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

*THIS IS AN IN-PERSON ROLE BASED IN A COUNTRY IN EASTERN EUROPE*

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Manager to join our South & Eastern Europe team, to be based in an Eastern European country. The candidate will report to the Country Director and manage a team embedded in country at the highest level of Government. The ideal candidate will have public sector experience, either in government or through public sector management consulting.

Key Responsibilities

The focus of this role will be to lead economic development efforts for the government. As such, we are looking for a strategic thinker who is also hands on, a people manager, and has a drive to get his or her work implemented and deliver tangible results. Responsibilities will include:

Lead team of consultants in problem structuring, analysis, synthesis and client implications, and in the production of client deliverables through effective and impactful written communication. Based on the strategic priorities of the government, identify and define underpinning initiatives and incentives that can drive the reform agenda forward. Identify and lead engagement with domestic and foreign stakeholders, across both the public and private sector, and international organizations. Identify and establish rapport with senior government stakeholder. This will entail regular interaction and follow-up, with the need to nudge counterparts while remaining aware of the sensitivities of each stakeholder. In particular, the Senior Manager would be expected to at times engage with government stakeholders to gather and synthesize progress in preparation for high-level coordination meetings. Engage with the client frequently face-to-face and participate in meetings and discussions regarding workstreams to ensure client’s needs are being met as accurately as possible. Co-own performance evaluations of junior project colleagues (i.e at Associate and Manager level) The Senior Manager will report to the Country Director and will hold responsibility for quality and timeliness of client-facing deliverables, and ensure projects bring the very best of TBI to clients by harnessing the skills, knowledge, and capacity of political, policy and research functions across TBI, including the Global Client Solutions team.

Person Specification

• At least 6 years of experience, ideally in consulting, with a track record of effective project delivery. The ideal candidate has previously extensively worked with top decision-makers both in the public sector (heads of state, heads of government, ministers) as well as private sector (C-suite).
• A graduate degree in public policy, finance, economics, or political science; under-graduate degrees and graduate degrees in other areas can be considered with relevant equivalent experience.
• Ability to effectively manage small-to-mid sized teams comprising a variety of skill sets, nationalities and cultural backgrounds with an ethos focused on team success and genuine motivation for colleagues’ performance, growth and well-being.
• An ability to work independently, think strategically and produce deliverables with attention to detail.
• Experience in one or more of the following: data analytics, economic impact assessment, economic / econometric modelling, quantitative analysis, investment attraction
• Strong written communication and executive reporting skills including concisely written PPT decks and reports.
• Excellent interpersonal and presentational skills; able to quickly establish his or her credibility with stakeholders.
• A proven ability to collaborate with others, including people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to operate within sometimes sensitive political contexts and be attuned to potential areas of conflict or tension. Apply sound judgement in all external engagements on behalf of TBI.
• An awareness of Eastern Europe politics and the broader economic and security context will be considered favourably.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in an Eastern European language will be considered favourably.

Please note that the Institute’s programme in question is new, and the operating environment is challenging and complex. For all new programmes, building operational and security capacity is critical. Our Security and Technical Operations team support new country programmes during this process and all requirements and training will be discussed during the interview process and beyond.

The successful candidate will be expected to help develop country operational processes and systems alongside delivery of client work whilst on the ground in country.

Closing Date:

2024-03-13