Regional Communications Manager

Focus of the Role 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. Please note, it is essential you have an existing right to work in Kenya to apply for this role. We encourage early application as we reserve the right, if required, to close this role ahead of the date advertised. Job Introduction As the Institute grows, we are seeking a Regional Communications Manager for Africa. The position will be directly responsible for executing communications activities in Africa, covering the Anglophone media, reporting to the Deputy Director, Regional Communications, MEEE and Africa. The Anglophone Regional Communications Manager should be based at our Regional Hub in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a new role as part of recent changes to elevate the role of communications across TBI. As such, the reporting arrangements will involve directly reporting to the Deputy Director, with regular oversight by, and taskings from, both the Executive Director, Global Strategic Communications, and the Managing Director, Africa Advisory, based in Nairobi. The Deputy Director will be responsible for triaging and helping manage the additional tasks and interventions by the Executive and Managing Directors. This is an indication of the level of interest across the organisation in making this role a success. The Regional Communications Manager, in close cooperation with the Deputy Director, will create and implement a joint Anglo communications strategy for Africa to maximise the impact of our work across the continent. Successfully implemented, the strategy will tell a coherent story and showcase what we do in policy and advisory, and the people we have in leadership to do it. The successful candidate will be accustomed to complex environments and able to operate strategically and at pace. With a keen interest in public policy, and ideally experienced in political communications, they will believe in the power of progressive politics and will know how to deploy strategic communications to realise a policy objective. Reporting to the Deputy Director, Regional Communications, this role will shape and deliver plans to build the profile of our senior leadership, elevate stories for promotion TBI-wide, in coordination with the Global Strategic Communications team, cultivate contacts in the media, provide background briefings, and manage public-facing events that support our business development and profile-raising efforts in the region, and ensure all of the above adhere and reinforce our TBI branding. This role will also support Global Client Solutions and the local Advisory team, offering practical communications advice and seeing first-hand the stories we could tell, and the impact we are having, and deploying them for internal and external TBI communications. Key Responsibilities Manage day-to-day communications activities, including media, press, social and creative activities for the region, ensuring that the work of TBI is reaching, influencing, and impacting the relevant audiences and stakeholders in your region Help to develop and support a regional communication, press and media strategy for TBI in Africa, to advance our key strategic priorities, particularly brand-building and business development Build productive relationships with journalists in key outlets, regionally and globally, in order to help deliver impactful media coverage Work closely with policy and advisory experts across the global network of TBI ensuring work they are producing has value for client work and potentially communications value; working with them to focus their work in a way that supports our regional offices in Africa Deliver successful local events and brand-building/raising campaigns that will achieve local deliverables Work with the Deputy Director to promote regional advisory and manage/raise TBI profile, including a comms approach to showcase regional partnerships, value proposition, and key staff (leadership) Deliver programmes in the region that advance and outline the aims of the Institute in a measurable way, through policy and communications Use key performance indicators and analytics to track effectiveness of communications in the region Build strong, collaborative relationships across Africa and actively champion TBI’s progressive values Person Specification The Regional Communications Manager will be experienced and successful communications operatives: With experience in strategic communications and press office teams. Working for complex, global organisations is an advantage; political experience is an asset Who has a track record of developing and implementing communications strategies to support policy initiatives, including achieving impactful media coverage in African media With a personal passion for politics and government, bringing demonstrable expertise in politics, public policy or administration, international relations, or another similar field With demonstrable evidence of developing productive, collaborative relationships both inside and beyond organisations, including with journalists With strong contacts among journalists in Africa (in regional and global outlets) With strong writing skills, able to create compelling content to tight deadlines, in English With excellent judgment and a proven ability to achieve results in changing, complex environments #LI-Hybrid