Senior Manager English Programmes

This role sits within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).    
CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locates our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.

All programme management roles deliver activities and projects within this global programme and strategic framework. Our programmes are funded by the British Council’s grant in aid, through partnerships and external clients.

The British Council has a contextualised programme and project management framework with clear standards and procedures for programme management set out by the CE Centre of Excellence. This framework is in line with Cabinet office functional standard for project delivery, FCDO Operating Framework and the Association for Project Management Body of Knowledge.
The aim of English Programmes is to support the improvement of English language teaching and learning in formal and non-formal education systems.  English Programmes has the following impact areas and global programmes:

English Connects – our global online engagement with teachers and teacher educators. 
English in Education – in formal education systems with two strands: English as a subject in the curriculum (ELT in Education) and English as a medium of education (English in a Multilingual World)

English for Empowerment – formal and non-formal education with two strands: Language for Resilience and English for Girls’ Education. 
It delivers these programmes in country through policy advice, research and insight, and the delivery of grant, co-founded and full cost recovery contracts and programmes in 50+ countries in collaboration with UK and international partners, ministries of education, education and donor agencies.

Vacancy: 1
Contract type: Indefinite contract – Local
Pay Band: 7

Role Purpose:

Implementation of multi-country programmes or large single county project or programme
funded by British Council and other partners or clients in compliance with British Council
policies and procedures. Could play a leadership role on a specific component of a larger
project or programme.

Main Accountabilities:

Leadership & management

  • Could play a leadership role on a specific component of a larger project or programme.
  • Manages delivery teams and/or project team.
  • Manages all EDI processes and ensures comprehensive use of internal tools in programme design and delivery. Maintains an oversight of the action plan developed through the use of internal EDI tools.

Relationship & stakeholders

  • Leads on relationships at a project/programme level.
  • Holds delivery partners to account including supply chain management where applicable.
  • Communicates internally and externally about a project’s success/challenges and lessons learned.

Commercial and financial management

  • manage and control the agreed budget, expenditure and income against plans, ensure accuracy of reports and ensure sound financial management and analysis across the portfolio through monthly finance reviews and quarterly business reviews.
  • Ensure timely and accurate planning and forecasting, timely reporting of risks, including financial and identify opportunities and mitigation actions.

Programme management

  • Ensures that every project/programme is compliant with all internal policies and processes (for example safeguarding, EDI, supply change management, social value and conflict sensitivity).
  • Contributes to development of, owns and delivers, the Programme Management Plan
  • Identifies risks in a project or programme and puts together mitigation strategies with SRO.
  • Responsible for data management including timely data entry, quality assurance of data, undertaking basic analysis of monitoring data, and developing progress reports.
  • Undertakes programme-specific data collection as needed and works with colleagues to identify indicators and tools for data collection, quality assures all data, and undertakes basic analysis.
  • Supports the design of results-based programmes including development of basic M & E plans and results frameworks.
  • Undertakes lessons learned and action-reporting and shares learning for future design.
  • Manages, finance, procurement, compliance and reporting on a project/programme.

Business Development

  • Supports the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners.
  • Applies due diligence requirements to potential partners.
  • Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities.
  • Manages network of associate advisors, consultants and partners.
  • Embeds effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management.
  • Manages or supports the development of high-quality bids/ proposals.
  • Participates in contract negotiations with partners and clients, and prepares agreements such as non-disclosure, pre-bid, contract and partner and consultant agreements. 
  • Ensures timely reporting and communication on externally funded contracts/grant funded initiatives.
  • Participates in programme and project reviews and closure activities, helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business. 

Role specific knowledge and experience:

Minimum/essential

  • Experience of managing multi country or large in-country programmes that have met project closure and audit standards.
  • Knowledge/ and experience of working with at least two types of funding sources within a structured compliance regime.
  • Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management.
  • Experience of managing a wide range of stakeholders. 
  • More than 3 years experience managing projects or managing aspects of programmes.
  • Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with SRO
  • Understanding of MEL principles
  • Experience of managing teams.
  • Experience of conducting lessons learned reviews/After action reviews to inform future programme design and management.

Desirable

  • More than 5 years experience managing projects/programmes.
  • Experience of managing dispersed teams.

Role Specific Skills

  • Understanding of school education system in country of focus
  • Understanding of role of English within school education system in country of focus
  • Able to lead project management of thought leadership outputs, such as publications and events

Able to manage relationships with external school education sector (including UK)
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and called for interview. We will only shortlist applications submitted on a British Council application form submitted electronically through our careers portal. Any hard copies of the application and incomplete application in the portal will not be accepted.

To apply, please click on the following link that will take you to the careers portal of British Council – Apply here

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Equality Statement

The British Council is committed to a policy of equality and to valuing diversity and is keen to reflect the diversity of the societies in which we work at every level within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. We aim to abide by and promote equality legislation by following both the letter and the spirit of it to avoid unjustified discrimination, recognising discrimination as a barrier to equality of opportunity, inclusion and human rights. All staff worldwide are required to ensure their behaviour is consistent with our policies.

The British Council has Disability Confident Employer Status. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. Applicants are encouraged to highlight any specific requirements or adjustments needed to enable participation in the recruitment process.

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.