About the role

The Global Technical Lead (GTL) will lead the provision of high-quality technical support for a multi-country programme focused on enhancing digital skills and employment opportunities for young people with disabilities. This pivotal role will also champion workplace and labour market disability inclusion across seven countries in East, West, and Southern Africa.

The GTL will ensure that the programme is designed and implemented in alignment with Sightsavers thematic and programme strategies, and will play a key role in shaping innovative, inclusive approaches that drive systemic change and promote sustainable impact.

The post holder is expected to travel up to 12 weeks a year.

This is full time, in person role, with the post holder expected to work from the Sightsavers’ office in either Abuja, Accra, Lusaka or Nairobi five days per week.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic technical leadership for a multi-country programme focused on digital skills development and employment for young people with disabilities, while advancing disability inclusion within workplaces and labour markets across East, West, and Southern Africa.
• Collaborate closely with fellow Global Technical Leads and implementing partners to ensure cohesive, high-impact delivery of programme objectives.
• Drive innovation by shaping and piloting new strategic initiatives that enhance the quality, relevance, and sustainability of Sightsavers’ work.
• Contribute to cross-organisational efforts in research, innovation, policy, advocacy, and communications, working in partnership with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Represent Sightsavers at senior level as a subject matter expert in digital inclusion and the digital economy, participating in national, regional, and international networks, conferences, and sector platforms.

This is a highly varied and involved role, and the above is not an exhaustive list of duties or required professional skills. Please see the Job Description for full details

Jobholder Requirements

Essential:

• Master’s degree or higher (PhD preferred) in digital economy, digital policy, digital or economic sociology, political economy, development studies, global labour studies, or a related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of current debates and issues in AI and digital technologies, and the implications for skills, employment, decent work and labour markets in African and Global South contexts.
• Experience conducting and interpreting applied research, political economy analysis, or labour market assessments
• Experience of leading and developing programmes on digital skills, training and transition to employment, especially in the Global South
• Experience working on TVET systems and/or skills frameworks in African or Global South contexts
• Previous experience of engaging with tripartite labour market stakeholders, especially the private sector and especially in digital sectors, to improve employment and decent work outcomes.
• Experience working across multiple countries
• Excellent spoken and written English, with the ability to produce detailed reports and deliver presentations.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to plan from both programmatic and organisational perspectives.
• Excellent leadership, networking, and stakeholder engagement skills, with diplomacy and tact.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and work effectively within diverse teams.
• Experience developing and adapting technical guidance and programming tools.
• A clear commitment to disability inclusion, equality, and justice in digital and employment spaces.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for up to 12 weeks per year.

Education

Desirable:

• Experience in advocacy for marginalised groups, particularly in disability inclusion.
• Proficiency in French

• Provide strategic technical leadership for a multi-country programme focused on digital skills development and employment for young people with disabilities, while advancing disability inclusion within workplaces and labour markets across East, West, and Southern Africa.
• Collaborate closely with fellow Global Technical Leads and implementing partners to ensure cohesive, high-impact delivery of programme objectives.
• Drive innovation by shaping and piloting new strategic initiatives that enhance the quality, relevance, and sustainability of Sightsavers’ work.
• Contribute to cross-organisational efforts in research, innovation, policy, advocacy, and communications, working in partnership with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Represent Sightsavers at senior level as a subject matter expert in digital inclusion and the digital economy, participating in national, regional, and international networks, conferences, and sector platforms.

• Demonstrable understanding of current debates and issues in AI and digital technologies, and the implications for skills, employment, decent work and labour markets in African and Global South contexts.
• Experience conducting and interpreting applied research, political economy analysis, or labour market assessments
• Experience of leading and developing programmes on digital skills, training and transition to employment, especially in the Global South
• Experience working on TVET systems and/or skills frameworks in African or Global South contexts
• Previous experience of engaging with tripartite labour market stakeholders, especially the private sector and especially in digital sectors, to improve employment and decent work outcomes.
• Experience working across multiple countries
• Excellent spoken and written English, with the ability to produce detailed reports and deliver presentations.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to plan from both programmatic and organisational perspectives.
• Excellent leadership, networking, and stakeholder engagement skills, with diplomacy and tact.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and work effectively within diverse teams.
• Experience developing and adapting technical guidance and programming tools.
• A clear commitment to disability inclusion, equality, and justice in digital and employment spaces.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for up to 12 weeks per year.
• Proficiency in French

• Master’s degree or higher (PhD preferred) in digital economy, digital policy, digital or economic sociology, political economy, development studies, global labour studies, or a related subject, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrable understanding of current debates and issues in AI and digital technologies, and the implications for skills, employment, decent work and labour markets in African and Global South contexts.
• Experience conducting and interpreting applied research, political economy analysis, or labour market assessments
• Experience of leading and developing programmes on digital skills, training and transition to employment, especially in the Global South
• Experience working on TVET systems and/or skills frameworks in African or Global South contexts
• Previous experience of engaging with tripartite labour market stakeholders, especially the private sector and especially in digital sectors, to improve employment and decent work outcomes.
• Experience working across multiple countries
• Excellent spoken and written English, with the ability to produce detailed reports and deliver presentations.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to plan from both programmatic and organisational perspectives.
• Excellent leadership, networking, and stakeholder engagement skills, with diplomacy and tact.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and work effectively within diverse teams.
• Experience developing and adapting technical guidance and programming tools.
• A clear commitment to disability inclusion, equality, and justice in digital and employment spaces.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for up to 12 weeks per year.
• Experience in advocacy for marginalised groups, particularly in disability inclusion.
• Proficiency in French