Director Education (UK & Overseas Stakeholders) Candidate pack February 2018 1
Role information Role Type Pay Band Location Duration Reports to: Permanent Senior Management Broadband - Leader of Major Function/Geography London Indefinite EB Member Role purpose This role will lead on key stakeholders in HMG and UK Education sector (HE, Science and Schools) relating to our Education programmes, partnerships and contracts. It will establish relationships with HMG departments such as BEIS and DfE, universities, colleges and other bodies involved in UK and international Education. It will be the main point of information on our range of activity and relations with these bodies and it will be the main interlocutor with these entities on Education policy, partnerships, programmes and funding. It will also ensure that a strategy is in place for the management of these bodies. The post holder will have strong Education credentials and be able to speak with authority on public platforms on International Education. The post holder may also act as advisor on the development of grant funded programmes and full cost recovery contracts. British Council 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 The Education and Society SBU covers a major area of key impact for British Council. It works in the higher education, science, schools and skills sectors in the education area and in Civil Society, Justice, Women and Girls and Social Enterprise in the Society area. The SBU delivers excellent impact meeting British Council goals through its programmes in these areas. The annual turnover is around 300m, including FCR contracts, grant and partner funded activity and paid services. The SBU has currently been working through a change programme to move towards a globally managed business where UK and overseas 2
regions are working together in a complementary manner to achieve high levels of impact while remaining sustainable as a business unit. This programme is still in progress but should be largely complete by March 2018. As a part of the change a new leadership team structure has been designed and this role is a part of that structure. Our goals are to shape a business unit, which is fit for the more competitive and accountable environment which is developing in our area of work. E&S works closely with government departments both in the UK and overseas, as well as with the EU. It is important that we have the capability to build and maintain our reputation and good track in our areas of work, to make good choices in the programmes we undertake and to deliver excellent outcomes while remaining financially sustainable in an economically challenging environment. 3
Main opportunities/challenges for this role To establish and maintain excellent relationships with our key education stakeholders and partners; To develop a strategy for handling these relationships to strengthen British Council s position in discussions and negotiations and to make possible confident future planning of a strong pipeline for programmes and contracts; To contribute to a strong reputation for British Council in International Education through strong relationships (as outlined above) and through presentations at public events (at an international level) and representation at high level meetings and conferences; To act as the most senior adviser in the Education space within British Council internally. Supporting the CEO and other senior internal stakeholders; To advise on a number of large scale contracts or programmes; To contribute strongly to the shaping of British Council Education Strategy and the accompanying portfolio of programmes; To provide sector expertise on the design and development of education contract bids and on the professional development of Practitioner Expert staff members in Education and Society wishing to specialize in the field of education. Main accountabilities Strategy & planning To develop and embed a strategy for the management of each of our key Education stakeholders. To work with key stakeholders such as the Lead Partner Education to embed this in a sustainable and clear way; To lead, contribute to and influence British Council policy, strategy & research in the Education space, demonstrating deep knowledge and understanding; To act as a senior advisor to regional, country and global teams in the development of their Education strategy and planning; Be key advisor to the CEO and Executive Board on education in the UK and internationally. Leadership & Management Member of British Council Management Board; To lead and be seen as a prominent leader of British Council in the area of Education, externally; Actively support a commitment to EDI and ensure this is a strong element of the culture; Provide day-to-day leadership and management that mirrors the mission and core values of British Council; Foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within British Council; Manage a team of sector experts that provide strategic support and advice which will achieve our impact and sustainability goals. 4
Relationship Management & Business Development To participate, lead and support UK and International meetings on International Education to develop British Council s reputation, visibility and client/partner base; Work to elevate the reputation of British Council with partners and governments globally which will in turn allow act as a preferred partner and advisor in the Education space. Operations To work in partnership with the Lead Partner Education contracts to deliver a sustainable Education portfolio globally by providing expert skills and supporting business development opportunities (specifically Higher Education, Schools, Science and Skills); To develop a strong information base for all our work with key clients and partners to ensure a coherence in British Council relations with them; To work with the Global Commercial Lead and Contract Leads to horizon scan for the development of our pipeline and to secure new contracting business; To work with Global Consultancy Group Lead to develop and maintain strong sector capabilities and development of skills in the Practitioner Expert pool. Key relationships Internal CEO EB members Regional Directors and members of Management Board Heads of Higher Education, Skills Systems and Schools Education and English for Education Systems Contract Leads Director Research Head of Evidence and Evaluation in Strategy and Planning COO Education and Society Director UK Region Global education leads across seven regions External BEIS, DfE, DFID, DIT and other major HMG stakeholders and related bodies HE Sector (University Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors International) Sector partners and agencies (eg UUKi, ACU, HEA, QAA etc) Science policy and research bodies (e.g. UKVI, Royal Society, British Academy etc) International Education specialists across Whitehall and in international organisations Key professional organisations related to the sector (e.g. mission groups, Association of Colleges, etc) 5
Person specification Qualifications Essential PhD and/or senior level experience in Education context Knowledge and experience Essential Evidence of leadership of large scale programmes/contracts Evidence of strong knowledge of International Education Experience in external representation of organization at professorial conferences or seminars as participant, presenter or organiser Desirable Experience developing high level strategic market approaches Experience lead research programmes Skills Essential Strategic thinking Relationship building and management Influencing skills Strong presentation and communication skills Commercial acumen Leadership Relationship management (clients & partners) Sector expert (international) Credibility across E&S sector Deep expert on geo-political context 6
British Council core skills Plans and leads on accounts and partnerships Develops and leads on the delivery of account management and development plans across a range of stakeholders/customers/partners to deliver medium term business and/or reputational gains for both parties. Leads business development Able to plan and deliver business development activities for a major and/or new market category which is significant for the Council. Plans for the longer term Shapes forward plans for 3-5 years ahead for a major unit or multiple units, taking account of British Council strategy and the need to manage contingencies, risks and impact. Influences at the highest level Influences and manages relationships at the highest levels to build mutual understanding, shapes perceptions of British Council and creates positive change over the medium term. Manages a team Provides full line management to a team where all members are working in a similar area of expertise or business. Scope includes planning, setting objectives, role modelling an inclusive culture, recruitment, development and performance management. Develops the culture Has track record of analysing potential risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their practices. Operates as an advanced user Works as an advanced practitioner in the use of office software and/or British Council standard and social media platforms and trains or coaches others in their use. British Council behaviours Connecting with others most demanding Working together most demanding Being accountable most demanding Making it happen most demanding Shaping the future most demanding 7
Contact Minerva can be contacted as follows: Consultants Kerry Shepherd kerry@minervasearch.com 0203 714 3477 Juana Espasa juana@minervasearch.com 0203 714 0962 Assistant Natalie Chapman natalie@minervasearch.com 0203 714 0963 8