Operations Lead, Power Africa Senior Advisors Group Program

Focus of the Role

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) program to support effective government leadership in Power Africa partner countries to increase the availability of and access to power.

TBI is looking to recruit a 12 month maternity cover for an Operations Lead role to join the program’s London-based team. The Operations Lead will take leadership of the operational and results management aspects of the Power Africa SAG program. They will be responsible for overseeing the London-based support and operations team of the program and will report to Chief of Party.

Key Responsibilities

The Operations Lead will carry out the following duties:

1. Program management and oversight:

• Planning: Based on inputs from country and regional advisors, prepare and manage a comprehensive monitoring tools for effective program implementation, including: Annual and quarterly work plans, aggregate project “dash board”, and inputs to wider TBI and USAID planning processes
• Risk management: Pro-actively monitor risks related to the program implementation and to program relevance by systematic risk assessment and periodic monitoring; manage mitigation mechanisms, in consultation with the Chief of Party (CoP)
• Monitoring against targets: Ensure regular program implementation monitoring, in close collaboration with country and regional advisors; facilitate planning and follow-up of corrective actions
• Reporting: Ensure regular reporting to USAID, including quarterly and annual program implementation reports, and ad-hoc reporting requests
• Evaluation: Support the management of evaluation process, to ensure programmatic and strategic relevance; record and monitor follow-up actions
• Human resources: Support the CoP with recruitment activities and act as liaison to TBI’s HR department to facilitate this process
• Manage and oversee the responsibilities of the London-based team, which includes the Program Associate and the inputs from the Finance team (part-time contributions)
• Budget, financial and audit management: Through close collaboration with the Finance team, closely coordinate the budget, financial and audit management, and ensure alignment with results management processes
• Administrative and logistical support: Oversee the responsibilities of the Program Associate to ensure that the Power Africa team is supported to deliver on program objectives. Key responsibilities of the Program Associate include but are not limited to communication and secretariat management of the program, travel management and coordination, and provision of more general administrative and logistical support to the team

        2. Management of the Power Africa SAG program agreement:

• In close collaboration with the CoP, monitor the overall implementation of the program as articulated in the Cooperative Agreement
• Compliance: Ensure that relevant rules and regulations governing TBI and USAID are applied, and pro-actively suggest solutions to challenges in this regard
• Results management: Develop and maintain results framework, theory of change and results management plan, and monitor and report on results achievement accordingly
• Arrangements for impact measurements and results management will feed into the wider TBI and USAID, ensuring programmatic coherence at all levels

        3. Program coordination and implementation:

• Coordination with country and regional advisors and London-based team members to manage operational aspects of program implementation, including procurement, recruitment, etc.
• Coordination with relevant internal departments and country teams around program management and program operations
• Coordination with the USAID AOR around results management and program operations.
• Coordination with other Power Africa implementing partners around results management and program operations

        4. Internal and external communication:

• Internal and external communication will be supported, mainly by providing overviews, briefs, and presentations on programme implementation and related perspectives
• Regular information flows to USAID will be managed
• Lessons learnt will be articulated and success stories drafted, in close collaboration with the program team

Person Specification

The Operations Lead role 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:

• A minimum of 5 years’ of program management and implementation experience in an international fast-paced environment. Prior experience working in energy and infrastructure-related development projects or programs is desirable, as is experience working in developing countries
• Experience working for donor-funded projects or programs, including USAID, European Union, DFID, IFC and/or other donors
• Extensive experience in developing and running monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks for development projects, preferably in the field of energy and infrastructure.
• Experience in coordinating across organizations and with donors around monitoring, evaluation and operational matters
• Ability to analyse data and present essential findings and recommendations, orally and in writing
• Good knowledge of governance advisory programs
• Initiative, creativity and ability to work collectively to identify and overcome challenges

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and early applications are strongly encouraged.

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.