Country Head, Nigeria

Focus of the Role

TBI has been working in Nigeria since 2011, by supporting leaders to enhance their effectiveness and making their visions a reality. TBI has further expanded its footprint across the country, and currently provides delivery support in the Health, Tech and Agriculture sectors.

This role is to lead and manage the Nigeria-based team and projects. It will  ensure TBI’s centre of government and delivery framework is applied across all projects, build and maintain relationship with top counterparts in partner government organisations, up to and including the President’s office, lead on fundraising, and identify and pursue new project opportunities and other duties as identified by the Regional Director.

The role requires operating with political savvy and independence in challenging circumstances, and we are looking for outstanding people with a proven track record of leadership and delivery in the public or private sectors who are self-motivated and passionate about effective government in Africa.

Key Responsibilities

The duties of the Country Head are as follows:

Manage principal stakeholder relationships

• Oversee pitch development and presentations for identified potential projects and partnerships
• Lead engagements with donors, partners and internal TBI teams (as required)
• Understand the country fundraising and business development market by mapping donor opportunities amongst a wide group of stakeholders (predominantly: foundation offices; bilateral and multilateral donor agency offices and staff; development contractors and INGOs – both not-for profit and for-profit)
• Provide high quality advice to senior government counterparts we work with as well as TBI leadership

Set project and country strategies and lead regular performance reviews and measurement of impact

• Oversee the implementation of the country strategy and team OKRs
• Ensure wholistic project strategies across multiple sectors
• Ensure project and policy monitoring, evaluation and learning across multiple sectors
• Ensure projects have a clear measurement framework for regular data collection, using the organizational Theory of Change and impact tools
• Lead the annual strategy setting process for the country projects and the quarterly review process to assess assess progress and to adapt rapidly in response to new challenges and opportunities
• Lead the development of a fundraising strategy for projects including collaboration with the fundraising team, and progress tracking through the year
• Identify and scope new workstreams and project opportunities
• Identify innovations and factors which contribute to or inhibit success and impact across all existing projects
• Deploy a strategic approach to review project progress, consider alternative approaches and re-set workstream objectives accordingly and within the OKRs framework
• Anticipate project risks and take actions to mitigate, including financial, reputational, safety and security

Manage the TBI Nigeria team

• Ensure the right expertise are in place to lead the delivery of all projects
• Lead and manage all advisory teams, ensuring buy-in into the shared strategy, alignment across workstreams, collaborative problem solving and shared accountability for impact
• Lead the mobilisation of internal and external expertise to drive the delivery of project priorities and contribute to the learning and development of the team, including short-term consultants, other TBI Advisors/Associates, and TBI interns
• Manage a high-performing team, including all aspects of performance, management, safety and security
• Effectively manage staff performance, including building a culture of feedback and nurturing the next generation of TBI leaders
• Ensure strong teamwork across the team at all times and provide support as needed to team members

Oversee TBI Nigeria operations

• Accountable for performance, safety and wellbeing of all staff embedded within the country
• Ensure that risks to the projects and staff are spotted and managed adequately and emergency protocols are in place to maximise the safety and well-being of team members, including ensuring all security and safety protocols are upheld and kept up to date
• Ensure policies, procedures and the Code of Conduct are adhered to at all times by all country staff
• Ensure timely completion of financial processes e.g. invoices and country tracker, and review and approve all services and suppliers relating to the project
• Set and manage the project budget, including putting in place appropriate financial controls
• Ensure that all legal requirements are met for operating in country, including initiating and supporting all legal status activities relating to the project and TBI staff in country
• Supervise TBI staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development and evaluation process, setting specific goals and providing ongoing performance feedback

Contribute to the global leadership and development of TBI

• Contribute to the wider leadership and development of TBI as an organisation by contributing to strategy decisions both within the Africa projects and the wider organisation
• Contribute to organisational learning by identifying innovations and factors which contribute to or inhibit success and impact
• Contribute to analysis, lessons, writing case studies or policy papers as necessary to support TBI fundraising, partnership and communications activities
• Articulate and implement activities to ensure the team contributes to TBI thought leadership and global policy influence

Ownership and ambition

• Challenge ways of working in the team and projects to drive high aspirations for impact, thought leadership and global influence from the Africa projects and beyond
• Provide active contribution to project goals, especially around thought leadership, fundraising and external positioning, both in terms of identifying the best possible contribution from the team, but also individual leadership to contribute own ideas and time
• Demonstrate ability to apply and learn from new and innovative approaches to policy reform in Africa to supporting change and deliver impact
• Build and contribute own contacts and networks as avenues for potential partnership, fundraising and global influence
• Utilise resources outside of the team – including wider TBI colleagues, the Executive Chairman’s office, the TBI sector practices and strategic partnerships within TBI’s network etc – to support partner governments where appropriate with additional expertise and/or support

Person Specification

We are looking for an outstanding individual with a proven track record of leadership and delivery in the public or private sectors, and at least 10 years of experience in a leadership role, managing medium to large teams and project budgets.

We require high levels of enthusiasm, drive, resilience, a can-do attitude and ability to consistently achieve results in a fast-paced environment; with a solid background in public/civil services worldwide; strategy consulting; relevant industry experience; private equity and finance and international development.

The requirements that should be met are:

• Role must be filled by an individual who can live and work in Nigeria without restriction
• Substantial and demonstratable experience in government, government advisory or management consulting
• An ability to work independently, think strategically and translate strategies into concrete and implementable plans
• Subject matter expertise may be required e.g. Public policy, international development, private sector development, agriculture etc.  depending on the project strategy
• Experienced people manager and effective motivator of high performing teams
• Ability to manage high level political relationships, including as an interlocutor in the Institute’s and Executive Chairman’s relationship with Government leadership
• Ability to identify and address drivers of change in low capacity, public sector environments
• An acute attention to detail with excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills;
• Experience of identifying and resolving project implementation bottlenecks;
• Ability to set and maintain a safe and secure culture and professional environment
• Strong sense of ethics, discretion and perseverance required;
• Strong networks within the Federal Government, States and key stakeholders is highly desirable
• Willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice

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.