Senior Digital ID Advisor

Focus of the Role

Do you have experience working at the intersection of technology and policy and on programmes that drive systemic and transformative change in the digital identity space?  Are you excited by opportunities to work directly with senior political leaders to create impact at scale? If yes, then we are looking for you! 

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), we work globally at the highest levels of government to help leaders go further and faster to make their citizens’ lives better. Moving the dial on the great global challenges of our time requires engaged, focused and motivated leaders.  When political leadership is relentlessly deployed, at the highest levels, incredible things can be achieved. Using our distinctive expertise and global outlook, our expert advisors and embedded teams advise governments all over the world in strategy, policy and delivery, underpinned by technology.

TBI is looking to hire an exceptional digital identity advisor with experience and expertise across technology, government advisory and, specifically, digital identity implementation. This will be a key role, requiring a strong candidate with relevant expertise in project management, systems integration and knowledge of and experience in advancing digital ID ecosystems. Our fast-growing Digital ID Advisory portfolio includes supporting governments on Foundational and Functional ID implementations as well as demonstrating how digital ID can be a core component of a successful digital transformation strategy.

This role is part of growing team of central expert advisors in TBI’s new Global Client Solutions (GCS) team in our Government Advisory division.  GCS, is as a hands-on centre of excellence to bring the best of the Institute and distribute it at scale to enhance the quality and impact of our advice to global senior political leaders across a range of sectors and functional areas: strategy, policy, delivery, and technology transformation.  We provide valuable counsel, technical input, quality assurance, thought leadership, and surge capacity to support our country teams and embedded advisors. We lead the development and evolution of centralised solutions, methods, tools and offers to ensure we have the tools and expertise to effectively propose and respond to senior political leaders on their biggest challenges.

As part of our work, and The Tomorrow Partnership, we broker strategic partnerships between governments and tech innovators to help foster environments that enable tech to deliver practical change in people’s lives. Beyond Digital Identity, our advisory areas also include national digital infrastructure, technology policy, health-tech and eHealth, AgTech, eGovernment and beyond.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­The advisor is expected to support the Head of Digital ID as part of the Global Client Solutions team  and act as a thought leader on several matters in relation to Digital ID developments at local, regional and global levels. The advisor will also be expected to support TBI teams and our government clients articulate their vision, design roadmaps, assess strategies for integration of registries and ultimately enhance the robustness, inclusiveness and utility of their digital ID ecosystems. Key focus areas include: optimising national identity ecosystems and exploring the necessary governance structures required to enable this optimisation.

The role will be based in London, Abu Dhabi or Athens with frequent travel expected. Candidates seeking to be based in Athens must have the right to work there (or EU citizenship).

The role has an initial 2-year term with potential for extension.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Assessment of current identification landscape: Conducting SWOT analyses of existing foundational and functional ID registries, their current uptake and demand/supply barriers to overcome; current players in the sector and their corresponding tech/innovation strategies
• Systems & registry integration advisor: identifying opportunities for optimising national ID systems through alignment and harmonisation of various foundational and functional identification registries,
• Cross-government coordination and alignment around a common vision and mission which has the respective countries’ Digital ID ecosystem at its core
• Articulating the value of a proposed solution to government and end-users and any gaps that TBI could offer unique value in helping to address
• Analysis of fiscal requirements set by the government, development partners, and any other stakeholders, and identify gaps between funding sources and required outputs
• Assessment of legislative / policy frameworks in place or required to support good practice in data governance
• Evaluation of skills and human capital requirements by the government and relevant partners to meet the agreed roadmap objectives and timelines
• Supporting additional tech partnerships, if deemed necessary, to address gaps in existing processes
• Evaluation of potential business models to make the ecosystem self-sustainable (relevant to each country’s context)
• Provision of likely timelines for achieving mandate, procurement and deployment
• Definition of potential impact and success indicators (human development, economic, catalytic/transformational effects on nation’s development path etc.
• Closely work with the Head of Digital ID and other Digital ID Advisors (regional or in-country) to ensure alignment on advisory approaches and facilitate the sharing of insights.

Person Specification

The successful candidate must demonstrate a good understanding of the ICT ecosystem and tech and digital ID space, as well as general Governments’ machinery. Prior work with Government on relevant projects is highly desirable. Additional skills and desired competencies include:

• Experience in business operations, Digital ID, multiple registry & tech systems integration, consulting or advisory functions

• Experience in Advisory roles across multiple countries preferred, including experience in Digital ID implementations at a national or regional level

• Experience carrying out information systems assessments and providing technical recommendations
• Familiarity with the political and economic ecosystem of the ICT sector and experience working with key (public and/or private sector) stakeholders in the tech and digital space in government; prior experience working on programmes/projects is highly desirable
• Demonstrable experience and ability to work (and deliver impact) in complex and uncertain political environments
• Experience in assessing data governance approaches and proposing meaningful recommendations;
• Problem-solving and analytical skills, including sound knowledge of data analysis, strategic planning, and project management practices
• Ability to present information in a concise, insightful and structured manner, written and oral
• High quality communication, drafting and presentational skills
• Excellent in building and managing effective relationships including the ability to navigate complex political environments
• Fluency in English (oral and written); capability in other languages is an asset.

#LI-Hybrid
 

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.