Programme Officer – International

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.

Programme Officer, International

Pay band: 7

Salary: Starting at 30,839 per annum plus 3,300 per annum London Market Allowance for those in the London area only.

What well offer you: In addition to a competitive salary and excellent civil service pension contributions, the British Council offers:
32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Location:UK: London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast only.

Department: Higher Education, Education, Cultural Engagement.
Contract type: Fixed term contract until 29th August 2025.
Closing Date: 14th December 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Requirements:

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

We are unable to support with relocation, mobility or sponsorship.

The Team:

The British Council delivers a wide range of programmes in international higher education that promote cultural relations and understanding. These include grant-funded programmes supporting international student recruitment to the UK, trans-national education, and alumni engagement.

Delivery of the Chevening and Marshall programmes will complement these activities and serve to demonstrate the British Councils value as a partner of UK government and as a partner for the UKs higher education sector. Facilitating the long-lasting and deep relationships between people across the world and the UK will strengthen individual and subsequent institutional connections as well as ties of friendship.

The Role:

As Programme Officer International (POI), you will liaise with and provide administrative support and guidance to external stakeholders on various aspects of the Chevening and Marshall scholarship programmes.

Programme Officers offer close support and liaison with external stakeholders, which may include British embassies, high commissions, higher education institutions, funders, applicants and scholars. POIs contribute to the Secretariats administration and enhancement of the global Chevening and Marshall programmes.

POIs are the designated contact point for a portfolio of external stakeholders. POs build, maintain and improve relationships with stakeholder contacts, developing knowledge and understanding of the local context and stakeholder needs, which in turn enables us to deliver high quality support.

You will carry out various tasks which may include agreeing annual plans with stakeholders, supporting contacts in their marketing of the scheme, and monitor and respond to enquiries. They play a role in the annual scholarship selection and placement process.

POs work closely with their contacts to guide them through the various scholarship management stages which, depending on the team, may include short-listing, interview and budgeting stages, supporting with local partnership development and alumni engagement in collaboration with the relevant areas of the Secretariat.

Accountabilities:

Planning
Agreeing annual plans and documents with contacts, promoting scholarships in the UK and overseas (depending on the team in which you are placed).

Relationship & Stakeholder Management
Responding to enquiries from applicants, embassy staff and scholars throughout the year.
Travel to visit stakeholders in person or meeting virtually to provide support on a range of activities including: , marketing, pre-departure briefings, interviews, training, partnership development and alumni engagement activities.

Operational Delivery
A number of administrative tasks including updating databases, updating the online application system and website copy, and other related tasks. Managing own time to ensure relevant deadlines are met.
Leading on the administration of selection and placement processes.
Providing continual administrative support and guidance to contacts at various points in the cycle, via the online application system, over phone and email.
Supporting to maintain existing partnerships and cultivate new partnerships.
Supporting contacts to deliver enhanced alumni engagement, following strategic alumni engagement objectives set out by the FCDO Scholarships Unit and Alumni Relations Manager.
Providing cover when other POs/SPOs are travelling or on leave.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
To actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring 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, making time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.

Requirements of the role:

A customer-orientated approach to the design and delivery of communications and services with demonstrable experience of working with administrative processes and procedures.
Proactive approach to identifying and addressing problems and contributing to the improvement and streamlining of the programme as a whole.
Demonstrated international experience either by working overseas or in an internationally-focused organisation.
Well organised with a proven ability to deliver to deadlines on time and prioritise a busy workload with conflicting demands.

Closing Date: Applications will close on 14th December 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Additional Information:

You must have the legal right to work in the UK. We are unable to support with sponsorship or relocation support.

Interviews will be held around the middle/end of 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 [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.