Coordinator, Tech for Development

Focus of the Role

The Coordinator, Tech for Development, is a key role within our growing central team for the newly launched Tech for Development initiative, which has been enabled by a dynamic external partner, across existing and new operations in our Government Advisory and Tech & Public Policy divisions.

This landmark initiative will be delivered in 30 countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia and aims to transform developing and emerging nations through the application of sustainable scaled technology and innovations across public services, healthcare, food systems and agriculture.

In delivering the Tech for Development initiative, the Central team will work closely with TBI country teams to identify, design, implement, and scale new technology-enabled transformation projects aligned to Presidential and Centre of Government priorities and opportunities across our technical sectors of focus.  

Reporting to our Tech for Development Manager, to Coordinator  will support alignment and coordination across the Central Team and the broader portfolio. The postholder will play a critical function in supporting the development and evolution of programme foundations, standard operating procedures, tools and templates, and reporting functions.

You will develop central processes, tools and other strategic programme materials for both internal and external audiences. In turn these efforts will support the design and selection, and implementation of a cohesive portfolio of digital transformation programmes globally.

In line with these duties, a key aspect of the role will be support the Tech for Development Manager in managing and evolving the ‘digital estate’ within the programme, exploring digital tools and platforms that could be utilised for project management, reporting, communications, and cross-country learnings including those that enhance global and remote collaboration.

The central team is comprised of a leadership team and technical and functional staff. In your work with the Manager, you will interface closely across the whole of programme with the opportunity to support efforts across including in track progress from new Tech for Development project scoping and design through to implementation, ensuring we capture new best practices and lessons learned.

You will interface with the Global Director and Deputy Global Director as well as functional staff critical to our programme’s success including Heads of Sector (AgTech, Healthtech, Digital ID), our Evidence & Impact Advisor, and regional programme associates who interface with country teams.

Key Responsibilities

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­The key responsibilities of this role will include:

1. Programme organisation and administration:

• Digital Dashboard: Coordinate and quality assure dashboard reporting (Monday.com) to track progress on the Tech for Development portfolio and insights; working closely with other central team members to provide direct inputs. Contribute to the evolution of the dashboard including developing further analytics and visuals and ensuring central team use of the dashboard and its applicability to programme oversight
• Digital Tool Development: Support the Tech for Development Manager in exploring and developing or tailoring digital tools and platforms that can be levarge within the programme and compliment the existing suite of e-tools currently in use, such as Monday.com
• Communications & Briefings: Support the Tech for Development Manager in synthesizing programme progress to produce briefs for TBI leadership and Senior Management, including a fortnightly note to TBI’s Executive Chairman. Support communication products for internal audiences on progress and wider programme developments
• Processes, Tools and Templates: Work closely with the Tech for Development Manger to support the Global Director and Deputy Global Director in rolling out further internal processes, procedures and templates both within the central team and broader Tech for Development portfolio which support best practices and generate efficiencies in the programme
• Support Tech for Development Manager in the broader coordination of efforts across the programme and the Institute more broadly. Working with our Executive Assistant to arrange team calls, agenda setting and taking notes and actioning next steps as required

2. Strategy and Planning:

• Work closely with the Tech for Development Manager on the development and iteration of the programme playbooks, inclusive of contributing to the design of scoping and programme templates and tools, as well as providing guidance to regional prrogramme associates and country teams on their completion
• Contribute to research on digital development and transformation best practices and feed into programme evolution
• Contribute to capturing, sharing, incorporating lessons learned across countries in the regional and global Tech for Development portfolio
• Provide support to ongoing strategy products, such as emerging value proposition and partnership strategy, inclusive of drafting materials and desktop research and working/ supporting other central team members
• Support Tech for Development Manager in developing and delivering strategic communication materials for internal audiences, inclusive of briefs, PowerPoint decks and infographics
• Act as thought partner in broader portfolio management, with view of developing or further iterating internal processes and products
• Conduct desktop research to inform further development of internal processes and broader strategy of portfolio

3. Portfolio coordination and support:

• Provide support to Heads of Sectors (Health-Tech, Ag-Tech, Digital ID, and E-Government) as needed from supporting research to preparation of strategic materials which guide our programme’s progress.
• Provide as needed support with the Tech for Development Manager to the Deputy Global director and Regional Programme Associates to  guide to Country Heads and Heads of Tech and their teams in the completion of project design analyses and templates from initial scoping through to project start-up and implementation including supporting development of workplans
• Contribute and assist development on Tech for Development objectives, programme norms, and emerging best practices
• Support the engagement of external consultants working with other central team members to draft TORs and manage deliverables

Person Specification

The successful candidate should demonstrate the majority of the following:

• A minimum of 3 years’ work experience in a relevant field: economics, public administration, management consulting, international development or similar
• Experience with international development, public sector, and technology for development  programming is highly desired
• Experinece in using digital project management tools for tracking progress and reporting, as well as facilitating programme learnings
• Demonstratable strength in project coordination, structured problem solving, top-down communication, and portfolio thinking
• The ability to work collaboratively with in a team, showing flexibility as priorities change and support areas are revised according to needs
• Experience drafting communications products (from templates to briefings)  for internal and external audiences
• Experience in maintaining digital dashboards to facilitate nimble performance tracking and coordination; comfortable exploring new tools and technologies to improve programme interfaces
• Excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills
• A strong EQ with confident relationship building skills across a diverse range of internal programme stakeholders
• An ability to deliver results in limited time and working under pressure 
• An entrepreneurial self-starter and team-player, motivated and proactive with solutions 
• Good knowledge and application of Microsoft Office products Word, Teams, Excel and particularly comfort with Power Point

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 Government Advisory teams work 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.

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 Changemakers: you’ll be focused on results