Job Description

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.

Programme Manager

Role Type: Business, Partnership & Programme Development
Salary: Starting \xc2\xa333,904 (+ \xc2\xa33,300 market allowance if based in London)
Contract Type: Fixed term contract until the end of March 2025
Location: UK only; London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh.

Requirements: Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location.
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. If you are currently sponsored by the British Council, in a country or regional role, please check with your local / regional HR colleagues if you are able to remain in your current location for this global role.

Closing date: 23rd July 11:59pm UK time

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!

Context

2024 will be the British Council\'s 90th anniversary. This is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, both internally and externally as well as look to the future.

Positioning: We will balance the celebration of our 90-year heritage with future-facing messaging which positions us as a dynamic, modern organisation looking forward to our centenary.

Audiences:

• UK Business to Business (B2B) audiences including sector partners in education and arts, culture, heritage and the creative industries and corporate partners
• UK Business to Government (B2G) audiences
• Staff
• Global audiences - working with colleagues to seek out relevant opportunities.

Programme: we will put programme activity at the heart of our campaign and focus on one or two large initiatives (e.g. major grant programme) with tangible UK activity/benefit.

Marketing, Comms and Fundraising activations: we will have exciting bespoke activities to engage key audiences on the impact of our work.

Alignment with other activity: we will align other activity with the anniversary where it is relevant but stay focused on where it can add value.

\'One British Council\': we will use it as an opportunity to celebrate the best of what we have to offer, building our brand by presenting a holistic picture of our work.

Role Purpose

Manage the implementation of the 90th Anniversary programme to ensure maximum impact and value for money, ensuring the programme remains focused on strategic framing and delivery of work through Marketing, Comms and Fundraising activations and programme activity.

This includes working with a large range of internal (and some external) stakeholders to:
- plan, achieve and report against outcomes and targets set
- ensure that internal systems and processes, including EDI tools, are used to assure quality of delivery and financial and operational compliance and manage risks
- ensure appropriate mechanisms for engagement are in place internally and externally
- promote and protect the brand
- ensure appropriate mechanisms for engagement are in place internally and externally
- promote and protect the brand
- ensure lessons learned are documented and disseminated to inform future approaches to global programming and marketing, comms and fundraising activity.

Main Accountabilities

Strategic Narrative:

• Work with SROs and the 90th Task Force to develop and communicate the overarching narrative for the 90th Anniversary

Programme Delivery and Management

• Ensure achievement of strategic objectives and outcomes through ongoing engagement and appropriate curation of programme outputs
• Ensure clear programme management plans, workplans, deliverables/KPIs, milestones and management/reporting mechanisms are in place
• Monitor, manage and report against the financial performance of the programme, in line with project budgets and financial targets
• Manage the creation and delivery of specific elements of the programme e.g. exhibition.
• Oversee the delivery of all workstreams and ensure they are integrated into the overarching plan in a timely and relevant way
• Ensure risks are identified and managed, particularly those related to delivery, safeguarding and procurement
• Ensure EDI principles and approaches mainstreamed and embedded across the programme and appropriately reflected in outcomes
• Ensure ODA eligibility is documented and achieved, including gender compliance

Stakeholder management

• Work with the Task Force to provide up-to-date and well-informed senior-level briefings programme strategy, content and progress
• Work with the Corporate Communications team to create plans to excite and engage the organisation effectively.
• Work with Policy and External Relations team on plans to engage external stakeholders
• Work with Marketing and Communications to ensure the activations are brand building and maximise opportunities for alignment with other planned activity
• Ensure the process for two-way communication works efficiently so that colleagues are able to actively contribute to the work and feel ownership of it.

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure appropriate frameworks and governance are in place, working closely with the Task Force
• Ensure systems in place to capture learning with can inform future practice
• Ensure data collection approaches are well-designed, efficient and clearly understood and resourced

Closing date: 23rd July 11:59pm UK time

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council\'s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our \'ASK HR\' email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.

British Council