Team Leader for Language Assessment Consultant

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 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Pay Band: Team Lead for Language Assessment Consultant Package
Department: Exams
Location: Chongqing, China
Contract Type: Fixed term contract (1 year) 

Role Purpose:
•    To provide effective line management of and academic support for groups of full-time Language Assessment Consultants primarily engaged in the delivery of the IELTS speaking and writing modules. 
•    To ensure high standards of assessment which meet quality standards in order to support business growth.  
•    Manage risks and ensure that KPIs, monitoring and evaluation targets are met in order to deliver British Council strategic objectives. 
•    Contribute to the on-going professional development programme for assessors.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following: 
The position is responsible for the performance management and professional development of a group of Language Assessment Consultants in China in line with IELTS PSN requirements and British Council HR policies. The post will work closely with the Examiner support teams and will report directly to their Deputy National Examiner Manager in one of our four centres.

People Management 
•    Lead and manage a team of language assessors as part of the wider examiner management team, implementing best practice in line management in accordance with HR policies and procedures.

•    Participate in a comprehensive people management development programme and actively demonstrate the required skills in day-to-day management to meet the associated KPIs.
•    Manage employee relations, engagement and wellbeing through regular 1:1 meetings with line managees. 
•    Ensure that all staff have appropriate skills, knowledge, support and training to enable the business to achieve targets. Coach and develop line managees to develop their skills and manage underperformance effectively. Providing career development through coaching and stretch assignments.
•    Ensure all line managees are managed in accordance with the British Council’s Performance Management and Professional Development (PMPD) framework with timely completion of written records within country and corporately specified deadlines.
•    Monitor and manage performance in accordance with the IELTS PSN framework through PSN monitoring and other feedback mechanisms.
•    Ensure that all staff have appropriate skills, knowledge, support and training to enable the business to achieve targets. Leading training sessions for examiners including PSN training and standardisation.
•    Participate in the recruitment and induction of new members of staff to corporate standards, in conjunction with HR. 
•    Contribute to the professional development programme through materials development, workshop delivery and other support roles as necessary. Support the Examiner management team to promote and develop non-examining tasks and monitor completion of non-examining tasks.
•    Provide necessary support for the wider exams team including complaint handling, rater reliability systems and other senior marker / examiner trainer related duties.

Language Assessment 
•    Conduct IELTS speaking interviews.

•    Conduct second marking and Enquiry on Results marking (where applicable) for the speaking module.
•    Monitor Enquiry on Results markers (where applicable).
•    Conduct and rate other IELTS and British Council exams.

•    Other tasks relevant to the British Council English language and assessment services such as consulting, item writing or materials writing.

Other duties
•    Maintaining the reputation and integrity of IELTS and the British Council at all times and adhering to the IELTS Professional Support Network and British Council policies.

•    To ensure all duties are delivered in line with the British Council’s policy on Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and these are taken into account when planning and delivering activity
•    Manage information created and received in compliance with the British Council’s information management standards, policies, the UK data protection principles and local legislation.
•    Other duties as assigned including but not limited to project work, duty rotas and assigned duties.

Role specific knowledge and experience:
Minimum/essential
•    Experience of managing a team and providing support to line managees from induction onwards.
•    A minimum of 5 years’ full-time (or equivalent part-time) teaching experience (age 16 and above), 1 year of which must be post-CELTA or equivalent.
•    4 years’ examining experience (both modules) or 2 years’ examining experience with a minimum of 600 candidates in each module.
•    Satisfactory monitoring and certification history

Desirable
•    Experience of working in Asia and of supporting overseas colleagues 

•    Materials development/ writing experience

Further Information:
Requirements:
•    Language requirements: The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.
o    English C2 Proficiency, expert user level (equivalent to IELTS band 9)
•    Education: bachelor’s or master’s degree plus
o    All qualifications must be validated by a reputable institution and accredited by a professional certification board. If requested, applicants are required to provide additional information regarding their qualifications (e.g. transcript, course curriculum, evidence of external validation, accreditation by a certification standards board etc).
•    Certification and Professional Qualifications: CELTA or equivalent TEFL/TESOL qualification from a recognized institution (at minimum certificate level).
•    Additional job requirements:
 

Condition of Employment 
This role is open to all applicants including those who need to relocate to undertake the role. Candidates who do not have a natural right to work in the country will be provided with immigration clearance and visa support. Please note visa approvals are beyond the British Council’s control so any job offer will be subject to securing the required right to work**. Relocation support as set out in the British Council international relocation policy is available.

**Due to Chongqing visa regulations, only candidates who have a natural right to work in China, or applicants from 'countries where English is the native language' may be considered. 

To be eligible to apply for a work visa in Chongqing, only applicants with nationalities from the following nations may be considered:
Ascension, Australia, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian overseas territories, Canada, China, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Guyana, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, New Zealand, Pitcairn Islands, Singapore, South Africa, British Cyprus (Akrotiri and Dhekelia), South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands, St. Helena, Tristan Da Cunha, UK, USA, US Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Background Checks
Initial and continuing employment with the British Council is subject to an annual background check. The job undertaken defines the nature of check(s) and assessment applied.

Flexibility
Flexibility in working hours and days is expected in order to meet operational needs. The job may require some travel regionally and/or nationally. It will also involve weekend working hours or evening work.

IELTS certification 
Team Leaders are required to maintain certification at Examiner Trainer level for the duration of the contract. If the successful applicant is not currently certificated as an IELTS Examiner Trainer, the applicant will be required to meet the PSN Minimum Professional Requirements and certificate to Examiner Trainer level.

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 is committed 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 Council’s 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.