Senior Innovation Officer – Frontier Technologies Programme

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world — government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators — to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too.

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity—of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds—is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

Contract type: 12-month Fixed Term Contract, April 2024 – March 2025. Part time: 60% (3 days per week).

Team: Innovation Practice

Please note that this is an anticipated role; currently awaiting confirmation of funding.

About the Innovation Practice

Around the world, individuals and institutions are finding new ways to work faster and smarter to address pressing challenges in health, education and nutrition systems. By adapting innovations to different contexts, creating novel approaches and solutions, and anticipating possible futures, these change agents are delivering better outcomes for citizens and challenging systemic inequalities.

In partnership with change agents, we facilitate the scale-up of innovations — addressing supply and demand-side barriers to scaling the impact of individuals or cohorts of innovations. We also facilitate the strengthening of innovation ecosystems — addressing specific gaps, weaknesses and inefficiencies in the environment that are constraining innovation and scaling processes. To achieve these goals, we work with a range of innovation ecosystem actors, including social entrepreneurs, governments, civil society organisations and development agencies.

Read more about the practice and some examples of our flagship programmes here.

Opportunity

R4D is seeking one Sr. Innovation Advisor based in Colombia to join our global Innovation Practice. This opportunity represents a chance to work on one of R4D’s flagship innovation programmes, the Frontier Technologies Hub (FT Hub), funded by the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The role work closely with a collaborative programme team which embraces innovation and learning together, and building a new workstream in the FT Hub that mobilises local ecosystem actors around a demand-led frontier technology solution. Experience of working in emerging technology innovation, and established relationships with key innovation ecosystem stakeholders (bi/multi-laterals, Governments, investors and NGOs) in Colombia is highly desirable.

The Frontier Tech Hub is made up of a consortium of three partners (R4D, DT Global and Brink), who have a strong working relationship with the FCDO. The FT Hub has various workstreams that operate in a matrixed structure and collectively contribute to achieving the objectives, outcomes, and impact of the programme. This exciting opportunity has emerged as part of the introduction of a new demand-led programme workstream. The Sr. Innovation Advisor will support the Workstream Lead to develop the workstream strategy in Colombia and drive successful implementation to a high standard.

The ’Demand-Led’ workstream will focus on identifying truly local and demand-driven challenges in low/middle-income contexts which can be addressed through the application of frontier technology solutions. We define ‘demand’ as the request / articulation of interest for a particular product or service (the innovation) by potential adopters of the innovation (which could include governments, civil society and/or target users in the general population).

The Sr. Innovation Advisor will work collaboratively with FCDO country post and their local ecosystem network (Governments, multi/bi- laterals, CSOs and NGOs) to explore and identify demand-led solutions. Their scope will involve moving through the following phases of an innovation framework and producing associated innovation tools, resources and methods:

• Scope - Narrowing down of sector and thematic priorities.
• Explore - Researching and articulating multi-dimensional demand; Deep exploration of potential frontier tech innovation; innovation ecosystem analysis – understanding ecosystem maturity and readiness to support/adopt an innovative solution
• Design - Co-design of the tech innovation/solution with local change agents.

The Sr. Innovation Advisor plays a critical role in networking and building strategic relationships in-country, working with FCDO to mobilise the local network/ecosystem, identify key stakeholders and support them to explore the potential of emerging technologies to address local development challenges. This role will identify opportunities where other (formal and informal) partnerships could be formed, and will support the Workstream Lead in the delivery of strategic innovation workshops and will often lead the facilitation of these workshops.

The Sr. Innovation Advisor will contribute to the technical delivery of innovation resources, tools and frameworks to support both the progression of the innovation phases mentioned above, and the development of key innovation skills and attitudes, especially for FCDO staff.

The right person for this role will be an excellent networker and able to build strategic relationships, an entrepreneurial and highly organised individual who delivers high-quality work. They will have a strong track record of managing a range of stakeholders and working on projects and programmes involving detailed work planning, collaboration across geographically disbursed teams, funder engagement, management of multiple partnerships (including with innovation and / or public sector actors), risk management, and ensuring the production of high-quality deliverables.

The role will report to the FT Hub Programme Manager (based in London).

Responsibilities

• Innovation Practice Strategy & Management
  • Support the development of the strategy in Colombia for the Demand-Led workstream.
  • Contribute to the development of innovation methods, tools, and resources.
  • Represent the Innovation Practice and R4D and FT Hub at meetings, conferences and events as required.
  • Manage in-country work plans with the Workstream Lead and deliver them on time and to a high standard.
• Project / programme management
  • Manage in-country work plans with the Workstream Lead and deliver them on time and to a high standard.
  • Support management of the workstream budget
  • Lead development of high-quality technical innovation deliverables that support the progression of the workstream project plans.
  • Proactively identify and manage risks and issues and manage sensitive topics and issues with empathy to achieve preferred outcomes.
  • Contribute to funder reporting, for example contribute to formal Quarterly or Annual Reviews.
  • Contribute to operational processes such as procurement and budgeting, as and when requested by the Lead.
• Stakeholder engagement and management
  • Establish and maintain a strong collaborative partnership with the FCDO, particularly the relevant country post.
  • Develop and manage strong relationships with key ecosystem stakeholders in country and identify opportunities to forge formal and informal working partnerships.
  • Identify creative ways to develop knowledge and understanding of how emerging technologies can be applied to development challenges.
  • Create crisp, impactful content and effectively adapt it for presentation to relevant audiences.
  • Plan and lead engaging and productive meetings and workshops with key local stakeholders with support from the Workstream Lead.
• Technical input
  • Independently leads development of technical / analytical products such as articles, reports, tools and frameworks including effectively structuring complex analytical problems and high-quality qualitative and quantitative analytics.
  • If necessary, manage local external partners to produce technical deliverables and provide direction on the content, structure, etc.
  • Provide technical and quality review of project deliverables as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential
  • BA/BSc with 7+ years of experience. The qualification would ideally be in global development, public health/administration, business/management, or another relevant field. Candidates with other qualifications offering equivalent levels of experience may also be considered.
  • Deep understanding of the local innovation ecosystem and demonstrable relationships established with key stakeholders in the local innovation ecosystem.
  • Programme and project management experience in global development.
  • Experience of designing and facilitating workshops with a range of stakeholders.
  • Impeccable writing, communication and presentation skills (e.g. in-person/virtual presentations, meeting facilitation, etc.) for high-level stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated experience of working in a matrixed environment across multiple programmes / projects.
  • Demonstrated ability to cultivate partnerships with a diversity of different development actors - both country and global levels.
  • Willingness to travel occasionally based on project needs.
  • Candidates must be legally authorised to work in Colombia.
• Highly Desirable
  • Experience working in the field of Technology Innovation in low-middle income contexts.
  • Experience managing components of FCDO and/or other large donor funded programmes.
  • Sectoral experience in areas of climate, health, education or nutrition.
  • Experience developing high-quality innovation tools and resources.
  • Understanding of the innovation and scaling process and innovation ecosystems. Experience working directly with innovators/entrepreneurs and/or other innovation ecosystem actors.
  • Experience with innovation methodologies such as user-centered design / agile / adaptive learning.
  • A professional qualification in project / programme management.

$87,129,000 - $119,059,190 a year

Results for Development is an EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering and nurturing an energetic, collaborative and diverse workforce. R4D provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits.