Digital Health Advisor

Focus of the Role

Are you excited by the prospect of transforming developing and emerging nations through the application of technology and innovations across public services, agriculture, health and climate? Do you have experience of consulting or working in the tech sector and of leading teams to drive systemic and transformative change in an emerging or developing country?   If so, we want to hear from you.

Supporting the Government of Zanzibar to realise their digital health ambitions, we are looking to hire an exceptional Digital Health Advisor with experience and expertise harnessing technology and delivering innovation initiatives in health. As part of TBI’s Tomorrow Partenrship programme in Zanzibar, the role will focus on supporting the Ministry of Health’s efforts to improve its use of data to drive decision making, addressing challenges and gaps in existing structures, and identifying areas of potential support to deliver improved data management and systems integration.

Through The Tomorrow Partnership, we broker strategic partnerships between governments and leading tech organisations and innovators to help foster environments that enable tech to deliver practical change in people’s lives.  Building on initial work delivered to date we are recruiting a Digital Health Advisor to join a fast-growing team and report to our in-country Digital Transformation Advisor, to support the planning, operationalisation, and coordination of interventions to strengthen data utilisation across the sector.  This is a key role requiring a candidate with relevant expertise in digitisation and health tech, proven experience in project delivery, and the right skills, temperament and drive to deliver in a complex and sensitive government environment. 

Working closely with government counterparts, the Advisor will lead the development of the Tomorrow Partnership’s digital health portfolio in Zanzibar driving forward opportunity identification, delivery, cementing relationships with government stakeholders, and building partnerships with national and international tech sector actors.     

The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 12 months and based in Unguja, Zanzibar and starts as soon as possible on the identification of a suitable candidate.  Relocation assistance may be provided for the successful candidate if required.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Ministry of Health, the post holder will be responsible for supporting the Government of Zanzibar to deliver improved health outcomes by leveraging digital technologies. This will include:

• Delivering an assessment of the current state of digital health in Zanzibar, including the regulatory and policy frameworks, workforce skills, infrastructure needs and existing systems and processes.  
• Identification of opportunities to deploy data management tools as part of the Government’s health strategy.
• Ensuring the scoping, design and deployment of digital health initiatives is delivered in line with the Government of Zanzibar’s health priorities, with effective coordination across key stakeholders. Providing support to coordination and harmonization efforts of parallel e-health pilot initiatives.
• Supporting the wider partnership between the Government of Zanzibar and TBI on tech transformation in the health sector.
• Accurate, timely and impactful reporting of progress, with challenges and risks proactively raised, and successes communicated in an engaging and compelling manner. 

Successful delivery of the above will require:

• Planning: Working closely with TBI tech team including Global Head of Health Tech, and in consultation with government interlocutors, the advisor will need to design, maintain and continually improve country project plans and tools to roll out partnerships in the of Digital Health sector. 
• Execution and Monitoring:  Review and maintain project goals, plans, proof points and KPIs. Report to and engage with the broader TBI Zanzibar team and Global Head of Health Tech, to drive delivery, ideate, troubleshoot and manage roll-out. Ensure all necessary risk, legal and financial compliance and processes are followed.
• Government Relations: Support the Digital Transformation Advisor to maintain effective and trusted relationships with health sector stakeholders in government, in line with the country project strategy and positioning.
• People: Support the recruitment and management of team staff, as required. The post holder will be expected to develop strong working relationships
• External Relations (non-governmental):  Engage with relevant external digital health stakeholders, including tech companies, donors, implementing agencies and other stakeholders in the tech and health sectors.

Person Specification

We are looking for an experienced project manager:

• With experience in business operations, technology, consulting or advisory functions
• With experience in health, health management systems, electronic health records, digital health
• Experience in the delivery of programmes in government, tech or health sectors, including management of digital transformation programmes.
• With an understanding of the tech policy and regulatory environment in practice
• With the ability to work under pressure, and to coordinate with teams and multi-disciplinary advisors
• With strong communication and project management skills, with ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2 or other recognised project and service management certifications an asset
• Who can work flexibly and be adaptable, open to changing approaches in response to changing situations on the ground
• With proven understanding of the policy context, how to influence policy and the discretion and judgment needed to navigate a complex environment
• With a Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience  
• A working knowledge of digital health technology and standards is an added advantage e.g. FHIR, DHIS2, ICD, SNOMED
• Experience embedding change management in large-scale IT transformation programs.
• Fluency in English required

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.