Role Type Pay Band Location Duration Reports to: Pay band 6 Lusaka 3 Year Fixed Term contract

Transcription

1 Role Title Project Manager Skills and Enterprise; Zambia Role Information Role Type Pay Band Location Duration Reports to: Business Delivery Pay band 6 Lusaka 3 Year Fixed Term contract Country Director Role purpose The role will be required to manage delivery, working with strategic partners in Zambia (currently Lenovo, the Social Enterprise Academy, KPMG and other corporate partners). All this will require working successfully with partners, clients and customers in the UK and Zambia in order to meet the British Councils strategic objectives in Sub-Saharan Africa The post holder will be reporting directly to the Country Director, currently there are no direct line management responsibilities. About us The British Council is the UK s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. 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. Geopolitical/SBU/Function overview: Zambia gained independence from the UK in 1964, the British Council has operated in Zambia since As in many other Commonwealth countries in Africa the Education system is based on the UK with English widely spoken. Traditionally many Zambians look towards the UK as a destination of choice for quality education and cultural exchanges. Whilst UK soft power is still influential, it is no longer a given, especially among youth. Young people say they are most concerned about unemployment, inequality, lack of access to services and lack of accountability. Our Cultural Relations activity in Zambia supports the soft power objectives of HMG in Zambia. Research shows that young people in Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK face significant shared challenges in fulfilling their potential, such as employment, education, inequality and access to decision making. The connections we make between young people in the UK and Zambia will create reciprocal understanding and inspire collaborative approaches to addressing these challenges. Zambia has been designated as a priority for the Scottish government, especially in culture. We are partnering with Creative Scotland in bringing a group of young people to Zambia to work with creative hubs, we expect to build on this links in 2019 and Over the next 3 years, under Connecting Classrooms, there will be 150 Zambian UK school partnerships (many of which will include reciprocal visits). We will partner with the Social Enterprise Academy, based from Edinburgh and with Scottish government funding. We 1 [Insert job title] [Insert date prepared] The British Council

2 will continue the Zambia Accountability Programme, a UKAid international development project until the end of These synergies will increase the UK s standing as an attractive, influential and empathetic partner in Zambia and lead to longer-term relationships of mutual benefit. Main opportunities/challenges for this role: Recent uplift in ODA grant funding for our work with young people and skills means we have an opportunity to work in a space we have not traditionally occupied. We will achieve this by working through strategic partners on Creative and Social Enterprises The role will therefore be instrumental in the success of this expanded programme of work as it has the responsibility of delivering activity in Creative and Social Enterprise Main Accountabilities: In line with British Council s Equal opportunities and Diversity, Child Protection and other relevant corporate policies, Product / Service / Project Delivery Implements annual work plan based on regional and SBU strategies for Education & Society (E&S). Deploys resources efficiently and cost effectively to deliver required income, impact and profitability targets for agreed service/product/programme delivery within country. Establishes, Implements and adapts team work plan in the light of revised corporate requirements, operational changes and local social/economic or political events Liaises closely with Country Director and Senior management team as well as regional and SBU colleagues (and/or the external customer as necessary) to clarify and agree local targets in terms of quality/revenue/margin/volume/impact/time/cost Stakeholder / Customer / Client Management: In accordance with agreed Country and regional strategies and work plans manages a range of relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. government, sponsors, customers, partner agencies) to achieve positive outcomes for the British Council programme and facilitate effective operational delivery Develops and maintains excellent relationships and communication with internal and/or external customers to build a clear understanding of their needs and experiences, to inform and enable continuous improvement in the quality of service/programme/product delivery. Compliance and Risk management: Is responsible for ensuring quality, security and compliance standards for delivery are met Uses standard corporate systems and tools, combined with previous experience and detailed knowledge of the local context, to assess a range of risks to service/product/programme delivery. Ensures appropriate contingency/mitigation plans are in place and implemented promptly to manage delivery safely and effectively in challenging or high-risk circumstances. Investigates any reported instances of non-compliance with agreed corporate risk management policies (e.g. child protection, security policies, financial protocols, antifraud measures), and takes appropriate remedial action, including escalation to more senior colleagues as required Analysis and Reporting: Uses management information, analysis and personal operating experience to identify and make recommendations on improvements to ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness Implements a range of corporately/regionally agreed BC reporting procedures and holds staff to account for maintaining them, to ensure that results are accurately recorded, 2 [Insert job title] [Insert date prepared] The British Council

3 thereby enabling timely and effective operational decision-making Uses data to inform effective business and operational planning Commercial and Resources Management: Proposes annual budgets income and expenditure - and undertakes detailed resource planning to enable cost effective, high quality in-year delivery of operational activities. Leads the negotiation/structuring of local deals to achieve required operational goals, drawing appropriately on the input and expertise of other colleagues/external advisors as required to protect the BC s interests effectively Within agreed corporate procedures and schedules of delegated authority, manages and reports on variances to plan, controlling principal local levers impacting on cost and service provided (e.g. people, processes, resources, suppliers) Develops and manages relationships through effective negotiation and contracting with suppliers and service providers as required to ensure effective delivery to quality standards Leadership and management: Leads a team of people ensuring clear communication of goals and expectations and effective delivery. Identifies requirements and recommends training and development provision to build improved operational capability within the team and business area. Actively contributes to the development of wider regional and SBU strategies and plans in their field of knowledge. Contributes to the leadership of the wider operation as a member of the Country Leadership team and representing the operation as appropriate with senior and regional stakeholders. Key Relationships: Internal Country Director and other members of Country Leadership Team SSA Skills and Enterprise Programme Manager and team SA cluster colleagues Other SSA British Council colleagues in SBU areas (Education. Society, English. Arts) Marketing and Communications and Customer Service leads in country and SSA Other British Council team members External Customers Social Enterprise Academy, Lenovo, KPMG, and others in the field Sponsors and clients Contractors, suppliers and service providers Role Requirements: Threshold requirements: Assessment stage Passport requirements/ Right to work in country Direct contact or managing staff working with children? Notes Person Specification: Qualifications Existing rights to live and work in Zambia Yes/No IF YES. Appropriate police check N/a Assessment stage Minimum / essential Desirable 3 [Insert job title] [Insert date prepared] The British Council

4 University Degree or equivalent in a related field Role Specific Knowledge & Experience Project management qualification Minimum / essential Desirable Previous and proven experience of successfully managing small to medium scale projects in and across Zambia or another country with a similar operating environment. Previous proven experience with youth related projects. Role Specific Skills (if any) UK Skills and Creative Enterprise Sector Working on international projects Knowledge of Creative or Social Enterprise in Zambia As below AND British Council Core Skills Communicating and influencing (level 2). Relates communications to circumstances. Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences. AND Managing people (level 2). Supervises a small team of people doing similar jobs to deliver short term tasks to agreed quality and time standards. Managing Finance and Resources Level 3 Monitors and controls an agreed budget within a defined area, producing reports, analyses and contributes to planning Managing Projects (Level 3) Analyses requirements with the sponsor/stakeholders, defining the specification with awareness of equality and diversity impact, planning, revising, implementing and evaluating on small-to-medium scale and/or low risk projects. Planning & Organising (Level 3) Develops and reviews the implementation of annual plans for a work group or function, taking account of business and customer requirements and reconciling competing demands. Manages Accounts and Partnerships Level 2 Works with stakeholders and partners. Communicates regularly with diverse stakeholders, customers and/or partners to build mutual understanding and trust. British Council Behaviours Creating shared purpose (More demanding) - Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together Required for the role but not assessed at recruitment stag Working Together (More Demanding) Ensuring that others benefit as well as me 4 [Insert job title] [Insert date prepared] The British Council

5 Being accountable (More Demanding) Putting the needs of the British Council or my team above my own Making it happen (More Demanding) Challenging myself and others to deliver and measure better results Shaping the future (More Demanding) Exploring ways in which we can add more value Connecting with others (More demanding) Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others Prepared by: Required for the role but not assessed at recruitment stage Date: David Pardoe March [Insert job title] [Insert date prepared] The British Council