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Job Title: Head of Education France
Country: France
Department: Education (International Ops - country & regional reporting lines)
Contract type: CDI
Duration: Indefinite
Role Purpose
The purpose of the role is to lead the British Councils work in Higher Education, Schools, Youth & Skills across France, providing sector expertise and thought leadership from a background in one of the defined sectors.
The role will implement an Education strategy that helps British Council to achieve its priorities in France and also supports the regional/global Higher Education, Schools, Youth and Skills strategies.
They will align the global programmes to the market and ensure we develop, design, deliver and evaluate a highly impactful portfolio of programmes, products and services in Education, to further enhance the UKs bilateral relationship, They will lead on relationship building and business development to ensure that there is a sustainable financial model in place for the portfotlio.
Challenges & Accountabilities
Under the direction of the Country Director France and working collaboratively with other areas including English Programmes, the Head of Education is accountable to:
Market building & brand positioning
Build and maintain excellent knowledge of the UK Higher Education, Youth & Skills/Schools sectors in France to enable the development of opportunities and partnerships that will deliver the British Councils cultural relations and financial sustainability objectives.
Ensure that programme evaluation and insight from France and the UK is built into programme development and brand positioning.
Relationship, stakeholder and key account management
Identify, cultivate and manage strategic alliances with key partners and stakeholders in country, sharing relationships with and for the British Council to ensure achievement of British Council objectives.
Build and maintain excellent relationships with internal partners and stakeholders, to champion Education strengths while ensuring effective, integrated and joined-up delivery of the country portfolio.
Monitor, review and ensure that the Education programme in the country is achieving agreed impact measures, and monitoring, evaluation and learning and reporting is in place against Cultural Engagements Strategy 2025 and FCDO key performance indicators.
Share key internal and external issues, including risks and insight with regional Higher Education and NFE Heads and work to resolve challenges quickly and at the right level.
Provide regular reports on the performance of Education at business reviews and other points as required by country, region and SBU.
Business and Partnership Development
Guide wider Education team and/or work in the country on a strategy for business and partnership development to ensure alignment with British Council global and country strategy, commercial viability and compliance with all processes, e.g. Contract Approval Board
Work, as appropriate, with colleagues in country and across the region to scope future EC and donor funded/Trusts & Foundations funded programme opportunities.
This role will also act as Project/Programme Officer when appropriate and in some instances may be appointed as SRO (Senior Responsible Officer) when appropriate and be responsible for writing proposals or oversight of proposals.
Strategy & planning
Where needed further focus and refine the country Education portfolio in line with regional/global programmes and with country strategy.
Implement appropriate and effective Programme Based Planning (PBP)
Leadership & people management
Under the direction of the Country Director he/she ensures the Education team and/or work across the country connects and works across and with Cultural Engagement colleagues in the region and with the Education team in the UK/globally collaboratively and effectively. Ensure a spirit of sharing/learning and working collaboratively whether at a country level or as part of the wider regional Cultural Engagement team.
This role will have direct line management. Leadership and people management skills will therefore be a mix of line management, matrix working and influencing.
Support an inclusive organisational culture where staff have opportunities for continuous professional development and are actively contributing to the British Councils anti-racism action plan and to our aspiration to become anti-racist in our cultures and practices within our organisation and in our programmes particularly through a time of change.
Requirements
- Advanced level of English: Communicate and write in well-structured manner with nuances language.
- Proficiency level of French: Native level with fluent and precise structure.
- Degree and/or equivalent and/or equivalent experience in Education.
- Knowledge of the UK and French Education sector
- Ability to demonstrate understanding of trends in Education relevant to the country and relate them to British Councils strategic priorities in the region
- Understanding importance of working with and through other key stakeholders
- Strong commitment to our organisational values, well-being, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Anti-Racism as demonstrated through behaviours and experience in the workplace
Benefits
- 35-hour work week.
- Leave: 35 congs pays (annual leave) for full time employees and 6 privileged days.
- Tickets restaurants
- Company health insurance
- Death Insurance.
Closing Date: Applications will close on 30/11/2023 at 23:59 (Central European Time(CET)
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 iscommitted 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 Councils Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
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.