Computer IT Jobs at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Ampersand and Bboxx


Deadline of this Job: 
20 October 2022

JOB DETAILS:
Tech Policy Advisor (RISA)
Focus of the Role
Are you excited by the prospect of being involved in initiatives that leverage the application of technology and innovation for sustainable development? Do you have experience of consulting or working in technology policy advisory as part of a team driving systemic and transformative change in an emerging economy? Do you thrive on driving the end-to-end delivery of transformative projects by the public sector? If yes, we want to hear from you!
Scaling up support to governments in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, the Tony Blair Institute’s Tomorrow Partnership works with political leaders and governments to bring tech and digital solutions to their biggest challenges, because we believe tomorrow will belong to those who responsibly harness the power of technology for the good of all people, and to leave no one behind.

Through The Tomorrow Partnership, we broker strategic partnerships between governments and leading tech organisations and innovators to help foster environments that enable tech to deliver practical change in people’s lives.

Job Introduction

As part of the Tomorrow Partnership programme in Rwanda we are looking for an experienced Tech Policy Advisor to join a fast-growing team working in the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) to help deliver on Rwanda’s ambitions in this space.

Reporting to the TBI Senior Head of Tech in Rwanda and taking day-to-day guidance from the Chief Executive Officer RISA, this role will interface with senior RISA, Ministry and other implementing agency leadership to support RISA’s efforts in advisory, scoping, developing, implementing and monitoring interventions that delivers the full potential of the RISA and MINICT strategies towards a digital government.

TBI is looking for a senior and experienced individual with a background in technology, innovation strategy and/or policy to fill this position. The individual will provide strategic advice and policy insights to support the strengthening of the policy-making and strategic planning capacities of RISA. Working in collaboration with the broader Rwanda Tomorrow Partnership programme and staff embedded in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the post-holder will work with senior staff across RISA and its network of Chief Digital Officers (CDOs) to research, design and implement policies, strategies and impactful programs, in close collaboration with other MDAs.

The successful post-holder will develop strong relationships with key private and public stakeholders, undertaking landscape and feasibility assessments, and support the development and implementation of TBI-supported interventions in government digital transformation and government capacity building in technology and the ICTs in Rwanda.
The role will also assist the Senior Head of Tech to contribute to the structuring and designing of TBI’s offering and partnerships in government digital transformation and capacity building for the public sector in technology and ICTS, and to engage with TBI’s teams in Africa to ensure a regionally coherent approach on TBI offers from the regional TBI team.

This role will also directly manage 3 key advisor roles supported by TBI for RISA:
• Government Digital Transformation Advisor
• Data and Cloud Infrastructure Advisor
• Capacity Building and Digital Literacy Advisor

The position is full-time, with a minimum duration of 12 months and based in Kigali, Rwanda and starts as soon as possible on the identification of a suitable candidate. Relocation assistance may be provided for the successful candidate if required.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide advice and expertise to RISA in the development and implementation of Rwanda’s digital and data policy frameworks. Engage with senior stakeholders from across RISA and government to ensure development of world-leading policy frameworks, identifying challenges to existing policy regimes and helping to find solutions, and identifying areas for future development to position Rwanda’s government digitalisation programmes at the cutting edge of policy innovation and technology options for a digital government
• Work with the RISA CEO to research, propose and design policies, programs and strategies to facilitate the establishment of the necessary digital building blocks, and support efforts to capture the impact of RISA-led initiatives and programmes
• Support RISA leadership and senior staff in the preparation of position papers and briefing documents for participation in international forums (e.g., ITU, Broadband Commission, Smart Africa Alliance, Edison Alliance, World Economic Forum etc.); leverage wider TBI Policy resources, where appropriate to support this task
• Support RISA leadership and key staff members to gain the required knowledge, skills, values, expertise and exposure to effectively design and implement impactful policies and strategies
• Lead a team comprising of the Digital Government Transformation Advisor, the Data Centre and Cloud Infrastructure Advisor, and the Capacity Building and Digital Literacy Advisor based at RISA to deliver on their objectives Person Specification
• Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology or other relevant areas, preferably with specialisation/expertise in strategy development, technology, or economics essential; additional professional qualifications an asset
• Significant experience in providing strategic advice and development of public development policies and/or strategies; of which 2 years specifically in areas related to government digital transformation, networks and connectivity and capacity building of public servants in technology and ICTs for a digital government
• Strong understanding of the dynamics of tech, government digital transformation, and innovation demonstrated by experience in conducting studies and/or designing policies and strategies in these areas;
• Substantive overall understanding of digital development trends and ability to present related issues clearly both to a general and a specialist audience;
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Strong project and people management skills, with experience leading a team.
• Excellent business writing, presentation skills and verbal communication skills (in English)
• Effective inter-personal and leadership skills. Team player with an ability to develop and foster relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Drive, motivation and ability to consistently achieve results in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and build capacity, across different capacities

About The Institute
The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) is a mission-driven not for profit organisation. We exist to equip political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies. We work hard, every day, to make a difference. When governments work well they are able to create economic and social change in a way that promotes fairness, social justice and opportunity. We work relentlessly to support leader and governments with the challenges they face. Giving them practical solutions and actionable insights, that once implemented, can be transformative for their people

We do this within two connected divisions:

Government Advisory
Our Government Advisory teams work directly with political leaders and governments around the world to implement reforms that improve the lives of their citizens. It works with a variety of partners and its outputs cover a range of disciplines and projects across countries in Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and South Asia.

Policy Futures
Our Policy Futures work encompasses three broad areas:
• Renewing the Centre: developing a bold and innovative domestic policy programme to help renew the centre ground of British politics;
• Tech and Public Policy: exploring the policy challenges and opportunities presented by the technological revolution; and
• Extremism Policy Unit: creating solutions designed to tackle the threat of extremist ideologies in the UK and around the world.

As an organisation, the core beliefs we all embrace are:
• Open and Progressive: you’ll believe in the value of teamwork
• Bold and Pragmatic: you’ll approach everything you do with integrity and authenticity
• Optimistic Changemaker: you’ll be focused on results

TBI believes embracing diversity and inclusion make us a better place to work. It’s our goal to reflect everyone in society and we actively welcome applications from individuals and groups who are under-represented in the workplace. We celebrate difference be it ethnicity, religion, age, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. We will only ever assess you on your abilities and fit for a role. We’re happy to discuss any adjustments you need to ensure a level playing field during recruitment and, if you\'re successful, discuss any adjustments you might need to thrive in your role.


Deadline of this Job: 08 October 2022

JOB DETAILS:
R&D - Research and Development · Kigali
Software Engineer Associate
We’re looking for someone who has worked with large distributed systems and is not afraid to go in and assist with debugging or coding.
We usually respond within a day
Do you want to do work that matters? Do you want to help improve the lives of some of the most hardworking people in Africa, while also reducing carbon emissions? Do you want to use your skills to advance Africa towards a zero-carbon future, not just to make a living? Ampersand is your answer.

About Ampersand
Ampersand has grown from a tiny, bootstrapped R&D garage project in 2018 into East Africa's leading electric vehicle operation, with a team of over 120 staff drawn from diverse backgrounds and we plan to see all 5 million taxi motorbikes in East Africa electric by 2030. We are rapidly scaling our operations, and we are looking for innovative professionals who are passionate about clean energy and environmental impact to lead and contribute to our rapid growth.

About the role
The Software Engineer Associate will oversee and assist in the development of the AmperOps platform. We’re looking for someone who has worked with large distributed systems and is not afraid to go in and assist with debugging or coding. This involves everything from making sure the infrastructure decisions are sound to decisions around software tools and platforms to use. Ampersand manages a fleet of batteries and vehicles and sells swaps. The software will be key to ensuring the success of the business model.

This role will report directly to the CTO. Your objectives will include the following:
• Helping shape Ampersands digital products
• Understanding user requirements and turning them into applications, running and working with other teams to understand requirements and distill them into requirements that can be transformed into applications and features.
• Bringing together and managing a team of Junior software engineers and mentoring them as the team grows
• Setup the software dev cycle from development to testing to deployment. Choose what tools to use for CI, log management and overall DevOps.
• Working on the data back-end of Ampersand to allow for data analytics and business intelligence to be extracted easily
• Looking into Machine Learning as a way of optimizing Ampersands charging and battery infrastructure
• Writing code in Python/Go/Java/JS when needed to assist in components of the process
• Work together with the hardware and electrical team to ensure synergy between hardware and software products.

Ampersand is a good fit if:
• You are ready to support people in a high growth company
• You have a meticulous attention to detail
• You are motivated by seeing your teammates grow and develop
• You are looking for an entrepreneurial company that values innovation and strong execution
• You value diversity and community in the workplace
• You like to get stuff done
• You love complicated systems where optimization is key
• You are not afraid of infrastructure projects and like playing with hardware.
• You like working in a fast-moving agile environment. Minimum requirements
A strong work ethic, and the ability to manage shifting priorities and unforeseen challenges.
• Minimum of 3 years of prior experience in Software Developments and large team management
• Degree in computer science/ electrical engineering is a bonus, but experience is also valued
• Technical abilities with Linux, Bash, VM’s, Docker, Networks, Distributed systems
• Experience with time series and transactional data
• Strong communication skills with a supportive and nurturing disposition
• (Bonus) Experience in a start-up environment

Timing
ASAP

Compensation
A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience including health insurance.


Deadline of this Job: 08 October 2022

JOB DETAILS:
Firmware Engineer
We are looking for a Firmware Engineer who will be responsible for supporting the firmware development team in the design, development and production of the firmware in our products.
We usually respond within a day
Do you want to do work that matters? Do you want to help improve the lives of some of the most hardworking people in Africa, while also reducing carbon emissions? Do you want to use your skills to advance Africa towards a zero-carbon future, not just to make a living? Ampersand is your answer.

About Ampersand
Ampersand has grown from a tiny, bootstrapped R&D garage project in 2018 into East Africa's leading electric vehicle operation, with a team of over 120 staff drawn from diverse backgrounds and we plan to see all 5 million taxi motorbikes in East Africa electric by 2030. We are rapidly scaling our operations, and we are looking for innovative professionals who are passionate about clean energy and environmental impact to lead and contribute to our rapid growth.

About the role
We are looking for a motivated and experienced Firmware Engineer to join our team! As a Firmware Engineer, you will be working in the Electronics department, in close collaboration with the Software team. You will be responsible for supporting the firmware development team in the design, development and production of the firmware in our products. You will be responsible for testing, documenting and creating firmware standards. Duties and responsibilities
• Planning, developing and implementing firmware
• Maintaining stable firmware
• Gathering and analyzing requirements
• Performing code reviews
• Writing and maintaining firmware documentation
• Testing firmware releases
• Working closely with customers to resolve issues
• Providing technical support and training to the firmware development team

Requirements and qualifications
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field
• Minimum 2 years experience in Firmware Developing
• Demonstrable knowledge of C programming language
• Experience in developing and debugging firmware for embedded microcontrollers
• Good knowledge of RTOS (FreeRTOS, Azure RTOS)
• Good understanding of electronic schematics and boards
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a team environment
• Good understanding of electric motors and their control algorithms (FOC, SVM...) and proficiency in other programming languages (Python, C#) is an advantage

Ampersand is a good fit if:
• You’re interested in clean energy and environmental impact (even without experience in it yet)
• You are a self-motivated, hands-on, proactive problem solver
• You’re comfortable thinking outside of the box
• You are able to negotiate details and big-picture priorities well
• You're organized and love to build systems
• You are looking for an entrepreneurial company that values innovation and strong execution
• You value collaboration, and diversity and community in the workplace l


Timing
ASAP

Compensation
A competitive compensation package commensurate including health insurance


Deadline of this Job: 08 October 2022

JOB DETAILS:
Product Expansion Manager – Bboxx Cook
Reporting to: Head of Bboxx Cook

Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Who we are:
Bboxx is a UK-based Next Generation Utility company providing affordable, reliable and clean energy solutions to meet off-grid customers’ energy needs. We are fully vertically integrated, controlling every part of our customer experience. having already impacted over 2 million customers' lives with our solar home systems (SHS) so far and diversification into clean cooking and other utilities underway, we have 1000+ staff working across five offices in Europe, Asia and Africa - who are waking up every morning to transform the lives of our customers and to unlock their potential.

Purpose:
You will play a central role in our plan to disrupt the LPG Industry in Africa. Responsible from A to Z for the successful launch of the innovative Bboxx Cook products within a new market. You will build and execute a strategy that delivers effective results in record time. This role is about being an entrepreneur by creating enthusiasm, teaching processes, supporting colleagues, and taking quick decision and initiatives.

There is one obsession: SUCCESS!

One goal: To disrupt the LPG Industry in Africa
Bboxx Cook is a business line dedicated to clean cooking solutions. Bboxx Cook focuses primarily on LPG and has the ambition to disrupt the industry by improving the customer services (cylinders and stoves financing, warranty, home delivery, fidelity program, etc.) and the retail management (cylinder tracing, digitalized stock management, mobile money payments, etc).

Key Responsibilities:
• Support the set-up of retail operations on the ground in new markets to ensure a successful roll out of the Bboxx Cook products.
• Design and teach new processes and strategies to run the operations effectively and successfully considering the specific dynamics of each market.
• Support building business opportunities in new and existing markets in East Africa with new market assessment and market insights.
• Manage relationships with key stakeholders for new markets (e.g. pitch to investors, commercial relationship, donors reporting, and public authorities).

Skills and Ability
• Experience gained from working in the African LPG Industry is essential
• Exceptional analytical and conceptual thinking to be able to design strategies and draw conclusions to take corrective action quickly.
• A ‘common sense’ attitude and a ‘hands on’ approach manager who likes being on the ground and take decision to move things forward.

• Be very comfortable with the use of ERP, CRM, and other management systems as well as with the Office and Google suite.
• Excellent change manager who creates enthusiasm about innovations and new processes and enjoy teaching it to colleagues and partners.
• Excellent external and internal communication skills individual who works in partnership with others with professionalism and respect. Qualifications
• 5 years + experience in leading business strategy, operations, retail, project management, and product support. Experience in the LPG industry is essential.
• Relevant degree + professional qualification (Strategy, Business, Finance or equivalent through relevant training and or experience)
• Proficiency in English (Swahili, and/or French is a plus)

At Bboxx, we celebrate our differences, and recognize the strength in the diversity of our people. We are a global employer who believe in providing opportunities for all its employees to unlock their potential regardless of background, age, sex, race, religion, or personal beliefs.

We look to recruit individuals from all different backgrounds and encourage you to apply to roles you are passionate about, even if you need help from us to develop your skills. We strive to create an inclusive environment and regularly celebrate the diversity of our people through events arranged by our Culture Committee. Bboxx provides a workplace where you can be your authentic self and focus on our mission of transforming lives through access to energy!