Consultant

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 202122 we reached 650 million people.

Consultant, Science: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF)

Pay Band: 7

Salary: Starting 30,839 (+ 3,300 market allowance if based in London)
Contract Type:Fixed term until the end of March 2025, with the possibility of extension

Location:UK; Cardiff, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast.

Requirements:Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location.
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

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
• An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you’ve built up working in and / or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world!

Closing date:Wednesday 13th December, 11:59pm UK time.

Context

The British Council helps to develop stronger, more inclusive, and internationally connected Higher Education systems which support economic and social growth in the UK and globally. We create educational opportunities and support improvements to higher education worldwide, focusing on shared challenges of quality, inclusion and internationalisation. We do this by engaging institutions, policy makers, education leaders, academics, researchers and students in dialogue, partnerships, mobility and exchange.

International Science Partnerships Fund

The International Science Partnerships Fund is designed to enable potential and foster prosperity. The multi-year, multi-disciplinary fund puts research and innovation at the heart of our international relationships, supporting UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech, and talent. The fund is managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and delivered by a consortium of the UKs leading research and innovation bodies. The British Council is one of the partners delivering the programme on behalf of DSIT.

Role Purpose

The Consultant ISPF role will provide integral operational support to the Senior Consultant (ISPF) and to the ISPF management team with specific responsibility for the following key areas of work:

1. Responsibility for the day to day running of the ISPF Grant Management Tool (GMT), including organising training, troubleshooting and ensuring all the data remains consistent with British Council standards and GDPR.
2. Overseeing the coordination of ISPF grant calls, directing the team, and liaising with external stakeholders.
3. Assisting with all aspects of the International Science Partnerships Fund, ensuring compliance with project management standards (including risks and issues, resourcing, records management), corporate policies and in accordance with key contractual and reporting obligations from the client – the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
4. Contributing to the phase out stages and 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.
5. Supporting the Senior Consultant with reviewing lessons learned to feed into the design and shape of the new International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF).
6. Providing financial assurance and narrative updates against allocated areas of ISPF activity using RODA and other internal grant management tools.
7. Liaising with external stakeholders and customers; representing the British Council/ISPF team at internal/external meetings as required.
8. Helping to create templates, schedules and relevant documentation as directed by the Senior Consultant to operationalise the new International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF).

Main accountabilities

Operational Delivery

• Supports the closure of the Newton Fund programme ensuring compliance with internal business assurance needs and aligning with core requirements around reporting, resourcing, monitoring and evaluation and value for money as stipulated by the client.
• Works collaboratively with and supports country-based colleagues and the UK-facing team to ensure consistency of approach and joined up ways of working, that reporting deadlines are met, and financial management systems/admin trackers and tools are managed effectively to record spend.
• Prioritises work and resolves day-to-day operating resource issues for a nominated team, to ensure high quality, consistent and efficient services are delivered.
• Uses digital platforms and technological advancements to improve efficiency, impact and quality of project delivery.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management

• Translates agreed corporate/regional customer service and client management strategies into appropriate local operational policies and procedures.
• Ensures that customer feedback is regularly gathered, analysed and acted upon to drive continuous improvements in customer experience.
• Work closely with universities and research organisations in the UK and partner countries on any issues arising from programme delivery.

Risk & compliance

• Uses standardised processes to monitor team compliance with agreed corporate risk management procedures relevant to service delivery (e.g. EDI, safeguarding, anti-racism, security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures, cyber security) to protect the interests of the British Council and its customers at all times. Highlights to Senior Consultant any instances of non-compliance.
• Ensures team members receive and maintain appropriate induction/training in all relevant risk management procedures.
• Uses standard corporate protocols to assess a range of risks to programme legacy work and closure. Makes appropriate contingency plans to manage delivery safely and effectively in challenging or high-risk circumstances.

Analysis & reporting

• Use 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 as part of the development and delivery of the new global programme.
• Ensures data collection on project/programme delivery that supports accountability, decision-making and learning including on EDI issues.
• Conducts analysis using a range of standard methodologies and across multiple datasets to provide high quality and evidence-based recommendations on procedural improvements and/or highlight resource requirements needed to enhance operational performance.

Commercial and/or financial management

• Liaises with the global International Science Partnerships Fund team and the Finance Business Partner to ensure alignment with SAP figures and RODA.
• Reviews spend against forecast and plan using the DSIT RODA reporting tool and reports any variations and/or anomalies to the Senior Consultant.

Leadership & management

• Actively applies coaching, performance feedback and sickness/absence management techniques to maximise staff productivity and motivation in a high volume/pressurised delivery environment.
• May contribute to the development, delivery or commissioning of externally supplied training support to maintain and improve operational effectiveness of colleagues on a range of service/product/programme delivery-related topics.
• Shares intelligence and ideas to support senior managers in identifying/ developing / implementing new or improved operational plans.

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 peoples well-being and mental health.
• Understand the British Councils approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, and make time for learning and development.

Role specific knowledge and experience

• Experience in using technology effectively in the workplace.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of project management, particularly client-funded and/or partnership projects.
• Experience of delivering grant calls.
• Experience of managing teams and projects in line with Project Management standards.
• Motivation and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-racism demonstrated through and understanding of the British Councils approach of equality considerations relevant to the role, and examples of behaviours and decisions of actions that contribute to a more inclusive organisational culture or to a more inclusive programme, product, or service.

Role specific skills

• Confident user of information technology (Word; Excel; PowerPoint), Microsoft 365 functionality and working knowledge of British Council SAP system (aptitude if recruiting externally)
• Able to manage delivery of digital events on basic platforms (Microsoft Teams) ensuring all project standards are met, including those for accessibility and safeguarding.
• Well-organised, able to determine project priorities at all stages, to develop and communicate work plans, to track progress towards goals and use data and evidence to assess achievement.
• Ability to analyse equality issues relevant to projects/programmes and identify opportunities to address these in the delivery.

Closing date:Wednesday 13th December, 11:59pm UK time.

Additional information: Interviews will be held early January 2024

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 iscommitted 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 Councils 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.