Job Description

Department: Higher Education & Science, Cultural Engagement.

Location: Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.  (UK Only).

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31^st March 2025.

Pay band: 8

Salary: Starting at £38,820 per annum plus £3,300 London Market Allowance for those based in the London area.

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
• An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you’ve built up working in and/or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world.
• Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full 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.

Closing Date: 26^th February 2024 at 23:59 UK Time.

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

About The Team

This role sits within the Higher Education & Science team in Cultural Engagement (CE) which brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locate our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.

The International Science Partnerships Fund will help the UK and its partners to deliver bigger, better science than one country can achieve alone.

The ISPF Fund will have up to £319 million (to March 2025), allowing UK researchers and innovators to collaborate with international partners on multidisciplinary projects. The British Council is one of the UK Partner Organisations delivering ISPF on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The Fund will help to:

• Deliver important research and innovation that can only be fully realized by working internationally.
• Tackle global challenges and develop future technologies, positioning UK researchers and innovators at the heart of global solutions.
• Make meaningful contributions towards the Sustainable Development Goals through the use of equitable international research and innovation partnerships.
• Enable groups of countries to collaborate in an agile way on issues that matter.
• Equip developing countries with robust research and innovation ecosystems.
• Strengthen the influence and connections of the UK and UK R&D community domestically and around the world.

The Role:

We are looking for a Senior Consultant to join us on a fixed term basis until the end of March 2025.

You will be accountable for key delivery aspects of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and the Newton Fund.

ISPF funding is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and it is part of the UK’s commitments to prioritise strategic science partnerships. ISPF will support UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech, and talent. The post-holder will engage with a wide range of UK and international stakeholders.

As Senior Consultant of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), you will provide integral operational management and leadership to the ISPF UK and global team at the British Council with specific responsibility for the following areas of work:

• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) – working with the British Council Data, Evidence and Performance team to develop and deliver a MEL plan and tools for ISPF, contributing to corporate and funder reporting requirements. Representing the British Council at relevant client’s working group meetings providing input and feedback.
• Programme management and compliance – working with British Council relevant teams to develop and embed robust programme management processes and standards throughout all aspect of programme delivery. This includes but it is not limited to risks and issues management, resource allocation, and records management. Ensuring alignment with key contractual obligations and fulfilling reporting requirements to the client is a central aspect of this role.
• Programme development and delivery – working with the British Council UK and global teams, and UK international partners to develop and deliver global research collaboration and research capacity strengthening programmes.
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – mainstreaming EDI in programme development and delivery with a focus on antiracism, disability, and gender equality. Sharing learning and best practises on EDI with UK and international partners.
• Line management and task management – leading a geographical dispersed team of two in the UK and providing support to the ISPF global team for their areas of responsibility.

Accountabilities /Responsibilities:

Operational Delivery

• Leads on the delivery of key aspects of ISPF research and innovation programmes aligning with core requirements on reporting, resourcing, monitoring and evaluation and value for money as stipulated by the client.
• Works with the Centre of Excellence and other key internal support teams (Finance, Information, Governance and Records Management, Contract Management) to manage compliance in programme delivery.
• Leads on the development of core programme and project management documentation.
• Works collaboratively with the global teams to ensure consistency of approach and joined up style of working.
• Adapts teamwork plans in the light of revised corporate or client requirements.

Risk & compliance

• Uses standard corporate protocols, combined with previous experience and knowledge of the local social/political/security context, to assess a range of risks to the programme delivery.
• Ensures programme/project risks and issues are systematically identified, reported and managed.
• Ensures appropriate contingency plans are in place and implemented promptly to manage delivery safely and effectively in challenging or high-risk circumstances.
• Investigates any reported instances of non-compliance with agreed corporate risk management policies (e.g. safeguarding, security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures, information management), and take appropriate remedial action, including escalation to the Programme Lead as required.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Maintains excellent working relationships and communication with the client and represents the British Council at client meetings and workshops.
• Strengthens collaboration with partner organisations in the UK and globally to maximise the impact and reach of the ISPF.
• Works closely with universities and research institutions in the UK and partner countries, addressing any issues arising from programme delivery.

Analysis & reporting

• Uses information management, analytical insights, and personal operational experience to identify and make recommendations for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in developing and delivering ISPF programme.

Commercial and or finance management

• In consultation with the Programme Lead, manages programme and operational costs (including resourcing) to enable effective programme delivery.
• Contributes to the development of new technical and commercial proposals.

Leadership & management

• Line management of a UK based team for specified areas of responsibility and providing guidance to the global team to ensure consistency of messaging and a joined up working.
• Identifies requirements and recommend training and development provision to build improved operational capability within the team ensuring EDI and anti-racism standards are met and promoted by everyone in the ISPF team.

Requirements of the role:

• Knowledge and experience of working in the UK Research and Innovation sector.
• Experience of leading Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities within projects, including development of Theory of Change and reporting against programme metrics.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and implementing programme management processes aligned with corporate standards, ensuring compliance.

Closing Date:   Applications will close on Monday 26^th February 2024 at 23:59 UK Time.

Additional Information:

Interviews will be held around the middle of March 2024.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Temporary. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

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