British Council
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.
Role Purpose
Implementation of the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) programme funded by the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) .
Leads the successful delivery of of the ISPF programme or projects from start to finish including managing the contract or project plan, managing client or internal stakeholders, successfully achieving reporting and meeting compliance standards. Or works within a larger programme or multi country programme on a particular component.
Education
The Programme Manager, Science (ISPF) role will work with the global ISPF team as part of the Education team in Egypt and with other ISPF participating countries as directed, with specific responsibility for the following key areas of work:
- contributing to the final closure of all Newton Fund activity (2014-2024) ensuring that lessons learned are captured and all relevant reporting documentation is accessible for dissemination and future recommendations.
- helping to create templates, schedules and relevant documentation as directed by the the ISPF team to operatonalise the new International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF)
- developing country-specific project plans that are in line with the goals, objectives, scopes, timelines, and resources for the global ISPF programme
- contributing to the design, development & delivery of the ISPF programmes, in co-ordination with international partners and in-country partner organisations
- maintaining accurate financial records and file management systems
- monitoring generic inboxes and offering high levels of customer service to customers and grantees.
- support ISPF delivery and stakeholder management in other Middle East & North Africa (MENA) ISPF countries where directed
- support the UK central team in programme activities as directed.
The role provides integral operational management in supporting the successful development, delivery, impact (incl. MEL) and financial sustainability for ISPF at country, regional and global levels. This includes servicing corporate or regional outcomes, ensuring value add and mutual UK benefit as well as compliance with published programme management standards across all areas of financial and operational risk. The role also supports partner and stakeholder relations as well as business and partnership development for the ISPF programme.
This role will work with colleagues across the region and in the UK, to help deliver benefits for ISPF.
Main Accountabilities
Relationship & Stakeholder management
- Has relationships with delivery partners and stakeholders within country and is able to procure services and contract delivery partners.
- Identifies and engages with potential international partners, researchers and stakeholders in each of the countries involved to establish ISPF partnerships.
- Maintains effective communication and a good working relationship with in-country UK organisations and international partners. This includes providing regular updates, soliciting feedback, addressing concerns and responds to enquiries from stakeholders promptly, and involving them in decision-making processes when appropriate.
- Works closely with in-country partner institutions/universities on any issues arising from funded activities.
- Holds suppliers to account for delivering against contract.
- Build strong internal relationships and networks
Commercial and Financial Management
- Ensure sound financial planning, working closely with finance teams to ensure British Council and client financial year plans are up to date.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly (re)forecasting is in place, by running regular reports in the SAP system on actuals, monitoring outstanding purchase orders, reviewing commitments, analysing and commenting on reasons for variances to plan and recommending corrective actions.
- Monitoring monthly finances, including correct expenditure, ensuring the P2P process is being followed and correcting any mis-postings or journals needed.
- Lead on British Council, partner or client reporting (including, with Finance Manager, financial reporting) and ensure reports are delivered on time, to budget and to a high standard.
- Compliance to British Council financial policies and procedures.
Project Management
- Contributes to development of, owns and delivers on the ISPF Project Management Plan
- Identifies risks in a project or programme and puts together mitigation strategies with the ISPF team
- Responsible for internal and client, procurement, contracting, compliance and reporting
- Checks on and reports on compliance
- Manages procurement on a project/programme
- Responsible for data management including timely data entry, quality assurance of data, undertaking basic analysis of monitoring data, and developing progress reports to meet funding needs
- Undertaking programme-specific data collection as needed. This includes working with colleagues to identify indicators and tools for data collection, quality assuring all data, and undertaking basic analysis.
Business Development
- Supports the identification and development of professional networks, relationships and partnerships to increase the British Council’s impact and reputation.
- Ensures high quality and accurate pipeline data for country/pillar.
- Conducts specific pipeline and partner/competitor analysis to contribute to business development planning and prioritisation.
- Provides support with development of new business proposals, ensuring that internal and external professional standards are met.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Be aware of your own unconscious biases and their impact and find ways to reduce them, take action against bias and discrimination.
- Involve people from diverse backgrounds in your work and make decisions with an appreciation of the experiences and barriers for people from different equality backgrounds
- Contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, so that people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health.
Understand the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, and make time for learning and development.
Minimum/essential Requirement-
- Experience of managing projects from start to finish and familiarity with project life-cycles.
- Proven experience of managing project finances and managing documents.
- Experience working in project or programme management.
- Experience of using technology in project delivery.
- Experience working in project or programme management.
- Confident user of information technology (Word; Excel; PowerPoint), Microsoft 365 functionality and working knowledge of British Council SAP system (or similar software)
Desirable Requirement
Foundation level Project Management certificate
- Experience of managing stakeholders.
- Experience in managing grant-funded projects.
- Good understanding and experience of supporting monitoring and evaluation.
- Ability to undertake project reporting and communicate impact to internal and external audiences.
Further Information
- Number of positions: 1
- Employment Type: FTC
- Location: Egypt
- Grade: 7 F
- Deadline to receive applications: 23rd of January 2024
Please note that all applications should be submitted in English only.
It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment
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 [email protected]
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.
To apply for this job please visit careers.britishcouncil.org.