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 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
Architecture, Design & Fashion Relationship Manager.
Pay band: 7
Salary: Starting at £30,839 plus £3,300 for those based in the London area.
Benefits Include, but are not limited to:
• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
• 3 days volunteering leave
• Career average defined benefit pension scheme
• An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you’ve built up working in and/or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world
Location: Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast (UK Only)
Department: Arts, Cultural Engagement.
Contract type: Indefinite Contract.
Closing Date: 29th October at 23:59 UK Time.
Requirements:
This role is based in the UK. Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.
British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to 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.
The Team:
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 UK arts team works with the arts and culture sector in the UK, and our global network of offices, to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting and seeing each other through the arts.
Our work is delivered through four global programmes: Culture Connects supports artistic and cultural exchange between the UK and countries internationally; Spotlights on Culture engages and represents the UK’s cultural diversity and creativity at high-profile cultural events; Creative Economy analyses creative ecosystems and highlights emerging trends and areas of convergence and difference between creative economies; Arts Responds to Global Challenges celebrates the transformative power of arts and culture to change attitudes and the protection and promotion of cultural expression, diversity and heritage at risk. You will play a central role in the development and delivery of programmes across the arts portfolio and will work closely with colleagues across Arts and Cultural Engagement to ensure programmes are inclusive, sustainable, impactful and of mutual benefit.
Building partnerships and maintaining relationships will be a core part of the role with the possibility of pursuing external funding. There will also be opportunities to work with external partners/experts for specific projects and/or events.
The role will connect with colleagues across the global network to shape and ensure high quality delivery of programmes.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Arts team on an indefinite basis. You will provide specialist expertise and management support to ensure the development, partner building and quality control of high-quality, strategic Architecture Design and Fashion and arts programmes, within the arts portfolio. You will help the programmes to achieve targets, meet global and local requirements as appropriate and support the British Council’s cultural relations objectives.
Accountabilities:
Sector/subject expertise
• Actively builds professional networks and information channels that maintain an excellent understanding of relevant developments, stakeholders and opinion formers across the entire UK Architecture Design and Fashion sector to support the creation and delivery of high-quality projects/programmes.
• Provides expert advice and support to colleagues to ensure high quality programme content in major arts programmes based on a genuine understanding of the key BC/FCDO priorities and best practice within the subject/sector specialism
Relationship & stakeholder management
• Proactively identifies and cultivates potential/actual partners for project and programme development and delivery and secures the successful achievement of British Council objectives.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with internal partners and stakeholders, to ensure effective, integrated and joined-up delivery of portfolio goals in a complex matrix environment.
Programme management
• Contributes to the development and presentation of specific project or programme proposals, both face-to-face and digital, including the subject or sector specialism-related component of wider programmes, to ensure these are soundly based and gain approval.
• Oversees and, as necessary, advises on the implementation of approved programmes to ensure these are efficiently and effectively delivered.
• Uses specialist experience to identify project and programme issues, and potential solutions or improved ways of working to address them, and where necessary provide advice to and support delivery partners, escalating where necessary.
Business development
• As part of a wider team contributes professional input to support development of high quality, competitive and customer/market-focused bids, tender submissions, programme plans and sponsorship appeals, which can generate specified commercial returns and cultural relations impact.
Leadership and Management
• Plans and prioritises own work activities, and those of a wider project team/teams (many of which exist outside the direct management line and may be external to the British Council e.g. delivery organisations, to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and programmes.
• Shares knowledge, expertise and ideas to support senior managers and peers identifying and/or developing ways in which arts department can make the most effective impact on the British Council’s cultural relations.
• Actively contributes to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensures people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health.
• Understands the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to the role and makes time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.
Commercial, financial & resource management
• Using agreed British Council systems and processes, plans and manages the budget as necessary for a range of small/medium-sized projects and programmes.
Requirements of the role:
• Good, wide knowledge of UK Architecture Design and Fashion today and the ability to make critical judgements across different genres.
• Substantial recent professional experience in the UK Architecture Design and Fashion sector and a good up-to-date network of contacts across the UK Architecture Design and Fashion sector.
• Works inter-culturally, includes and values diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Managing projects (level 3) – Leads smaller projects: Analyses requirements with the sponsor/stakeholders/delivery partners, defining the specification with awareness of equality and diversity impact, planning, revising, implementing and evaluating on small-to-medium scale and/or low risk projects.
Closing Date: Applications will close on 29th October 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.
Additional Information:
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
We are unable to support with sponsorship or relocation support.
Interviews will be held at the end of November.
