What we do:

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Senior Consultant, Global Standards.

Pay band: 8

Salary: Starting at £38,820 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 pension contributions, the British Council offers:
• 32 days annual leave and an additional half day on Christmas Eve
• Hybrid working from a number of locations across the UK with the opportunity to work in the office and remotely from home
• Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development

Department: Cultural Engagement
Contract type: Permanent  / Indefinite contract.

Location: Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast (UK Based Only).
Closing Date: 20th September 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

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. 

The Role:

Are you accomplished in project management or business development?  Do you want to share your experience to improve the quality of our delivery in over 200 countries, working in education, English and arts?

As our Senior Consultant you will need to be experienced in managing stakeholders, using your consultancy skills, and learning from best practice to improve capability in business development and project management. We want you to join our team to develop and deliver a programme of learning and development so that we embed our frameworks, standards, guidance and tools, promoting our centre of excellence across the business.

By joining us you will be working in an exciting, fast pace and diverse organization and you will be key to driving our continual improvement, working alongside our assurance team to champion compliance with our global standards.  So, this is an exciting opportunity to join our team on a permanent basis

About The Team:

The British Council works with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries and we build connections, understanding and trust through arts and culture, education and English.

This role sits within the Operations Team based in Cultural Engagement whose purpose is to set and support an operating environment that enables us all to efficiently deliver our priorities.  It works alongside teams leading on assurance and compliance and business analysis, management information and reporting

Accountabilities /Responsibilities:

 Sector/subject expertise:

• Represent the interests of Cultural Engagement, particularly the needs of SROs and programme and project managers, working with a range of corporate teams to improve the corporate control environment by advocating the needs of Cultural Engagement

•  In alignment with the priority plan of CE Head of Operations Network, to establish and lead communities of practice which enable colleagues to share technical insight and thought leadership and to support compliance and embedding best practice in project and programme development and delivery.

Consultancy, analysis and problem solving:

• Own and actively manage the Centre of Excellence’s standards, frameworks, guidance and toolkits that underpin and promote knowledge sharing and best practice across CE. Ensure the Centre of Excellence platform is aligned with corporate policies, streamlined and optimized to demonstrably support the delivery of the CE business plan.

Relationship and stakeholder management:

• Manage key relationships with sector, development, delivery and operations colleagues across the global network and with corporate professional service leads addressing challenges/opportunities and ensuring productive collaboration and more streamlined and consistent service provision.

Strategy and/or planning:

• Contribute to the development of the CE Operations Team plan to ensure it delivers its contribution to the CE Global Business Plan

Leadership & management:

• Be an active member of the CE Operations community of practice – leading on the development and implementation of priority areas as agreed with CE Head of Operations Network and CE Head of Assurance and Global Standards.

• Understand the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti racism.

Requirements of the role:

• Deep knowledge of good practice programme and project management and business development

• Track record of working with stakeholders to translate policies and requirements into fit for purpose standards and guidance that underpin the business.

• Consultancy within the area of applied programme and project management and/or business development.

Additional Information:

Interviews will be held around the middle of October 2023

Closing Date:   Applications will close on 20th September 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.