Description:
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language and education. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.
This role sits within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). CE brings together our portfolio of work in the UAE and the Gulf. This programme should contribute to our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.
Main Accountabilities
Strategy & Planning
- Contribute to the Country and Regional Business plan discussions at country and regional level.
- Monitor progress and secure impact targets.
Leadership & Management
- Deliver the role’s annual priority work plan for activities to ensure defined business objectives are realised in accordance with the overarching British Council strategy and that of CE global operations.
Relationship & Stakeholder Management
- Identify challenges/opportunities within the Arts Programme and escalate these so that challenges are addressed, and opportunities maximised to increase programme efficiencies and impact.
- Maintain fluid communication with key stakeholders.
- Work with peers and colleagues across the MENA Arts Network.
Assurance and global standards
- Support the embedding of a culture of compliance within the programme, ensuring that the CE single assurance framework (including MCCs, ACC, deep dives etc), corporate policies and procedures, global standards, operating guidelines and local regulations are implemented, monitored and maintained across the regional portfolio.
- As part of the above, support compliance with global standards on business development including pipeline management, adherence to due diligence processes and support to the business development approvals process.
- Analyse and interpret data and insight on the quality of delivery, including MCC reports, using this information to share learning across programmes and projects and drive continuous improvement.
- As part of above to ensure that programme/project risks and issues are systematically identified and reported via agreed systems.
- Support the review monthly financial health checks for the contract(s), following up on anomalies as appropriate.
- Procurement – support the management the implementation of best practice frameworks that deliver value for money and identify and secure savings for the organisation.
Internal Information and Knowledge Management
- Support the management of CE regional internal information and knowledge resources and associated internal communications so that they provide maximum value to business development and delivery.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
- 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 people’s well-being and mental health.
- 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.
Language Requirements
- English and Arabic (desirable)
Additional Job Requirements
- Experience of working in the cultural sector in the UAE (visual arts and or creative industries)
Person specification
Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification (Minimum/essential)
Role Specific Knowledge And Experience
- Experience of managing programmes that include external stakeholders
- Demonstrated experience in Arts programmes
- Experience managing reporting processes
- Experience of managing/supporting projects
- Knowledge of good practice in one or more of these areas - programme/project/contract management, assurance frameworks or workforce planning