Jobs

Job Recruitment at the British Council, 7th June, 2019

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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, education and civil society. 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. We are recruiting to fill the position below:     Job Title: Program Officer-ACT Location: Abuja Role Type: Business Delivery Pay Band: G/6 Duration: Fixed term 3+ years Reports to: Operations Manager Role purpose

• This is a fiexd role to support with the implementation phase of the Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) Programme. The post holder will be responsible for managing the administrative and logistical support to programme activities to ensure quality and timeliness of delivery; good control of resources and compliance with agreed programme management systems and processes; ensuring full and complete budgets are prepared and met for all activities with variance reports prepared as and when required; utilize M&E tools for measuring results during the programme implementation phase.

Geopolitical/SBU/Function Overview

• The British Council in Nigeria is implementing the European Union Conflict Management in Nigeria programme under their Trust Fund (EUTF) and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme in Nigeria under their Development Fund programme (EUDF).
• We are implementing the Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) Programme under the European Union development fund. In partnership with COFFEY, we are delivering the Policing work under their Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and are managing the Programme Coordination Office for DFID’s Deepening Democracy in Nigeria Phase 2 (DDiN2) Programme. To support our existing contracts as well as future contracts, we are developing flexible structures that meet the global British Council standards to provide support to our FCR (Justice, Security and Conflict) work in Nigeria.
• The Conflict Management programme in North Eastern Nigeria is a €21m EUTF-funded Programme (2017-2021) and works with the overall aim of enhancing state and community level conflict management capability to prevent the escalation of conflict into violence in a number of locations in North-Eastern Nigeria. The Programme has an annual turnover of around £5-£6m and work in 3 states – Adamawa, Borno and Yobe as well as in Abuja. The programme is being delivered alongside a partner (International Alert) with the British Council leading the contract. The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme in Nigeria is a €25m EUDF-funded Programme (2017-2021) and has the overall aim of enhancing good governance in Nigeria by contributing to strengthening of the rule of law, curbing corruption and reducing impunity. The programme has an annual turnover of around £5-£6m and work in 4 states – Adamawa, Anambra, Kano, Lagos, as well as in Abuja. The RoLAC programme will be extending to Edo State.
• The Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) programme is an EU funded programme being implemented by the British Council. The programme is funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and will be implemented over a period of five years from July 2018, with the first 6 months serving as the programme Inception Phase for the development of strategies for full programme implementation. The ACT programme will contribute to the progressive achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as to the national development priorities identified in the Nigeria Vision 20:20 Economic Transformation Blueprint.
• The Overall Objective of the programme is to contribute to more inclusive, effective, accountable and gender-responsive development in Nigeria; while its specific objectives is to enhance the credibility and role of CSOs as drivers of change for sustainable development in Nigeria. The programme has an annual turnover of around £3-£4m and will be implemented at the Federal level and in selected states where EU programmes concentrate.
• The Nigerian context is generally challenging, having poor infrastructure and currently facing a volatile security situation. There is still a significant reliance on the cash economy, corruption is high and the regulatory and compliance structures that exist are highly ineffective.
• The overall economic situation is not good with the low oil prices leading to high unemployment, increasing inflation and a shortage of foreign currency causing the value of the Naira to weaken considerably. This makes Nigeria a very challenging environment in which to deliver programmes.
• The Programme Support Office is located in Abuja, but in an office that is separate from the main British Council office. The post holder must therefore have the ability to work in an ambiguous and difficult environment in which British Council processes need to be adapted or developed to cope with unusual requirements and difficult context.
• The post holder will work closely with the programme delivery and management teams as well as having significant interactions with the technical teams and Nigerian partners.

Main Accountabilities Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties: Project Management and Delivery:

• To provide support for projects and manage and organise events to a high standard and within deadline.
• To liaise with support units to manage the arrangements for visitors including booking travel, accommodation and preparing programmes.
• Provide administrative and logistic support to consultants who deliver programmes.
• To support financial and technical reporting to internal/external clients and customers, ensuring reporting standards are in accordance with client and corporate standards.
• Produce monthly work plan for end client, useful for planning and monitoring of programme implementation.
• Support with review of consultant deliverables against Terms of Reference to ensure agreed outputs and outcomes are delivered.
• Build and manage output folders and database of key contacts and stakeholders to ensure regular growth in engagement of key audiences, with the aim of increasing awareness and impact.
• Ensure the provision, collation and analysis of participants and stakeholder feedback on all events and programs to ensure quality and effectiveness can be assessed and recommend improvement.
• Actively builds professional networks and information channels that maintain an excellent understanding of relevant developments, stakeholders and opinion formers in the development sector to support the creation of high quality programs and events.

Finance Administration:

• Responsible for project procurement in line with established corporate policies and guidelines.
• To provide financial support to the Programme Manager and Finance team, including the detailed budgeting for planned events, raising advances, issuing payments to workshop participants, processing of workshop claims, retirement of advances in a timely manner.
• To ensure risk is minimized by strict application of corporate BC financial principles in all programme related activities.
• Monitoring expenditure against set budgets for an agreed portfolio of projects to ensure financial targets are met.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):

• To support initiatives led by M&E technical lead developed to monitor activities and interventions.
• Document lessons learned to improve the quality of events and their outcomes for the implementation phase of the programme.

Knowledge Management:

• To provide support to Knowledge Management consultant to broaden the reach of programme impact and improve its sustainability.
• Support activities to facilitate replication of interventions (Demonstrate ‘value for money’).
• Liaise with Knowledge Management team to provide summary reports and stories that feed into the quarterly impact reports, newsletters and other knowledge management products.
• Provide up-to-date information and share stories of live events on social media networks such as twitter, Facebook, Flickr with the wider audience.

Team Support and Contribution:

• Ensure professionalism is demonstrated in own work area and that customer / client needs and perspectives are reflected in own behaviours and focus.
• To support the embedding of continuous learning and improvement into the team.
• To seek to understand the interdependencies and connections programme team has with other functions and teams within EU programmes and the wider organisation.
• To proactively share best practice and learning across the wider EU programmes team.

Other Administrative Work:

• As required.

Key Relationships Internal:

• Programme Managers, Technical Lead, Operation Managers, State Teams, Procurement and Estate Manager, HR Manager, Finance Manager, Other Programme Officers, Admin and Resource Assistants.
• All Visiting National and International Consultants
• Other Project Teams

External:

• External relationship management where appropriate (i.e. linked to function of role), to include: EU, consultants, Civil Society Organizations, MDAs, etc.

Qualifications Essential:

• Graduate level education
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable:

• Project management qualification aligned to P&P professional standards (APM) at the appropriate level of the role.
• Other project / programme management qualification

Assesment Stage: Shortlisting Role Specific Knowledge & Experience Essential:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with an international organization
• Experience of working as part of a successful team/function.
• Experience of scheduling and supporting meetings with internal stakeholders / external partners.

Assessment Stage: Shortlisting Desirable:

• Experience of work in an FCR project.
• Experience of operating in a complex, multi-cultural context

Assessment Stage: Shortlisting British Council Core Skills Planning and Organising (Level 2):

• Plans ahead - Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people. - Shortlisting and Interview

Managing Projects (Level 2):

• Analyses project data - Examines project data and performance, reporting on progress and recommending corrective action as needed. - Shortlisting and Interview

Managing Accounts and Partnerships (Level 2):

• Works with stakeholders and partners - Communicates regularly with diverse stakeholders, customers and/or partners to build mutual understanding and trust - Shortlisting and Interview

Managing Finance and Resources (Level 2):

• Uses financial systems and processes - Uses corporate financial systems and processes appropriately as part of the job and on behalf of a team - Shortlisting and Interview

Using Technology (Level 2):

• Operates as an advanced user - Works as an advanced practitioner in the use of office software and/or British Council standard and social media platforms and trains or coaches others in their use. - Shortlisting and Interview

British Council Behaviours Being accountable (More demanding):

• Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own. - Interview and Performance Management

Making it happen (More demanding):

• Challenging myself and others to deliver and measure better results. - Interview and Performance Management

Working together (More demanding):

• Ensuring that others benefit as well as me. - Interview and Performance Management

Creating shared purpose (More demanding):

• Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together. - Interview and Performance Management

Shaping the future (Essential):

• Looking for ways in which we can do things better - Performance Management

Connecting with others (More demanding):

• Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others - Performance Management

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply Click here to download Job Details (Pdf) Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf) Click here to download BC Core Skills (pdf)   Application Deadline 13th June, 2019.     Job Title: Business Development Manager Location: Lagos Role Type: Business Development, Opportunity & Pursuit Pay Band: Pay band 6 Duration: Indefinite Reports to: Head of Business Development - Nigeria Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to enact business development across various products and services, including building relationships, identifying needs and enhancing opportunities with key accounts to meet business related targets.
• The role is also required proactively resolve issues, add value and ensure delivery on expectations. On a daily basis the role executes the country key account strategy and plan.
• The role will work closely with account management colleagues.

SBU Overview The English and Examinations Strategic Business Unit (E&E) is one of three strategic business units in the British Council (the others being Arts and Education & Society) all of which have the remit to build trust for the people of the UK by building relationships through aspects of our language and culture. E&E achieves this by enabling people across the world to access the life-changing education and work opportunities that are created by learning English or gaining valuable UK qualifications. Promoting the English language also provides a medium for communication, helping break down barriers of misunderstanding or mistrust between cultures. The British Council’s 2020 vision for English & Examinations is to be the world authority in high quality English language teaching, learning and assessment, as well as the International distributor of choice for UK professional and school qualifications. The Examinations business makes a significant contribution to British Council financial sustainability, and as such, it is essential that the business evolves in order to maintain its position in a fast-changing operating context. There is a need to standardise and automate activities across the globe to deliver efficiencies, and there is also a requirement to develop new digital products and services to meet changing customer demands and competitive pressures. In a cost and resource-constrained environment, balancing the on-going requirements and allocation of funds will be critical, as will the integration and planning of the implementation of the different changes across a global network of 110+ countries charged with the on-going delivery of impact and income whilst changing key elements of the supporting operational platform. Main Opportunities/Challenges for this Role:

• Understand and foresee country conditions to spot and act on opportunities
• Providing timely feedback on commercial planning scenario's that have changed
• Achieving sales/ account targets and ensure customer satisfaction
• Identifying and developing value added services for B2C, B2B and B2G.

Main Accountabilities Commercial Planning:

• Undertakes regular quality checks, provides feedback and implements plans and targets for products/services relative to Market need with Commercial Development Manager as primary focus is business pursuit.
• Undertakes financial monitoring, narrative reporting and reforecasting
• Overall P&L delivery for the country. Manages Exams team activities to meet (daily/weekly/monthly) agreed targets, schedules and deadlines
• Delivers income and margin surplus targets, ensuring new and existing business is operationally feasible and commercially sound working with Finance input/support
• Supports annual planning with Director Exams, in line with regional and global target.

Market & Customer Intelligence:

• Pulls together and provides Customer and Market intelligence to identify opportunities and works with Commercial Manager to prioritise lead generation.

Winning Business:

• Undertakes regular quality checks and reviews, following agreed corporate or relevant external protocols, to monitor the quality, consistency and effectiveness of service/product delivery.
• Makes recommendations on procedural improvements, resource requirements and other operational initiatives to drive enhance team performance, cost effectiveness, service quality and efficiency
• Analyses clients’ needs and tailors value propositions with expert support where needed. Input into Global Innovation and Business Development strategies working with Cluster Commercial Manager
• Enables commercial team in country to pursue sales and account management activities and advising on overcoming obstacles.

Account & Stakeholder Management:

• Business Pursuit, RO influencing, networking and key account relationships plan and delivery agreed with Cluster Lead and with relevant colleagues on shared opportunities
• Identifies and shares examples of process/procedural best practice with colleagues in the country/region to drive continuous improvement in key account management and stakeholders.
• Oversees quality of customer experience on the ground, reviewing with Operations Manager and feeding into reporting
• Reports on potential BD
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records and data to support effective and coordinated account management.
• Coordinates and organises contact with stakeholders – e.g. meetings, conference slots, sending targeted marketing or thought leadership materials etc.
• Oversees strategic partnership management framework with key partners. Collaborate closely with Commercial Manager, Head of Business Development and Global client team.

Analysis & Reporting:

• Provides updates on B2B/Sales forecast, actively manages pipeline and drives demand in year and for the following year.
• Contributes data and/or administrative support, as required, to enable the development and distribution of high quality, customer and market-focused marketing collateral

Leadership & Management:

• Motivates and encourages team performance.
• Plans and prioritises country's operational activities, and supports team development towards effective delivery of services
• Shares intelligence and ideas with Cluster lead

Key Relationships Internal:

• Exams Regional Management Team
• Other Nigeria SBUs
• Country/Regional/Global Marketing
• Global Exams teams
• Exams Operational Teams
• Country/Regional Commercial Managers
• Director Exams, Country Director and Senior Leadership Team
• Customer Services
• Finance

External:

• (B2B) partners
• Agencies
• Receiving organisations (RO’s)
• Schools, universities, education agents, as well as the government and corporate sectors

Role Requirements Threshold requirements:

• Direct contact or managing staff working with children? IF YES. Appropriate police check
• Assessment stage - N/a

Person Specification Qualifications:

• Degree in any subject or relevant qualification - Minimum / essential
• Assessment Stage - Shortlisting

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience:

• Demonstrated analytical ability and commercial acumen - Minimum / essential
• Business development experience in the E&E sector - Desirable
• Experience working with exams (or services related setting) - Desirable
• Assessment Stage - Shortlisting.
• Relevant work experience in a BD Manager role - Minimum / Essential
• Demonstrable experience to sustain and/or grow a product/service in line with strategic priorities for income and impact - Minimum / essential
• Experience collecting and analyzing client/stakeholder feedback - Minimum / essential
• Takes a pro-active approach to identifying ways in which service can be improved, and takes these forward - Minimum / essential

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply Click here to download Job Details (Pdf) Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf) Click here to download BC Core Skills (pdf)   Application Deadline 12th June, 2019     Job Title: Senior Programme Manager, Schools Education Location: Kano Role Type: Policy, Advisory & Expertise Pay Band: 8 Duration: Fixed Term, Until 31 March 2021 with possibility for renewal on mutual agreement Reports to: Director, Programmes Role Purpose

• To provide technical and programme leadership of School (Basic) Education programmes for British Council Nigeria particularly in Kano and Northern Nigeria in order to raise the impact and profile of British Council work in Northern Nigeria.

Geopolitical/SBU/Function Overview

• Nigeria is one of the largest economies in Africa. It is also the most populous country with over 190 million citizens. Nigeria holds significant political power in the region and internationally and its society retains a positive attitude to the UK.
• There are therefore major opportunities for the UK and BC to increase influence, funding sources and, through this, our impact by building on our strong existing relationships with the Nigerian government, private and civil society institutions and customers/audiences.
• However, there are complex and substantial risks to this work like security and compliance. Nigeria is the British Council’s largest operation in sub-Saharan Africa with offices in 4 cities – Port Harcourt in the south, Kano in the north, Abuja the Federal capital and Lagos the commercial centre. We also have a number of project offices across the country. Our c200 staff work across a range of states delivering large scale contracts, partnership programmes, examinations, projects as well as programmes in Arts, Education & Society and English & Exams.
• We are already achieving substantial impact through partnerships with public and private institutions, foundations, private sector organisations and civil society. We also work closely with the wider UK mission including Department for International Development (DFID) and Department for International Trade (DIT). Our Kano operation is a key part of all our operations, and we deliver key activities across our business units in that location.

Main Opportunities/Callenges for this Role Technical and Programme Leadership of School Education Programming:

• Working with the existing School Education team, this role will provide technical leadership to new and existing school education programmes, focusing on themes including teacher development, school leadership, language in education and inclusive education policy and practice. The role will also be required to deliver team leadership of teams working on some of our School Education programming particularly funded by donors.

Relationship Management of Schools Programme Stakeholders:

• This role will initiate and maintain senior relationships in public sector, private sector, emirate council and other civil society to aid delivery and create new opportunities for our School Education work in Northern Nigeria. The role will also build and maintain relationships with donors and Her Majesty’s Government departments working in Northern Nigeria like Department for International development (DFID)

Partnership and Business Development for Northern Nigeria:

• The role will be contribute to positioning and pursuit of partnership and funding opportunities to scale up particularly in School Education in Northern Nigeria.

Leadership and Operational Oversight of Kano Office:

• As administrative head of the Kano Office, the role will oversee the Kano operation and provide matrix management to the various teams stationed in that location to strengthen operational effectiveness.

Main Accountabilities Programme and Team Management

• Lead design / and or delivery of a portfolio – British Council and / or Donor Funded medium to large – scale school education programmes or components Provide technical input into internal and external project and programme development particularly around Teacher Development, Language in Education, School Leadership and Inclusive Education.

Stakeholder Management:

• Maintain and develop close understanding of and links with the School Education sector in Nigeria, particularly in the North, representing the British Council on sector stakeholder groups.
• Develop and manage a strong relationship with the Education & Society Strategic Business Unit in country, region and UK ensuring alignment with relevant strategies and plans.

Intelligence and Insight:

• Develop tools and processes for gathering and reporting on trends, opportunities and key players in the British Council areas of focus in Kano and Northern Nigeria and ensuring that internal knowledge of the region is always up to date and accurate.
• Commission periodic market research and other insight activity in consultation with business unit leaders to scope out opportunities for impact and partnership.

Partnership and Business Development for Northern Nigeria:

• Identify, communicate and support business development and partnership pursuit opportunities in Kano and Northern Nigeria working with business unit leads and supporting positioning and pursuit activities.

Operational Oversight of Kano and Northern Nigeria:

• Providing operational oversight of Kano office and leading a team of diverse staff Ensuring adherence to all corporate requirements in programme delivery and coaching teams to improve delivery standards Represent business unit leads and Country Director in Kano and Northern Nigeria as required

Membership of Senior Leadership Team:

• As member of SLT, contribute to country and cluster strategies and plans and lead on delivery of related activities as assigned.

Key Relationships:

• Senior Leadership Team
• Country Management Team
• Education Teams in Country, Region and UK.
• Business Unit Leads
• Marketing and Communications team
• Programme teams, Exams teams in Kano and beyond

External:

• Senior sector leaders in target sectors in Kanos and Northern Nigeria
• Government officials in related ministries in Kano and Northern Nigeria
• Donor community supporting programmes in Kano and Northern Nigeria.

Qualifications

• Significant (minimum 10 years) recent professional experience working in the basic education sector in Nigeria preferably Northern Nigeria; with experience in at least two of (teacher education, language in education, school leadership, inclusive education, education policy development).
• A well-developed network among (Northern) Nigerian education stakeholders in the public and private sector.
• Experience of designing and implementing School education projects with partners
• Minimum of five years’ experience leading multidisciplinary teams directly and, in matrix environments.
• Demonstrable experience of managing diverse public, private and civil society stakeholders in education sector
• Evidence of partnership development and fundraising from public or private sector or donor agency

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience Essential:

• Stage Relevant postgraduate degree or equivalent professional experience

Assessment:

• Shortlisting

Desirable:

• Formal Programme Management qualification

British Council Core Skills:

• Managing People: Leads a large and varied team: Level 4
• Managing Projects: Leads larger projects: Level 4
• Communicating and influencing: Uses influencing techniques: Level 4
• Managing Finance and Resources: Plans and deploys resources: Level 4
• Managing Risk: Develops the culture: Level 3
• Managing Accounts and Partnerships: Plans and leads on accounts and partnerships: Level 4
• Developing Business: Leads business development: Level 4

British Council Behaviours Connecting with others – Most Demanding:

• Building trust and understanding with people who have very different views

Being accountable – Most Demanding:

• Showing real dedication to the long-term mission of the British Council or the team.

Shaping the future – Most Demanding:

• Changing the nature of what we do and the benefits we gain by thinking and planning with creativity.

Making it happen – Most Demanding:

• Achieving stretching results when faced by change, uncertainty or major obstacles.

Creating shared purpose – More Demanding:

• Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together.

Working together – Most Demanding:

• Creating the environment in which others who have different aims.

Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply Click here to download Job Details (Pdf) Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf) Click here to download BC Core Skills (pdf)   Application Deadline 19th June, 2019   Note: Applicants must have existing legal right to live and work in Nigeria.

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