Deputy Country Head, Senegal

Job Introduction

TBI has a growing programme in Senegal supporting President Macky Sall’s ‘Plan Senegal Emergent’ strategy buttressed by a trusted relationship with government.  With the concept of ‘delivery’ running through all our work, the Institute is supporting some of the President’s priority projects in investment promotion, health and digital transformation (“Tech”).  Dakar is also becoming a regional hub for TBI as our work across francophone west Africa and the Sahel grows.

To help support and consolidate this growing programme and team, TBI is seeking to recruit a deputy Country Head.  This new role will focus on supporting and nurchuring our growing team, supporting the TBI country project team in the management of TBI supported country projects (planning, tracking reporting on and communicating our work), developing and consolidating our relations with key stakeholders in government and promoting greater joint working between TBI’s team in Senegal and other colleagues across the Institute. The Deputy Country Head will support the Country Head and work closely with the Head of Tech Senegal and Projects Coordinator/Office Manager in achieving our programme goals.

Key Responsibilities

1) ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 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
• Help manage team performance and delivery quality, facilitating linkages to TBI sectoral and other country team colleagues
• Challenge ways of working in the team to drive impact
• Role-model TBI’s culture, living and representing TBI’s values
• Contribute to recruitment to build a high performing team right for Senegal’s context

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 along with the Head of Tech, 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 Senegal’s country context
• Identify and develop new strategic opportunities with counterparts
• Be accountable to the Country Head for implementing the OKRs (with responsibility for non-Tech workstreams), 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., GoSN)
  • 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 Senegal
  • Apply the above to drive a culture of continuous learning within the Senegal team
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and perform other duties as reasonably required to achieve the goals of the Senegal project and the Institute

3) Support the Country Head build and maintain senior government and key Partner relationships

• Provide as required, high quality advice to senior government counterparts as well as TBI leadership
• Understand the political and governmental landscape of Senegal, channelling this knowledge into project decision-making
• Support the Country Head in developing and maintaining key relationships with stakeholders and Partners (e.g. actors in the sectors we work, financing Partners/donrs)

4) Support the enablers of the Senegal Programme 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
• Help link up with other parts of TBI (central sectoral teams and other country teams) to enhance coordination and a ‘one TBI’ approach and work on joint projects where necessary.  
• 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) Support TBI’s setting up a regional operational hub in Senegal

• Act as Country Head when the Country Head is away and with the help of the Projects Coordinator/Office manager support the Country Head in a range of activities e.g. operational management, liaising with HQ on reporting, approvals etc.
• Support the projects coordinator/office manager in operational areas (office, registration and legal requirements, financial oversight, management of supplier relationships; security and risk management)

Person Specification

We are looking for an outstanding individual with drive, resilience, a can-do attitude and track record of delivering successfully.  They should have extensive experience of working with government, of managing a team, proven skills in contacting high level contacts with senior governmental interlocutors and other partners and familiarity with project planning and management. 

The requirements that should be met are:

• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in government, government advisory or management consulting public/civil services worldwide, finance or international development
• Experience with investment promotion and or health would be an advantage
• Fluent working level French and English
• 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
• 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 (French and English)
• 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

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 works with a variety of partners 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 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.