Global Standards Consultant

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. These connections lead to an understanding of each other's strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Global Standards Consultant
 
Pay band: 7 - £26,934 - £30,354 gross salary – plus £3,300 yearly gross London allowance (if applicable)

Location: Global – Flexible EU: Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, UK, WE: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Serbia and Uzbekistan, South Asia and MENA, SSA regions. ***

Department: British Council, Cultural Engagement Operations Department

Contract: Indefinite (permanent) contract.
Closing Date: 30th of March at 23:59 UK Time. 

* Interested candidates outside of the UK should get in touch with the hiring manager before applying to discuss if their current locations can be considered. Relocation to the UK is unfortunately not an option.

** Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location.  Mobility/ relocation/ visa sponsoring support will not be provided. If you are currently sponsored by the British Council, in a country or regional role, please check with your local/regional HR colleagues if you are able to remain in your current location before applying for this global role.

 
About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity, working in a Centre of Excellence helping us to improve our capability with best practice in project and programme delivery which is a top priority for us.

You will be at the heart of our approach, managing key initiatives and providing consultancy to our project managers and SROs so that we embed our global standards.  Your customer driven approach will ensure that we maintain a platform of relevant and useful resources including guidance and tools which enable project managers to do their job well.  You will work alongside our assurance team to champion compliance with our global standards.

What we’ll offer you:

In addition to a competitive salary and excellent pension contributions, the British Council offers:

• 32 days annual leave and an additional half day on Christmas Eve
• Hybrid working from several locations across the UK with the opportunity to work in the office and remotely from home
• Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development
• Employee Assistance Programme 

About us:

Based in the British Council’s Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit, you will be part of a wider team whose focus is assurance and compliance, global standards as part of a Centre of Excellence, and data analytics and reporting.  Our work covers programmes and projects delivered across the world in arts, education, and English.  We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world.  We work on the ground in more than 100 countries.  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. 

What we require from of the successful candidate

Role specific knowledge, experience and skills:

• Experience of working with stakeholders to develop fit for purpose guidance and tools that underpin the business
• Experience of providing advice on the implementation of good practice programme and project management and/or business development
• Experience of supporting the implementation and embedding of business improvement and best practice within an organisation
• Experience of maintaining an online platform
• Experience of working in complex and matrix management environments
• Consultancy within the area of applied programme and project management and/or business development
• Motivation and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-racism

Education and Qualifications

• Programme or project management qualification (Desirable)

For the detailed Role Profile, please send an email to AskHR@britishcouncil.org

Requirements

• Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the specified countries in which the role is based.
• Some travel and out of hours work may be required. 

Closing Date: Applications will close 30th of March 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams. If successful and invited to interview stage, candidates will be required to complete a short presentation.

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.