public/civil services worldwide; strategy consulting; private equity and finance or international development.

The requirements that she / he should meet are:

  1. The ability to work and interact at the highest levels of public life; have strong political acumen; being able to develop an understanding of the needs of senior officials;
  2. An ability to work independently, think strategically and translate strategies into concrete and implementable plans; an acute attention to detail with excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills;
  3. Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a wider team;
  4. Ability to liaise with partner governments, the private sector, and key stakeholders (e.g. donors) to deliver the requirements of the role;
  5. Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice;
  6. Experience of identifying and resolving project implementation bottlenecks;
  7. A strong sense of ethics, discretion and perseverance;
  8. Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of the Rwanda project and the Institute;
  9. Experience of living and working in developing countries is strongly desirable;
  10. Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Kinyarwanda and French is desirable.

About The Institute

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) aims to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies in an interconnected world. We do this through our Policy Futures ideas and our Government Advisory Practice.  What we believe in as an organisation:

  • 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 Changemakers – 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.