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Deputy Country Head, Ghana

Job Reference tbigc/TP/22858/332

This job has been closed.

Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Fixed Term/Full Time
Contract Details:
Ongoing
Salary:
Competitive
Working Hours:
35
Location:
Accra
Closing Date:
23/07/2021
Seniority level:
Advisory
Company Industry:
Advisory - Africa
Job Function:
Ghana

Focus of the Role

The Government of Ghana has a vision of a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ through value addition of its natural resources. The Government is embarking on an ambitious agenda to diversify the economy from an Aid dependant, exporter of primary produce, to a prosperous industrialized nation, in charge of her economic destiny, and engages competitively with the rest of the world through trade and investment.

Prior to COVID-19, the Government of Ghana had restored macro-economic stability and strong growth performance and had made a bold and public declaration to accelerate industrialization, particularly through vertically integrated value addition with Ghana’s agriculture products and rich deposits of mineral reserves, particularly gold, bauxite, iron ore, manganese and lithium. This is in addition to a range of other investment opportunities in key national infrastructure, vehicle manufacture, pharmaceutical, garment, technology, petrochemical, retail, tourism, energy, and Agro-processing industries.

At the core of this agenda is to develop an economy that can create jobs at scale and add value in country through a flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme that is motivating farmers, SMEs and the youth to get involved in Agri-Business. The Government is also utilizing digitization to formalize the economy, extend the domestic tax revenue net, improve the ease of doing business and accelerate its drive for a cashless public sector.

TBI has a trusted relationship with the Government of Ghana as we support key sectors of the economy including Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Investment Promotion, Digitization and Health. As the country emerges out of the crisis posed by COVID-19, TBI will support the economic recovery focusing on stimulating economic growth through value addition agro processing and manufacturing.

We now seek to appoint a Deputy Country Head to be responsible for supporting the TBI country project team in the management of TBI supported country projects. The Deputy Country Head role is a new management role that has arisen following TBI’s growth and support work to the Government of Ghana. Important to note is the new focus of our support to the Government’s digital transformation journey aimed at harnessing technology to solve problems for citizens. The Deputy Country Head will work closely with the Country Head who leads the country project team and the Head of Tech, who will manage TBI’s Tech for Development projects in Ghana, as part of a Ghana management team.  The team will be responsible for ensuring that all country project requirements, deadlines, and schedules are on track.

This is an initial fixed term role for two years.

Key Responsibilities

    1. Support the Country Head build and maintain senior Government relationships

  • Provide high quality advice to senior Government counterparts as well as TBI leadership
  • Understand the political and Governmental landscape of Ghana, channelling this knowledge into project decision-making

   2. Play a key role in setting the strategic direction of the project, leading  performance reviews and measurement of impact

  • Be accountable to the Country Head for developing the strategic direction for the project, specifically the annual strategy setting and quarterly review process, playing a lead role in workstream design, based on TBI’s mission and approach within Ghana’s country context
  • Identify and develop new strategic opportunities with counterparts
  • Be accountable to the Country Head for implementing the OKRs (with responsibility for workstreams contracted with the Government of Ghana), working alongside the Head of Tech for Development to ensure workstreams are on track against project requirements and schedules
  • Lead the planning and evaluation cycle to assess regularly whether the strategy is ‘working’ and adapt rapidly in response to new challenges and opportunities.  Including:
    • Ensure the project has a clear Objectives and Key Results framework for regular monitoring, using the organizational Theory of Change and impact tools. Lead regular project performance reporting, including the quarterly review process
    • Deploy a strategic approach to review project progress, consider alternative approaches and re-set workstream objectives accordingly (within the OKR framework), with approval from the Country Head
    • Prepare status reports and establish effective project communication plans to key stakeholders (e.g., Government of Ghana)
    • Support the country team to conduct post project evaluation and identify successful and unsuccessful project elements
    • Learn from and apply new and innovative approaches to policy reform in Africa to support change and deliver impact in Ghana
    • Apply the above to drive a culture of continuous learning within the Ghana team
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of the Ghana project and the Institute

3. Build and manage a high performing team, working alongside the Country Head

  • Oversee specific technical areas and workstreams and ensure coordination between them, which will be defined in the team’s OKRs
  • Coach technical experts to problem-solve delivery issues and unblock bottlenecks in the above-mentioned technical areas and workstreams
  • Manage team performance and delivery quality
  • Challenge ways of working in the team to drive impact
  • Role-model TBI’s culture, living and representing TBI’s values
  • Contribute to recruitment processes to build a high performing team that is the right fit for Ghana’s context

4. Support the enablers of the Ghana project: business development, thought leadership and fundraising

  • Contribute analysis, lessons learnt, case studies and/or policy papers as necessary to support TBI fundraising, partnership, and communications activities
  • Provide active contribution to thought leadership, fundraising and external positioning, to bring the best possible contribution from the team, and provide individual leadership to contribute your own thinking

5. Maintain TBI’s license to operate in Ghana

  • Act as Country Head when the Country Head is away, and support the Country Head in a range of activities e.g. operational management, liaising with HQ on reporting, approvals etc.
  • Manage the Supplier for Administration and Operations Management Services.  Accountable for project budget management, including putting in place appropriate financial controls; operations and oversight of supplier relationships; security and risk management
  • Anticipate project risks and manage the Supplier to suggest actions to mitigate them, including financial, reputational, safety and security
  • Responsible for ensuring TBI policies and procedures are adhered to at all times

Person Specification

We are looking for an outstanding individual with high levels of enthusiasm, drive, resilience, a can-do attitude and ability to consistently achieve results in a fast-paced environment, an individual with a proven track record of leadership and delivery in the public or private sector.

The requirements that should be met are:

  • A minimum of 10 years’ experience in Government, Government advisory or management consulting public/civil services worldwide, finance or international development
  • The ability to work and interact at the highest levels of public life, strong political acumen, and the ability to develop an understanding of the needs of senior officials
  • The ability to manage high level political relationships, including as an interlocutor in Mr Blair’s relationship with the Government leadership
  • The ability to work independently, think strategically and translate strategies into concrete and implementable plans
  • Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, including sound knowledge of data analysis, strategic planning, and project management tools
  • A strong understanding of harnessing technology for change and use of technology for accelerated development
  • Subject matter expertise may be required e.g. public policy, international development, private sector development, agriculture etc.  depending on the project strategy
  • Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a wider team
  • Experienced people manager and effective motivator of high performing teams
  • High quality communication, drafting and presentation skills
  • The ability to set and maintain a safe and secure culture and professional environment
  • Strong sense of ethics, discretion and perseverance required
  • Experience of living and working in developing countries is strongly desirable
  • Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable

 

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.