Researcher: Engagement & Dissemination

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.

Role Purpose

The Assessment Research Group (ARG) sits within the wider English and Exams StrategicBusiness Unit (E&E SBU). This position will contribute to ARG work in support of teamsworking language assessment across the British Council. The ARG leads on research in key
language assessment areas including innovative language test design and development,Language Assessment Literacy engagement aimed at teachers, policy makers, and otherstakeholders, and research and expert advisory work supporting assessment and language
education reform projects in education systems. ARG works with teams across the BritishCouncil, including the E&E SBU and English for Education Systems teams situated in theCultural Engagement SBU. ARG coordinates and oversees an active thought-leadership
agenda, including publishing and presenting as experts in the field, providing editorialdirection on specialised publications and research reports, and convening conferences andevents that bring together international experts on language assessment, learning and policy.

To provide strategic and academic oversight, direction and implementation of monitoring andevaluation for reporting and the measurement of impact of the British Council AssessmentResearch Groups work and expertise. To strengthen the ARGs test research and development capability by providing expertacademic support and leadership in the areas of assessment theory and practice, especiallyin the area of research grants strategy to support the overall goals of the ARG and the widerorganisation, including dissemination of the findings.

To strengthen the British Councils position as a world leading language assessment providerby providing expert technical expertise in the area of monitoring and evaluation, as applied to language testing and assessment.

The role will have a particular focus on impact monitoring and evaluation, contributing to theARGs broader research strategy through the research grants programme, and disseminatingoutputs from both these areas.

Main opportunities and challenges for this role:

Sector/subject expertise
Maintains an authoritative and up-to-date knowledge of monitoring and evaluation theory and practice to enable the ARG to demonstrate the impact of their work inlanguage assessment, learning and educational reform.
In collaboration with other English Research & Development leads to develop andimplement monitoring and evaluation plans and interventions to ensure strong impactreporting.
Oversees the planning and implementation of an external research programme toensure the delivery and quality of British Council language assessment researchgrants.
Oversees the dissemination of the research grant programme findings to support theARG and wider British Councils thought leadership strategy, including to differentaudiences and at British Council conferences and events.
Develops a body of work through research, publication and dissemination which buildsthe British Councils position of international leadership and authority in monitoring andevaluation of language assessment and learning.
Represents the British Council externally to enhance its reputation as a leadingauthority in the field of monitoring and evaluation of language assessment, learningand educational reform, promoting and supporting new collaborative opportunities inthe area.

Relationship and Stakeholder management
Leads on engagement internally and externally to help set and oversee the externalacademic research agenda for the Assessment Research Group and the wider globalexams team.

Through active engagement with the international language assessment researchcommunity builds the reputation of the British Council for world leading monitoring andevaluation research in language assessment and educational reform.
Plans how to establish and maintain key stakeholder and partner relationships tosupport the achievement of research and impact in language assessment, includingthrough building and participating in specialist academic and professional communitiesof practice.
Participates with other SBUs, product owners and regional colleagues in workinggroups and other collaborative forums to develop coordinated, corporate strategies forcultivating, managing and leveraging strategically important relationships to enable themonitoring and evaluation of cutting-edge expertise in the implementation of BritishCouncil assessment products and education reform projects, the effective delivery ofthe research grants, as well as dissemination of this work.

Product or programme/management or development
Proactively participates in internal working group/peer networks to maintain a detailedunderstanding of both current and prospective products/programmes/services anduses these insights to inform effective delivery of the ARGs activities.
Provides formal quality assurance and specialised monitoring and evaluation insight toproposed global and local programmes or products, to ensure these are appropriate,high quality and aligned to the British Councils strategic priorities and internationalbest practice in language assessment, learning and educational reform for the ARG.
Oversees the strategy and implementation of monitoring and evaluation strategy andinterventions to demonstrate the impact of the ARG and British Councils work inlanguage assessment, learning and educational reform, with a particular focus oncollaboration with key colleagues to report the impact.
Oversees the strategy and implementation of British Council international researchgrants designed to contribute to the body of knowledge in the fields of languageassessment, learning and educational reform and build strong relationships with aninternational network of emerging and established researchers.

Consultancy, analysis and problem solving
Contributes to ARG consultancy to provide expert advice and analysis to support theplanning and delivery of British Council educational reform and assessmentdevelopment initiatives from a monitoring and evaluation perspective.

Leadership & management
May set and oversee delivery of a workplan for specialised areas of activities within theARG strategic portfolio.
May provide formal line management to individuals or small groups within the ARG,which might consist of geographically-dispersed staff.
Identifies requirements and recommends training and development provision to buildimproved expert knowledge and capability within the ARG.

Role specific knowledge and experience:

Experience of developing and implementing M&E frameworks.
Experience of communicating research and/or theory in international forums with external
specialist audiences in both written and spoken modes

Experience using qualitative and/or quantitative research methods

PhD in programme evaluation or closely related field completed (or in-progress

What you will receive in return

• 32 days annual leave plus statutory public holidays and half day privilege Christmas leave
• Non-contractual discretionary annual performance bonus
• Extensive and generous family friendly benefits
• Extensive range of voluntary benefit options
• Outstanding defined benefit career average Civil Service Pension Scheme which includes life cover and pensions for eligible dependants, e.g., Spouse, civil partner, partner, dependent children

Further Information

Pay Band 8 38,820-46,203 plus london weighting 3,300

Contract Type Indefinite Contract

Location UK Flexible London Manchester Edinburgh Cardiff Belfast

Requirements Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. If you are currently sponsored by the British Council, in a country or regional role, please check with your local/regional HR colleagues if you are able to remain in your current location for this global role.
Closing Date 1st January 2024 11.59 uk time

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