Senior Grants Manager-International Collaboration Programme.

Pay band: 8

Salary: Starting at £38,820.  For candidates with exceptional skills, knowledge and experience (specific to the role) the British Council may consider a moderate broadening of the advertised salary.

What we’ll offer you:   In addition to a competitive salary and excellent civil service pension contributions, the British Council offers:
•    32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
•    3 days volunteering leave
•    Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development.

Location: Cardiff, Wales. (Wales Only). 

Department: Arts, Cultural Engagement.
Contract type: 20 months fixed term contract, 36 hours per week.

Closing Date: Sunday 29th October 23:59 UK Time. 
Requirements:

This role is based in the UK.  Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. 

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

The expectation is to be working in the Cardiff office approximately 2-3 days per week.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

The Team:

Come and join the British Council’s International Collaboration team as a Senior Grants Manager!

This is an exciting opportunity to join the British Council’s new International Collaboration Team, to support the launch and delivery of the next round of this programme.

We’re looking for a Senior Grants Manager to join the programme from January 2024, on a fixed term contract for 20 months.   These roles are timed to deliver the project and the end dates connect to key milestones within the programme.

The International Collaboration Grants (ICG) Programme is a key programme in the British Council Arts portfolio. It is designed to create opportunities for UK arts and culture organisations make and develop creative artwork with their international peers, developing international partnerships and innovative ways of collaborating.

ICG is a multiple strand programme including a biennial grants, a grantee community network and capacity development for applicants and grantees.

In its inaugural year in 2021 the ICG commissioned 94 projects from 41 countries have been successful, receiving grants of up to £75,000.

In advance of the launch of the next round of ICG the British Council are putting together a team to oversee, monitor and deliver the next round of grants.  You will play a key role in the delivery of the next round of this highly anticipated grant programme, as well as shaping the sustainability of the grant.

This team will sit within the UK Arts team and will work closely with our UK and global Arts colleagues, Regional Art Directors, as well as colleagues across marketing, finance and legal. The team will report into the Global Programme Lead for the Culture Connects Global Programme.

The Role:

A day in the role of the Senior Grant Manager could include working with our grantee community manager to feed into the shape of the next ICG Grantee Community.

You will be sharing learnings from ICG with global Arts or British Council colleagues at internal forums, working with the Grant manager and Relationship Manager for a grant programme to support a grantee resolve a delivery challenge, or working with the Global Programme Lead for Culture Connects to look at financial and income models for future rounds, to attending a performance or showcase from one of our grant programmes in the UK.

Accountabilities:

Accountabilities are, but not limited to:

•    Set, oversee and monitor the programme design and work plan for the International Collaboration Programme as a part of Culture Connects, managing a small team and working with global colleagues to ensure high quality, timely delivery.

•    Lead the work of the Grant Managers, planning and scheduling work streams and ensuring compliance, quality control and a maintenance of the established high standards delivery.

•    Lead and embed a new small team of Grants Managers, provide on-going support, guidance and feedback to Grants Managers in the areas of grant assessment and the monitoring of project caseloads and management of work with colleagues based in target countries, resolving issues as appropriate.

•    Contribute actively to the effective decision-making and planning across the global organisation, and lead specific British Council initiatives, relationships and projects as required.

•    Directly manage a small portfolio of larger, complex and high-risk grant projects

•    Help with sharing learning from ICG with international and UK organisations working within the space of grant giving for Cultural Relations outcomes such as EUNIC, Gothe and Arts Council bodies within the UK

Requirements of the role: 

•    Demonstrable knowledge and experience of grant management
•    A knowledge of good project management particularly in relation to funding programmes.
•    Experience of leading a small team

It would be great if you have experience working in the arts, cultural heritage or creative industries but if not – don’t worry – we still want to hear from you if you have experience in grant, project or programme management and are interested in working in this area.

Closing Date:   Applications will close on 29th October 2023 at 23:59 UK Time. 

Additional Information:

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are unable to support with sponsorship or relocation support.

Interviews will be held around the middle of November.

This role is based in Cardiff, Wales, only.

We ideally need the successful candidate to begin from mid January 2024 at the latest in order to meet the programmes targets.