Senior Manager, Tech for Development

Main purpose of the role

The Senior Manager, Tech for Development, will contribute to the design, execution, and monitoring of CIFF’s digital investments across a range of domains, including digital health, climate tech, and data systems. The role holder will:

• Partner with the Manager, Tech Innovation for Impact, combining strategic analysis, external partner management, and digital tech knowledge to ensure that technology is used responsibly, effectively, and equitably in CIFF's mission-driven work.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy to design and lead the implementation of complex and high-value digital initiatives, contributing to shaping CIFF’s strategic direction in technology for development.
• Contribute to shaping impact at the portfolio and mission level, ensuring CIFF’s digital investments deliver scalable, equitable outcomes aligned with CIFF’s strategic goals.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Lead high-profile or cross-sector initiatives where technology is core to achieving CIFF’s strategic priorities, including providing subject matter expert advice to senior leadership on emerging digital opportunities and risks.
• Set direction and lead workstreams to implement technology solutions which play a central role in shaping CIFF’s investment strategy, particularly in situations that require adaptive strategy and senior-level judgement to identify and resolve risks and issues.
• Be accountable for the successful design and delivery of assigned digital investments, ensuring clear outputs, timelines, and value-for-money, and driving course correction as needed.
• Provide strategic input into the design of tech/digital components of sector investments (e.g., eCHIS, biometric tools, AI for anthropometry)
• Support the Tech for Impact Director and teams in the organisation on coordination, documentation and professional presentation of outputs for the Tech for Impact strategy and planning process.
• As required, collaborate with Finance Portfolio colleagues to contribute to the management and implementation of cost effective, robust and financially well-structured programmes, including budget forecasting and disbursement for programming for the team, aligned with organizational strategic and accountability priorities.
• Identify opportunities and options for improving processes, procedures and programme management approaches within (and beyond) the team, to support increased organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Act as a senior thought leader in technology for development, shaping external discourse and influencing global and regional partners through strategic engagement and published insights.
• Serve as a trusted expert on Tech for Development for both internal teams and external stakeholders, advising on best-fit approaches, emerging trends, and risk mitigation strategies in digital investment design and implementation.
• Ensure CIFF remains current with best practice and trends in Tech for Development approaches, and developments within its portfolio areas.
• Drive the use of scalable, open-source, and context-appropriate technologies to improve the impact and efficiency of CIFF-supported programmes.
• Advocate the development and uptake of digital public goods, offline-first tools, by external partners, and champion ethical, inclusive and responsible design principles in the development and deployment of digital tools.
• Ensure that digital investments include strong implementation plans, realistic data strategies, and mechanisms for continuous learning.
• Collaborate with CIFF programme teams and fundraising partners to develop compelling cases for co-investment, including co-sponsored proposals, donor engagement materials, and participation in strategic funding dialogues.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Lead the identification, development, and management of strategic partnerships to advance CIFF’s digital impact agenda, including strategically significant, cross-sector, or politically sensitive engagements that require nuanced judgement, credibility, and influence.
• Represent CIFF in high-level forums and donor dialogues, influencing policy and funding agendas aligned with Tech for Impact goals, identifying opportunities for co-funding with external donors and partners.
• Monitor and proactively manage delivery, reputational, and operational risks across digital investments, advising senior leaders on emerging concerns and make recommendations for mitigation options.
• Track the performance of tech-enabled investments and support adaptive management, performance reviews, portfolio ratings, and learning agendas.
• Facilitate integration with government systems and build local capacity to sustain digital initiatives.
• Proactively maintain external networks with subject matter experts in the tech for development communities, to ensure CIFF’s thinking and decision-making is shaped by the most up-to-date insights and research.
• Synthesize and share insights across CIFF’s tech portfolio to inform global dialogue on the role of technology in development.
• As required, contribute to the development of thought leadership, communication and advocacy materials, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale-up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives.
• Apply CIFF’s agreed account management disciplines and approaches in all dealings with partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships are maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner.
• With a variety of external audiences, develop and maintain strong partnerships and act as a knowledgeable resource about CIFF’s programmes and priority areas.

Membership and leadership of the team

• Champion cross-team alignment on digital strategy by engaging with sector teams, finance, and policy colleagues to ensure cohesive and integrated delivery of tech-enabled initiatives.
• Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.
• Actively mentor and coach junior colleagues, model inclusive leadership, and contribute to strengthening CIFF’s organisational capabilities in digital innovation.

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable experience in technology-for-development, or adjacent fields (e.g. digital health, AI, ICT4D).
• Experience leading high-complexity digital programmes or partnerships, including shaping strategy, managing political risk, and engaging at ministerial or C-suite level.
• Experience working on or with government digital transformation initiatives and/or donor-funded digital programmes.
• Knowledge of digital systems (e.g., DHIS2), data flows, interoperability, and responsible data practices.
• Demonstrated thought leadership and external influence in technology-for-development spaces.
• Experienced in managing partners and vendors in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong understanding of technology policy, implementation realities, and equity considerations in low-resource settings.
• Analytical mindset with ability to assess risks, evaluate trade-offs, and translate insights into action.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with cultural fluency and adaptability across contexts.
• An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
• Exposure to data analysis, natural language processing or sentiment analysis of data desirable
• Demonstrable experience of working and influencing at senior levels, especially in the use of evidence to impact policy level decisions
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes
• Experience in supporting capacity building for evidence collection and use, system development, and communication, including programmatic staff and/or national stakeholders and government ministries desirable
• Experience working within government systems and/or experience influencing the policies of government agencies, private sector organisations or donor organisations
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Office and common AI tools)
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience

Key working relationships

• Tech for Impact and CIFF sector teams
• CIFF functional teams (e.g. DTS, legal, HR, finance)
• Technology partners, product developers, and implementation agencies
• Government stakeholders, donors, and digital public infrastructure initiatives
• Peer funders and thought leaders in the digital development ecosystem

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees work in the office and some of the time from home. We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following.

• Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before 8th October 2025. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.

The starting salary for this role is USD 71,400