Russell Reynolds Associates Seeks Chief Technology and Knowledge Officer for Gavi

February 19, 2019 – Russell Reynolds Associates has been enlisted to find a chief technology and knowledge officer (CTKO) for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is a leading international public-private partnership committed to increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries.

The CTKO plays a key role across the alliance in achieving Gavi’s mission, said the search firm. The individual is charged with fostering a knowledge-sharing culture and ensuring efficient use of technology to see that information is systematically captured and shared to facilitate timely decision-making. The CTKO is also responsible for enabling and enhancing partners’ and stakeholders’ engagement. With external stakeholders, the job calls for ensuring transparency, access to information and data quality while safeguarding Gavi’s digital assets.

The CTKO is an integral member of Gavi’s leadership team, said the search firm. The CTKO reports to the managing director, public engagement and information services and interacts closely with the organization’s CEO, deputy CEO and other members of the executive team.

The Position

The role calls for developing, enhancing, implementing and overseeing Gavi’s technology, knowledge management and cybersecurity strategy aligned to Gavi’s mission, risk appetite and resources, and in consultation with Gavi’s senior management team, said Russell Reynolds Associates. In line with this, the CTKO is responsible for the prioritization, efficient use and effective delivery of the technology investment portfolio, and is accountable for ensuring technology investments provide value for money and contribute to Gavi’s mission.

The CTKO role calls for the efficient and effective use of new and existing technology. Consistent and timely generation, analysis and sharing of information is critical to its success, said Russell Reynolds Associates.

Candidates should hold an advanced degree in a discipline relevant to the role.  They are also required to have at least 15 years’ experience in senior management position(s) with a breadth of experience, including: prior success in optimizing IT, knowledge management and cybersecurity; thorough understanding of technology tools and demonstrated ability to assess relevance and applicability of such tools to business processes; diverse experience in managing technology, business and people, and achieving change; and experience of similar roles in other organizations including leading transformation projects.

Skills and Competencies

Skills and competencies for the role include: exceptional leadership, organizational and management skills; understanding of the people, process, technology and content aspects of change; advanced skills in program management; excellent oral and written communication skills; the ability to successfully interact at all organizational levels to garner support for new ideas; and a good grasp of emerging business technologies and architectures.

Prospects should also have a demonstrated capacity to manage a variety of overlapping work streams simultaneously and proven ability to manage competing demands, said Russell Reynolds Associates. The ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious working relationships, both within and outside the organization, including with peers in other organizations is also necessary, as is the proven ability to work independently, under pressure, demonstrating initiative and flexibility.

Fluent English is essential for the role. Proficiency in French is desirable.

Since 2000, Gavi has supported developing countries in the immunization of over 700 million children saving 10 million lives and generating $150 billion (U.S.) in economic benefits. The alliance’s work has helped to reduce child mortality related to vaccine preventable diseases by nearly 60 percent in 68 Gavi supported countries.

Gavi builds on public sector expertise in health and development, with the acumen of private sector individuals and organizations. The Alliance brings together developed country donors, implementing governments, civil society organizations, research and technical institutes, and vaccine producers with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, private philanthropists and international financiers to find ways to fund and support immunization in the world’s poorest countries and advance the UN sustainable development goals.

Top Five Search Firm

Russell Reynolds Associates’ public sector, trade and associations practice group serves a wide variety of public sector and not-for-profit organizations, related public bodies, regulators and government-owned companies. It also fills the executive leadership needs of global charities, healthcare providers and local government and trade associations.

Russell Reynolds’ consultants have extensive experience with recruiting, developing and advising exceptional board members, CEOs and specific senior functional leadership for non-profit organizations around the world. The firm also conducts in-depth organizational culture assessment and measures the cultural fit of key leadership and candidates in the following areas: arts and culture, global development, higher education, non-profit health and human services, public sector, social justice and advocacy, as well as trade and professional associations.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media