UK-Nigeria Tech Hub Director, International Tech Hub Network at British High Commission

Ref No: 06/19 LOS
Location: Lagos
Grade: D6 (L)
Type of Position: Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory: Economic and Prosperity
Start Date: 1 July 2019

Main Purpose of Job

• This is an exciting opportunity to set up and lead a new, innovative and high-profile Tech Hub in Nigeria that will aim to develop the Nigerian tech ecosystem, deliver digital skills programmes, and build links between Nigerian and international (including UK) tech businesses. 
• We are looking for a dynamic, well-networked leader from the Nigerian tech scene for this important role, who will use their significant experience and network to shape and lead this exciting initiative. The hub will be one of four critical pillars of a new Prosperity Fund programme to drive greater digital access in countries like Nigeria.  New and innovative, the Prosperity Fund (PF) represents a step change in the UK Government’s (HMG) approach to promoting economic development and prosperity overseas.
• The PF was established under the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries and thereby reducing poverty. As such, it represents a key component of the prosperity pillar of the UK Aid Strategy. But the Fund uniquely focuses on promoting growth in  middle income countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA), which are home to nearly 60% of the world’s poor and where the development challenges remain significant, but at the same time are important business partners and drivers of prosperity. By delivering high impact, strategic multi-year programmes, across high opportunity countries, regions and sectors, the Fund will help create opportunities for international business, including UK companies. As the UK leaves the EU, an even more outward-looking global Britain investing and trading with the fastest growing markets will become increasingly important.
• The role will be based in Lagos, with  travel across the country which will be required to maximise the success and outputs of the hub across Nigeria. There will also be some overseas travel, including to the UK.
• The UK-Nigeria Tech Hub will be one of the first in a global network of international tech partnerships developed by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to build digital ecosystems that will facilitate sustainable economic growth and development.
• The successful candidate will lead a small team of locally-engaged staff, based within the British Deputy High Commission, and will be responsible for shaping and delivering the strategy for the Hub. The team will support local digital ecosystems in both the commercial hotspots and across more disadvantaged regions of the partner country. They follow the example of successful hubs elsewhere in the world such as the UK-Israel Hub in Tel Aviv. The Tech Hub Network is funded as part of a cross-government, Prosperity-funded programme, so collaboration across departments will be a critical success factor in this role.

The Hub will have three main aims:

• Identify, develop (including project management and budgeting), and deliver tailored interventions to cultivate digital skills responding to the needs and opportunities for inclusion in the local tech sector for example promoting opportunities for youth and women in the local tech sector. Interventions will generally be delivered by local and international partners;
• Support tech entrepreneurship through partnerships with local digital ecosystem stakeholders including incubators, accelerators and private sector firms, Nigerian government departments and agencies and non-profit organisations, while also highlighting UK strengths and the suitability of the UK as a tech partner;
• Facilitate partnerships between local tech firms (including tech start-ups) and international companies (across all sectors) in the form of commercial partnerships or joint ventures.

Roles and Responsibilities
What will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

• The successful applicant will design the strategy for, and establish the Nigeria Tech Hub and will work with colleagues at DCMS and other UK government departments working in digital access to set the Hub’s overall direction and objectives.
• The applicant will be responsible for the Hub’s operations across Nigeria, leading on cross departmental projects and developing and maintaining senior relationships with both internal and external contacts and sponsors developing a public and media profile for the Hub’s activities, leading on reporting and working as part of the High Commissioner's team and mission

Responsibilities will include:

• Overall leadership of the Tech Hub, including recruiting and leading a team of two other locally-engaged staff, managing the Hub budget and ensuring that Hub operations run smoothly;
• Leading the formulation of a strategy for the country, building on the Nigerian context and aligning to broader Prosperity Fund, Nigeria Integrated Delivery Plan, Department for International Trade (DIT) and Department for International Development (DFID) objectives;
• Overseeing the implementation of the DCMS-designed Hub monitoring and evaluation framework and providing management, performance and financial updates to senior stakeholders within UK Government;
• Initiating and pursuing new strategic partnership opportunities for the Hub, identifying and cultivating new leads, understanding business and innovation needs across all sectors and convincingly present the opportunities for collaboration;
• Contributing to the Hub’s future sustainability by actively seeking new opportunities for execution of the Hub’s mission, and developing revenue streams that will help the Hub to become financially sustainable in the long term.
• Working closely with DCMS central Tech Hub team, Digital Access Programme Adviser and other UK government departments, including the Department for International Trade (DIT), DFID and FCO to ensure that strategic priorities are aligned;
• Acting as the  lead point of contact for the Hub for stakeholders in government, (both Nigerian and UK) corporates and startups;
• Collaborating with the other Hubs in the global network to develop the network offering;

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• At least five years’ experience in, and knowledge of, the tech sector and start-up scene within Nigeria;
• Significant leadership experience in the technology/digital sector or business development more widely (or a passion for innovation and technology);
• Experience of developing strategies in partnership with multiple stakeholders;
• Well networked within the tech sector (private sector firms and start-ups);
• Knowledge of, and experience with, the Nigerian business landscape
• Track record of leading successful delivery in either industry or government;
• Good judgement and political understanding;
• Resilience and adaptability;
• Ability to engage credibly with senior government and senior industry stakeholders
• Proven track record of leading teams to develop and run programs and partnerships from the ground up – core funding will constitute Official Development Assistance, with legal constraints around how it is spent so an existing understanding of this will be helpful;
• Willingness to travel frequently within Nigeria, and to occasionally travel to the UK and other locations
• Language:  Excellent spoken and written English.  Knowledge of a Nigerian language, such as Yoruba or Hausa, would be welcome too.

Required Competencies: 

• Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Remuneration
Starting Monthly Salary: N1,852,619

Other benefits and conditions of employment 

• The post-holder will have direct line management responsibilities and be able to finalise recruitment of the Deputy Director of the Hub and Operations Coordinator, based in Lagos and will report to the Nigeria Head of Prosperity , while taking strategic direction from the International Tech Hub Network Team in London.
• The postholder will be required to work closely with staff from other government departments, including DIT,  DFID, FCO, and the other Tech Hubs.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

• DCMS, the Nigeria network and the Prosperity fund place a strong emphasis on learning and development.
• You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities. This role provides an excellent opportunity to build up programme knowledge and expertise and gain exposure to working across government.
• You will have access to existing and new Project & Programme Management L&D as well as wider job-relevant L&D and support for your own personal development.