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 202122 we reached 650 million people.
Programme Manager International Chevening Secretariat.
Pay band: 8
Salary: 38, 820 per annum.
What well offer you: In addition to a competitive salary and excellent civil service pension contributions, the British Council offers:
32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development
British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full 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.
Department: Cultural Engagement, Education.
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st August 2025, Full Time hours 36 per week.
Closing Date: Monday 4th December 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.
Location: UK Only - Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.
Requirements Please note:
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
We are unable to support with relocation, mobility and sponsorship.
About The Team
The British Council has a long history of designing and managing a range of scholarship programmes for international students.
We deliver a wide range of programmes in international higher education that promote cultural relations and understanding. These include grant-funded programmes supporting international student recruitment to the UK, trans-national education, and alumni engagement.
Delivery of the Chevening and Marshall programmes will complement these activities and serve to demonstrate the British Councils value as a partner of UK government and as a partner for the UKs higher education sector. Facilitating the long-lasting and deep relationships between people across the world and the UK will strengthen individual and subsequent institutional connections as well as ties of friendship.
The services required to be delivered in the contract include: Communications; programme promotion; scholar selection; scholar placing assistance; pre-departure services; support to scholars in the UK; alumni engagement; impact reporting and MEL; financial reporting; partnership development; and ensuring social value.
The Role:
The Programme Manager International (PMI) is a key member of the Chevening Secretariat management team. You will line manage two Senior Programme Officers International (SPOIs) and one Senior Programme Officer Fellowships (SPOF), who in turn manage a team of Programme Officers.
The PMI and their team support the relevant stages of the Chevening cycle to ensure an excellent standard of service delivery to UK Embassies and High Commissions (Posts) in the recruitment, selection and support of Chevening Scholars and Fellows. Working closely with the Head of Programme Management and the Scholarships Unit at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the PMI has input into Chevening operations overseas and responsibility for ensuring a consistent global approach to delivery by the Secretariat.
The PMI is responsible for the Secretariats positive communication and engagement with FCDO posts and other key international stakeholders, in conjunction with other members of the Secretariats management team where required.
The PMI contributes to regular and ad hoc reporting to enable to Director of Chevening and Head of Programme Management to ensure compliance with the Secretariats contractual obligations and key performance indicators.
Accountabilities /Responsibilities:
Working with the Head of Programme Management and Head of Scholarships Finance to produce accurate budgets, with responsibility for the international teams budget lines. Providing data to inform forecast spend, to reconcile expenditure at the end of each quarter and any other ad hoc financial requests as required.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with key FCDO stakeholders based in the UK and overseas in order to support the deliuvery of the Chevening programme.
Representing the Chevening programme and the British Council externally, including at a senior level.
Contributing to reports as required by the Director of Chevening, Head of Programme Management and FCDO, including reporting against KPIs as part of the quarerly contract review process.
Ensuring that the team supports the work of FCDO posts to a high standard throughout all stages of the Chevening cycle, including marketing and recruitment, the application and selection process and during the transition from Scholars/Fellows to alumni.
Working with the Head of Programme Management, Senior Data Analyst and third party software suppliers to identify and implement innovative and cost-effective procedures to streamline the application and assessment process, including management of the reading committee process.
Overseeing the annual updating of materials for applications and selections including website content, application criteria, interview guidance materials etc.
Supporting the delivery of strategies that relate to the international teams work, including the communications strategy, alumni engagement strategy and partnerships strategy.
To actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for peoples well-being and mental health.
Understand the British Councils approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, making time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.
Requirements of the role:
The ability to work effectively across teams to deliver results, as well as being able to work independently, show initiative and exercise sound judgement.
The ability to balance competing priorities under pressure of deadlines without compromising the quality of service delivery.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with stakeholders at a senior level.
Experience of strategic planning to achieve results and reviewing procedures to lead to an improvement in service delivery.
Closing Date: Applications will close on Monday 4thDecember 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.
Additional Information:
Interviews will be held around the beginning of January.
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
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.