We don’t just talk, we do. Lead the change with us.

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of nearly 800 changemakers, operating in more than 30 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

Role Summary

TBI is seeking an exceptional Senior Director to evolve, lead, and scale our offer on AI and technology transformation for government. The incumbent will lead a global team of experts across AI and data, digital infrastructure, digital identity, public service innovation, and innovation ecosystems in our Global Client Solutions (GCS) department.

TBI is working with senior political leaders worldwide with diverse levels of digital maturity to imagine the art of the possible, formulate bold solutions, and deliver tangible change with technology. Today, with rapid advancements in machine learning and generative AI, the ’toolbox’ available to leaders is transformative. TBI is helping leaders to explore new frontiers in government, public service innovation, and drive inclusive economic prosperity with technology at the heart.

Part of our Government Advisory Division, GCS is a hands-on centre of excellence designed to bring the best of the Institute to our clients at scale to enhance the quality and impact of our advice to senior political leaders globally. GCS experts provide valuable counsel, technical input, quality assurance, thought development, and surge capacity to support our embedded country teams. GCS leads the development and evolution of scalable solutions to ensure TBI can boldly advise senior political leaders on their biggest challenges and priorities.

This is a senior leadership position in TBI’s government advisory division requiring an exceptional people leader with a track record of advising political leaders at the highest levels of government generate bold change and impact with technology. The incumbent will bring a track record and acumen for client service development and experience in professional services and advisory. Drawing from practical experience, the (senior) director will be able to work with our Executive Chairman and TBI leaders and speak convincingly to heads of government and senior political leaders on government innovation, the forefront of AI and tech innovation, helping leaders reimagine what an effective state and governance can be in the era of AI.

To successfully execute your role, you will work across the Institute, with senior leaders in advisory, our Policy & Politics division leading cutting edge policy research and insight, and our strategy & partnerships division cultivating a bold partnerships platform with leading tech innovators who share our vision. In addition to strengthening the team of policy and tech advisory experts, you will help the Institute further cultivate our network of strategic counsellors and external experts who bring complementary insight to our clients.

Depending on the candidate this role will either be at a director or senior director level.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & offer development:

• Lead the evolution of TBI’s offer on government innovation with AI and technology aligned to our core value proposition: helping senior political leader get big things done.
• Foster a high performing team of senior advisors across offer areas in digital identity, national digital infrastructure, data and AI, public service innovation and innovation ecosystems
• Working with other directors in GCS and across TBI, integrate technology solutions and new ideas to solving entrenches policy challenges across health, education, climate, agriculture and economic growth, and national security
• Cultivate a set of best practices and solutions on governing in the age of AI with the Politics & Policy division equipping leaders and clients with options on setting up the centre of government to lead the change.
• Ensure TBI’s offer evolves and remains unique to our space in the market as political advisors

Advisory support and expertise:

• Working with Advisory Managing and regional Directors, ensure GCS resources are focused effectively on client delivery and advice; navigate resourcing and prioritisation.
• As a senior expert, support Advisory leaders to engage our most senior clients to generate new projects in AI and government innovation including in new country operations
• Working with Advisory leadership, ensure our projects draw on the best of TBI and provide high quality advice to our clients, troubleshooting where necessary.

Internal Engagement:

• Support internal learning programmes and inductions to equip advisory staff to advice government on bold solutions across our AI, tech and government innovation offer
• Support a true team and “one TBI” culture, and the rest of the organisation to engage in communities of practice agnostic of “boxes and lines”
• As a senior leader, cultivate a positive and collaborative TBI culture

External engagement:

• With the Partnerships team, enhance our relationships with leading technology companies, and thought leaders, bringing emerging innovation to improve our offer
• Provide senior-level representation and presentations for TBI at external fora and events.
• Engage with relevant external stakeholders such as other not-for-profit organisations, donors, suppliers, and agencies.

Person Specification

This is a senior leadership role requiring an exceptional candidate:

• 15+ years’ Experience advising senior political leaders on advanced use of data, AI and other emerging technologies as part of government or with broad experience advising leaders globally

• Who is part technologist, part government advisor with hands-on experience working to design and deliver tech transformation initiatives

• Who is a “T shaped” professional with strong skills in tech transformation and an understanding of strategy, policy, and delivery at senior political levels
• Who has a complete toolkit which enables you to identify creative solutions for complex challenges
• A track-record of service line development in professional services, such as developing frameworks, proprietary methodologies and generating professional advice intellectual property to enable organisations and colleagues to deliver effectively
• Who is a skilled written and verbal communicator and influencer, with documented experience providing strategic counsel to corporate executives and/or senior government officials at ministerial level and above
• With exceptional attention to detail for written deliverables and the proven ability to deliver quality written outputs under tight deadlines
• A thought leader able to represent the Institute on a global scale through written publications and attendance of exclusive events
• Effective leader, not afraid to be hands-on and pull out all the stops to achieve exceptional results
• Able to function and influence in a matrixed, team-oriented environment to support teams achieve impact at scale under pressure.
• Experience working in multiple geographies across Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Africa including in lower-resource environments.
• Fluency in English is required with proficiency in an additional language an advantage
• Willingness for international travel approximately 30 percent

Closing Date:

2024-07-28