Job Description

Programme Officer Chevening Scholarships

Pay band: 6
Salary:Starting from £25,520 plus £3,300 London market allowance, for those based in the London Area only.
Benefits Include, but are not limited to: 
•    32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
•    3 days volunteering leave
•    Career average defined benefit pension scheme
•    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.

Location:UK – London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast Only.
Department:Higher Education & Science, Cultural Engagement.
Contract type:Fixed term contract until 31st August 2025.
Closing Date: 30th June at 23:59 UK Time.

Requirements:
 This role is based in the UK and therefore you must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
We are unable to support with mobility, relocation or sponsorship. 

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:

The British Council has been selected as the Secretariat for the prestigious Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes funded by the UK government via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Together through these programmes, around 1,500 scholars are selected to study at post-graduate level in the UK from over 100 countries and territories worldwide.

The Secretariat is responsible for the majority of the administrative services to deliver a successful scholarship programme. This includes promotion of the programme, the scholar selection process, supporting scholars with placement and then supporting them while studying in the UK, as well as delivering alumni engagement programmes. We coordinate closely with the FCDO Scholarships Unit and FCDO Posts overseas who also take a leading role in promotion, scholar selection and alumni engagement.

Both Chevening and Marshall are prestigious and highly sought-after post-graduate programmes selecting scholars of the high academic ability and with the potential to become future leaders and influential figures in their home countries.

Ensuring an excellent level of service and customer care to the recipients of these prestigious scholarships is critical to the success of the programme, and to ensuring a life-lasting experience for the scholars. The work of Programme Officers relates directly to this, as you are frequently the first point of contact for your designated scholars.

The Role:

We’re looking for five Programme Officer to join the programme on a fixed term basis until the end of August 2025.

Two of the roles will be based from the London Office and three from offices in other UK cities  – Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Manchester.

As Programme Officer, you’ll play an important role in ensuring the successful delivery of the Chevening and Marshall scholarship programmes. You will facilitate a full and memorable experience for scholars and fellows throughout their time in the UK and support their day-to-day requirements.

Your role helps scholars to settle quickly and to make the most of their time in the UK. It contributes directly to supporting scholar well-being.

You will support the delivery of an engaging programme of events for scholars and fellows to enrich their experience and understanding of life in the UK. These events will have the aim of enriching the Scholar experience, developing relations with universities and partners and increasing the overall value and impact of the programme You keep in close touch with scholars and fellows and visit them at intervals throughout the scholarship cycle.

The Programme Officer also keep close connections with a portfolio of universities where scholars and fellows are studying, ensuring that tuition fees are paid on time and more generally keeping a good relationship with university contacts.

You will work within a team of Programme Officers and will also work alongside colleagues in other teams, such as the International Team, the Welfare and Immigration Team, the Communications Team, the Alumni Team and the Partnerships Team.

In addition to your core duties, supporting scholars, you may also be required to undertake other reasonable duties to support the administration of the scholarship programmes.

Accountabilities are, but not limited to:

•    Act as the first point of contact for a portfolio of scholars or fellows, ensuring their queries are responded to quickly and accurately with excellent customer service. Escalate issues and concerns to more senior members of the team as required.

•    Set up scholar and fellow profiles on the financial system and administer payment information to ensure that scholars are paid their monthly stipends and other allowances accurately and on time.

•    Manage a portfolio of universities and act as the first point of contact with designated contacts to facilitate the placement of scholars on courses and the payment of tuition fees.

•    Liaise with other programme stakeholders including partner organisations and overseas Posts (eg, Embassies and High Commissions) as required to ensure the smooth running of the programme.

•    Update financial and information databases including Microsoft Office and internal systems.

•    Deliver presentations and facilitate feedback sessions within incoming and outgoing cohorts of scholars and fellows.

•    Support the delivery of scholar and fellow engagement events (both in-person and online) working with senior colleagues in the planning, and organisation of events.  Contribute to the engagement strategy and evaluation of events under the supervision of more senior colleagues.

•    Work closely and effectively with all team members on all aspects of the programme to coordinate work. You will work within a UK team of Programme Officers and will also work alongside the Programme Officer – International Team, the Welfare and Immigration Team, the Communications Team, the Senior Alumni Relations Officer and the Senior Partnerships and Development Officer.

•    Draft visa guidance for scholars and fellows under the guidance of an accredited advisor in the team.

•    Provide stakeholders with a high-quality service including the provision of professional and timely responses to a wide variety of enquiries and correspondence through all mediums/channels. Customer service targets will be measured in relation to our contractual key performance indicators.

•    Assist in the production and distribution of various scholarship materials to clearly defined timelines and targets as defined by our contractual key performance indicators. The documentation will include official scholarship documentation, correspondence, newsletters, memoranda of understanding, financial documents and others as required.

•    Take a pro-active role in raising awareness and strengthening the Chevening brand with stakeholders (especially with Scholars, universities and event partners).

Requirements of the role:

•    Knowledge and understanding of post-graduate higher education in the UK

•    Ability to apply Chevening policy appropriately and consistently, and to flag any areas of existing policy that may need reviewing with senior colleagues.

•    Strong administrative skills, including the ability to complete repetitive tasks to a high degree of accuracy and a high level of proven competence with Microsoft Office Suite

•    An understanding and commitment to good customer care.

Closing Date:   Applications will close on 30th June 2024 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/end of July.

This role is based in the UK only.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 20,000 - 40,000.

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