Manager

Position description

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

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), we help governments and leaders turn bold ideas into reality. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. We do it by sharing our insights, so everyone can benefit. And we do it to help build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.
 

In recognition of TBI’s growing impact and size in Asia Pacific (APAC), we are looking for an exceptional Manager to join TBI’s APAC Advisory Team – a regional team that supports our existing country operations and plays a key role in efforts to expand the footprint of our advisory work into new countries across the APAC region.

Managers on the APAC regional team provide dedicated in-country support to new countries as they ramp up operations and launch Advisory projects with senior government counterparts. Managers are responsible for project and/or workstream execution within countries or driving scoping efforts to launch new countries. This is a people manager role and the individual will be leading a small team of Associates and Analysts.

Successful applicants will have an amazing career ahead of them.  Whether they are at TBI for a few years, or a large share of their career as they grow and progress within the Institute – their experience as a TBI Manager will position them to have a huge global impact.   

This role is ideal for candidates who have public sector experience, either in government or through public sector management consulting with experience delivering strategy and policy projects for senior government clients. We are in search for individuals who are passionate about politics and the ability to create change by working in and closely with governments. Candidates must have the ability to operate directly with clients, which include Ministers, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Heads of State. Candidates must also be able to work across TBI with professionalism, confidentiality, integrity, collaboration, and diplomacy. 

Candidates must be willing to travel extensively across the APAC region, including for in-country deployments that can last up to six (6) months in duration. Candidates may be expected to do more than one (1) in-country deployment a year and should be excited by the opportunity to live in and learn about new countries and their governments. 

Preference will be given to candidates who are proficient in English and at least one other language at a level strong enough to engage with senior politicians in the region. The Manager will be based in Singapore when not deployed and will report to the Senior Manager, APAC Advisory.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies to help clients to achieve their goals through strong project management, problem solving, and execution.

• Undertake complex political analyses to understand key actors, their drivers, and how TBI can approach complex political landscapes

• Lead team of Associates and/or Analysts in problem structuring, analysis, synthesis and client implications, and in the production of client deliverables through effective and impactful written communication.

• Engage with government stakeholders to discuss opportunities and prepare materials and proposals accordingly.

• Innovate and develop tools that enable efficient management and delivery of programmes (e.g. project dashboards, frameworks, and trackers) 

• Contribute to the initiation of new engagements in existing or new countries, until permanent staffing has been identified and onboarded. This will entail managing teams of 2 or 3 junior team members, leading research, engaging with senior government stakeholders and overseeing the production of client-ready presentations and deliverables.

• Routinely engage with teams across TBI to ensure the best-of-TBI is brought forward to country programmes and clients 

• Provide surge support across the region when the regional staffing capacity requires buttressing. The Manager is expected to cover delivery roles across TBI’s core strategy, policy, and delivery work programs.

• When not deployed, the Manager will work with colleagues in the APAC region to scope new countries, deliver projects for other government clients in the region, or conduct research and analysis on a variety of topics.

• The Manager will report to the Senior Manager, or to the Country Director when on engagements.

Person Specification

• At least 6 years’ experience – ideally in government (e.g. political staffer or public servant), public sector consulting, public sector organizations, multilateral institutions, or implementation-oriented areas of a large, private sector organization – with a track record of effective project delivery.

• A graduate degree in public policy, economics, international relations, or political sciences; graduate degrees in other areas can be considered with relevant equivalent experience.

• Technology experience is not required but is an asset. What is required is a personal passion for politics, strong political acumen, and a willingness to learn and adapt. 

• Ability to effectively manage and develop small teams comprising a variety of skill sets, nationalities and cultural backgrounds with an ethos focused on team success, team health, and genuine motivation for colleagues’ performance, growth, and well-being – the Asia Pacific Regional Advisory team is a tight-knit unit who work closely together, so we are looking for candidates who will contribute to a positive, collaborative, and encouraging team atmosphere.  

• Proven ability to lead engagement and build relationships with public sector clients.

• An ability to work independently, think strategically and produce deliverables, with strong attention to detail.

• Excellent interpersonal and presentational skills; able to quickly establish his or her credibility with the client.

• Ability to operate within sometimes sensitive political contexts and be attuned to potential areas of conflict or tension.

• An awareness of trends in international relations and geopolitics, particularly in the region

• Strong written communication and executive reporting skills including concisely written PPT decks and reports.

Application instructions

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