Senior Schools Advisor, Engagement

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Job Title: Senior Schools Advisor, Engagement
Region: UK
Country: UK
Department: Education & Society
Job Category: Indefinite
Location: Any UK office – subject to office capacity (London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh Manchester)
Pay Band:  Senior management Band (Senior Managers and Professionals)

Who Can Apply

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. The British Council cannot assist non UK/EU Nationals to obtain a work permit.

Please apply before 23:59 UK Time 23 March 2017. Interviews are to be scheduled on the 11th and 12th April 2017.

THE ORGANISATION

The British Council

The British Council is the world’s leading cultural relations organisation and creates opportunities for people in the UK and worldwide to understand each other, to work together and learn from one another. We see this as crucial to building secure, more prosperous and sustainable futures for us all. We build trust and understanding between different countries and cultures and develop strong international links that are of benefit to people in Britain and the rest of the world. We call this work – cultural relations.

THE DEPARTMENT / STRATEGIC BUSINESS UNIT (SBU)

Education & Society

Through our work in Education and Society we provide opportunities for people to broaden their horizons and build sustainable futures.

Our work in Education aims to raise the quality of education globally and connect people across the globe to share perspectives, best practice and ultimately improve learning outcomes. Our work contributes to global education policy, supports international mobility and collaboration and promotes the UK as a world leader in education and research.

Our Society programmes enable individuals, communities and governments to work together to make positive transformation where it matters - from strengthening civil society, to widening access to justice and promoting the rule of law. Our work also includes social enterprise, girls’ and women’s inclusion, youth and sport. The aim is to help build stronger, safer and more inclusive societies.

Equality Comment

Valuing diversity is essential to the British Council’s work. We aim to abide by and promote equality legislation by following both the letter and the spirit of it to try and avoid unjustified discrimination, recognising discrimination as a barrier to equality of opportunity, inclusion and human rights.

All staff worldwide are required to ensure their behaviour is consistent with our policies.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We have an excellent opportunity for a Senior Schools Advisor

The Senior Schools Adviser will be part of a small central team working with colleagues in over 100 countries who are focused on enriching teaching and learning in schools – an essential contribution to a secure and prosperous world.

International collaboration in education and offering programmes that enhance young people’s opportunities is at the heart of the British Council’s work. Working directly to the Head of Schools Programmes, this role will play a major part in this work and will provide senior level expertise to shape much of our portfolio of Schools work. Within the context of our overarching British Council strategy, the role will develop a set of priorities, objectives and plans, to ensure that our work with schools systems builds mutually beneficial relationships between the UK and the countries where we operate. The postholder will work with our teams around the world to implement the Schools strategy, extending our paid offer to schools and developing existing and new partnerships. It also has responsibility for coordinating a programme of insight and research.

We are keen to receive applications from professionals currently working in Education who have the leadership experience and educational expertise to push forward implementation of both our existing Schools work and develop the offer and partnerships further. Having a good network of education contacts in private and public sector organisations around the world would help the successful candidate.

The successful candidate must have experience in:

• Planning & organising
• Communicating & influencing
• Account & partnership development
• Analysing data and problems
• Managing risks

Some of the main duties include:

1. Implementation of global Schools strategy to improve teaching and learning- Leading on the global implementation of our range of Schools programmes and, where necessary, further development of the offer. This includes working with senior colleagues around the world to help them to use and tailor our range of commercial and partner funded activities. Providing expertise and advice to support the development of regional and country plans for our work with schools. Supporting the shaping and developing of major programme opportunities and proposal building through the provision of expert content and quality assurance. The aims are to grow the impact, income and surplus from our Schools work.

2. Working across business units (SBUs) - Leading the operational partnership with the business unit that focuses on improving English teaching in education systems around the world. This includes responsibility for the Schools team contribution to the CPD framework for teachers, teacher trainers and school leaders.

3. Maintaining and developing partnership – this includes both existing partners such as Microsoft but also finding new partners for both programme development and research/insight.

4. Insight and research programme – lead and coordinate a programme of gathering and commissioning insight and research which will deepen and demonstrate the British Council’s professional knowledge of improving teaching and learning in school systems. Lead the dissemination of our insights internally and externally.

We require the successful candidate to have:

• Previous experience in education policy or programme development at a strategic level, advising partners or ministries on policy change.
• Knowledge and understanding of different school level education systems internationally and in the four nations of the UK.
• Experience of leading large education improvement programmes in school systems.
• Track record of working with stakeholders in the Education sector, providing advice to shape direction and influence policy.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please see the documents below:

Role profile Role Profile
British council behaviours British Council Behaviours
CORE skills CORE Skills

BENEFITS

Salary: Pay band  Senior management Band (Senior Managers and Professionals)

UK Benefits

Competitive Salary

Performance Bonus

London Market Allowance £3,300 (only to London based roles)

Generous pension

32 days annual leave

Childcare vouchers

Flexible working policy

Season ticket loan

Employee Assistance Programme

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION STATEMENTS

Generic Statement

If you are interested and feel you are suitable for the role, please apply before 23:59 UK Time 23 March 2017. Interviews are to be scheduled on the 11th and 12th April 2017.

Equality of Opportunity (UK)

The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and is keen to reflect the diversity of UK society at every level within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. In line with the British Council's Child Protection policy, any appointment is contingent on thorough checks. In the UK, and in other countries where appropriate systems exist, these include criminal records checks.