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Programme Associate, Power Africa Senior Advisors Group Program

Job Reference tbigc/TP/22858/237

This job has been closed.

Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Fixed Term/Full Time
Salary:
Competitive
Working Hours:
35
Location:
London
Closing Date:
05/03/2021
Seniority level:
Advisory
Company Industry:
Advisory - London
Job Function:
United Kingdom

Focus of the Role

The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a purpose-driven, not-for-profit organisation, with a mission to equip leaders to build open, prosperous and inclusive societies. We believe that politics done well has the power to transform lives. When governments work well, they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We are optimists, and we work relentlessly to support leaders 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 

 

Role Summary

Power Africa is an initiative that brings together 12 United States Government agencies to leverage large-scale resources and expertise of the private and public sector, to expand access to power across Sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative aims to increase installed power capacity by 30,000 MW, to create 60 million new electricity connections to households and businesses, and to support the development of a strong enabling environment for the power sector.

TBI, in coordination with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implements the Power Africa Senior Advisors Group (SAG) programme to support effective government leadership in Power Africa partner countries to increase the availability of and access to power.

The main focus of the Programme  Associate is to ensure the SAG team is well-supported to deliver on the organisation’s objectives for the programme. Reporting to the Operations Lead and working with the Chief of Party (CoP), this role is key to managing a high-level advisory programme for government leaders in Africa. The candidate will take leadership of internal communication - within the team and within TBI - and facilitate external communication, as well as provide broader programme management support to the SAG team. We are looking for someone who is an excellent team player, proactive, and willing to ‘muck in’ and support the work of others, while at the same time ensure that a complex set of rules and regulations for donor funding are complied with. Passion and interest in the work that we do is desirable. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who thrives working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and friendly team.

Key Responsibilities

The Programme Associate shall:

  • Proactively provide operational and administrative support to the implementation of the programme
  • Coordinate with internal TBI departments and country teams to implement the SAG programme and address any operational or logistical bottlenecks
  • Plan operational and logistical tasks in accordance with the work plan, identify challenges ahead of time, and proactively find solutions with the relevant teams at TBI
  • Ensure professional front-line support is provided to the CoP and the wider programme team in their day-to-day operations
  • Update and provide innovative solutions and systems to sustain the implementation of the programme financially, logistically, and operationally
  • Plan and execute operational and logistical tasks, in compliance with USAID requirements, including events, meetings and travel
  • Lead in operational aspects of senior advisor engagements: Preparations of travel, background documentation and briefs, communication with advisors, support to all administrative aspects during the engagements, and reporting and oversight, as well as effective management of records for all engagements
  • Act as process lead for the hiring of new staff and consultants for the programme.
  • Lead the induction process for new joiners to the SAG team, in coordination with the CoP
  • Support the CoP and Deputy CoP – Technical Lead in planning and undertaking learning and development activities for the team
  • Identify, support and apply measures to ensure the implementation of the programme is compliant with TBI and USAID rules and regulation
  • Continuously and proactively manage programme documents and results documentation
  • Oversee and develop the management of internal financial and operational systems, ensuring compliance with TBI’s and applicable USAID frameworks and regulations, including but not limited to Invoices, Expenses, Flights, Contracts and Timesheets
  • Provide support to regular financial audits of the programme, in close collaboration with TBI’s finance and legal teams
  • Manage and assure all legal, financial, procurement and compliance aspects of the programme in close dialogue with TBI’s internal teams, CoP and Operations Lead
  • Regularly and routinely provide advice on USAID rules and regulations in accordance with the Cooperative Agreement, as well as TBI’s rules and regulations
  • Lead Internal communications and supporting external communications for the programme
  • Lead the periodic review and implementation of the internal communications strategy in close coordination with TBI’s communications team and TBI energy advisors. Coordinate the production of external publications with USAID and oversee the branding and marking of all programme external documents in line with USAID requirements
  • Support the Operations Lead in undertaking MEL activities, including quarterly, annual and environmental reporting

Person Specification

This is a role in a fast-paced team, working within complex policy areas. Therefore, the successful candidate for the role should be able to display the majority of the following:

  • Hands on approach to work, with the ability to deliver on deadlines in a fast-paced and fast-changing environment, at times with minimal supervision
  • Ability to use own initiative and actively look for opportunities to have an impact rather than simply be reactive
  • Ability to build and manage effective relationships with other organisations and key stakeholders on behalf of TBI
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of the team and the Institute