Programme Integrator, Tech for Development

Focus of the Role

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Programme Integrators are critical functional roles within TBI’s Tech for Development (T4D) 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 aims to transform and accelerate lower and middle income nations’ growth through the application of sustainable scalable technology and digital innovations. 

To deliver on this ambitious programme, a globally-deployed central team works closely with TBI Government Advisory country teams and country-based Tech for Development leads (Heads of Tech) to identify, design, partner, implement, and scale new technology-enabled transformation initiatives, while meeting the strategic ambitions of the global programme, our Executive Chairman, and our donor. T4D initiatives will be aligned to Centre of Government priorities across the programme’s current technical sectors of focus: HealthTech, AgTech, E-Government, and Digital Identity.

Reporting to the Deputy Global Director, but with a close working relationship with the Global Director, Tech for Development, our team of Programme Integrators ensure that we are pulling the best from across TBI and our ecosystem to deliver in country.  They function as the glue for T4D across the organization, beating the drum (providing cadence), supporting teams to execute the strategic plan, and holding the Leadership Team accountable for meeting the needs of the teams on the ground. They play a critical function to supporting the development of a cohesive global portfolio while meeting Government and country and regional specific needs.

The post holder will ensure those who drive the scoping, design, and implementation at country-level are well connected to the expert resources across the organisation to support their work including technical expert and policy teams. You will work closely with Country Teams (including Country Heads, Heads of Tech, and Tech for Development sector experts) and our Heads of Sector bringing your skills and can-do attitude to directly support team efforts, contributing to key documents guiding initiative progress according to frameworks and programme playbook. You will guide and support teams and track progress from new Tech for Development project scoping and design through to projectisation start-up.  Although, country teams will stand-up implementation and delivery teams, the incumbent will provide surge support as needed bringing familiarity of the Tech for Development programme, objectives and key results, and regional knowledge.

This role requires an exceptional candidate who brings breadth of experience in government transformation, advisory, and an understanding of progressive policy. The ideal candidate brings strong people and communication skills, and a stop at nothing attitude to support the growth and ambition of this programme. You’re a calculated risk taker, a true team player,  a practical optimist, and believe in the power of technology to transform the world for equitable good.

The successful candidate will be based in one of the following regional offices: Singapore, Jakarta, Abu Dhabi. Location will be based on right to work and eligibility for sponsorship in country. For Singapore or Jakarta, the successful candidate must be a citizen of the country where they are based.

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of this role will include:

• Supporting Country Heads, Heads of Tech and their teams in the completion of initiative design analyses from initial scoping through to start-up, including supporting development of agile workplans as needed
• Advising, guiding on Tech for Development objectives, programme norms, and emerging best practices
• Supporting country teams on scoping and opportunity identification including mapping analyses, competitive assessments, and research
• Working across relevant sectors in the Tech for Development portfolio including Health-Tech, Ag-Tech, Climate/Green-Tech, Digital ID, and E-Government
• Working closely with Tech for Development Sector Heads (e.g. Head of HealthTech) to support technical input into critical initiative stages and to research and develop new insights which directly meet the evolving needs of initiative teams
• In new countries for TBI, playing a hands on role in facilitating opportunity scoping and relationship building to enable the expansion of the Tech for Development programme across all sectors including developing presentations for new country clients and senior government officials
• Contributing to the capturing/sharing/incorporating of lessons learned across countries in the regional and global Tech for Development portfolio to improve the quality of our work, and support the evolution of tools, templates, and guides
• Supporting the engagement of external consultants working with Country Heads and their teams, or Central team for new presence countries, to manage TORs and deliverables
• Anticipating, identifying, supporting solutions, and elevating challenges/roadblocks to relevant internal stakeholders and leadership, proposing courses of action for consideration ​
• Providing direct inputs into Tech for Development central dashboards (Monday.com) to ensure timely management of the overall portfolio
• Advising leadership on the challenges experienced by teams on the ground and hold leadership accountable to meeting the programmatic needs for delivery
• As needed, traveling to various locations of TBI’s current and future work to provide surge support and programmatic growth

Person Specification

The successful candidate should demonstrate the majority of the following:

• Experience as an advisor or project manager in a consulting firm, foundation/NGO, or private sector organization supervising and executing across multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Experience with international development, public sector advisory, and technology for development  programming
• Demonstrable strength in project management, structured problem solving, top-down communication, and portfolio thinking
• Excellent communication skills, from executive office and ministerial levels through to technical level, and who is adept at speaking to senior leadership, knows how to navigate ambiguous environments and is comfortable at managing up and beyond hierarchy  
• Experience developing executive and senior level briefings for internal and external audiences
• Experience in maintaining dashboards to facilitate nimble performance tracking and coordination
• Direct experience working in LMICs is highly desired and strong cross cultural communication skills required
• Experience in working in entrepreneurial and matrixed environments and who is comfortable working in ambiguity while closely collaborating with global functional and geographic teams
• Who commits to business objectives and pulls out the stops to make sure they are always met 
• Relevant language skills for TBIs regions of work highly desired
• If based in Singapore, the successful candidate will be a citizen of Singapore
• If based in Jakarta, the successful candidate will be a citizen of Indonesia

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.