Research Engagement Manager

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.

Research Engagement Manager

Department: Cultural Engagement 
Contract type: Indefinite (permanent) contract. (36 hours per week). 
Pay band: 8
Salary: £38,820 plus £3,300 London Market Allowance for those in the London area only. 

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

Locations where the role can be based: 
UK - London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast Only.

 Requirements:

•    Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) legal right to work in the UK.
•    Visa Sponsorship and relocation assistance is not provided. 

Closing Date: Sunday 29th September 2024 at 23:59 UK time.
 
 

The Team:

The purpose of the British Council’s Research and Insight (R&I) function is to systematically generate useful new knowledge that will achieve impact for our mission and for UK and overseas stakeholders.
We support the British Council to be an organisation guided by evidence, knowledge and insight, one that is confident in its voice as a cultural relations thought leader and a credible partner, and one that is generous in sharing its knowledge and insight in core areas, particularly across our core sectors of English, Education and Arts.

As a team, we aim to role model the British Council value of being ‘expert and inclusive’. The team is currently based across in locations across the UK and South Asia. We support a community of practice of more than 200 members across the global network.

We have two core outcomes:
1.    Research to ensure the British Council is a trusted and valued provider of knowledge and soft power insight for the UK and overseas stakeholders.
2.    Well evidenced analysis and understanding of how the totality of our work across the English, Education and Arts sectors generates soft power effects for the UK within priority countries

The Role:

The role supports the Research and Insight (R&I) team in generating and sharing valuable knowledge about cultural relations. Key responsibilities include:

•    Engaging and influencing stakeholders through high-quality research dissemination activities (such as reports, policy briefs, social media, meetings).
•    Expanding engagement with external partners to apply research insights, inform strategy, and gain advocacy.
•    Project managing the British Council podcast Our World, Connected.
•    Designing and advising on communication platforms and content for effective research dissemination and engagement.
•    Planning and delivering research dissemination and knowledge sharing programmes with internal and external partners.
•    Ensuring British Council strategy benefits from R&I insights and making materials accessible to internal stakeholders.

 
Accountabilities:

•    Provides expert advice to stakeholders to improve practices
•    Pursues professional development and contributes to training colleagues
•    Project manages the team’s podcast and acts as first point of contact with the production team
•    Contributes to raising profile and reputation externally and internally by participating in webinars and podcasts, and contributing to blogs, focusing on our research expertise and output
•    Provides advice on communication mechanisms, channels and platforms most suitable to reach and engage priority stakeholders and partners, considering the available and potential insight and content from the British Council portfolio 
•    Collaborates with Marketing and Communications teams to optimise communication channels
•    Coordinates with the Knowledge Exchange Manager on delivering the Knowledge Exchange strategy
•    Understands the operational context and needs of internal customers 
•    Consults with external stakeholders to align services with their needs
•    Develops networks to enhance knowledge and expertise
•    Builds relationships with external partners to highlight R&I outputs
•    Manages project budgets
•    Curates and utilises data, evidence and research to understand impact

Requirements of the role

• Experience of using a range of tools, including software, to communicate ideas to a variety of audiences
• Experience of tailoring complex ideas to an engaged but non-expert audience
• Experience of working with senior managers and high level stakeholders.
• Experience of managing or undertaking research dissemination projects or initiatives to engage stakeholders with research and evidence

Closing Date:   Applications will close at 23:59 on Sunday 30th September 2024 UK Time. 
 
Interviews will be held around the middle of October
 
You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

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.