Assistant Consultant - Schools Connect

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire. Role Purpose The Project Coordinator provides integral operational support to both business delivery and business development teams; ensuring quality and compliance with published standards by utilising and supporting a single, common, approach across all our products and services. Main Accountabilities: Operational Delivery * Uses a range of standardised systems and processes to plan and coordinate effective, timely and cost effective logistical support to enable the delivery of high quality services to a range of customers * Receives instructions and requests from senior managers and/or customers (internal or external), and plans and organises given resources accordingly (often at short notice) to ensure that work is carried out efficiently and effectively * Provides timely feedback on operational issues and events to more senior managers, enabling the adaptation of work plans where necessary and supporting continuous improvement in the efficiency/cost effectiveness/quality of service delivery/systems in the unit or department Service Delivery * Takes end-to-end accountability for researching and obtaining satisfactory and timely resolution of complex/escalated customer (internal or external) operational complaints and issues, coordinating input from other colleagues/departments/managers as required, to do so. Ensures the customer is kept informed throughout the process. Business Development * Supports the identification and development of professional networks, relationships and partnerships to increase the British Council’s impact and reputation. Ensures high quality and accurate pipeline data for country/pillar. Conducts specific pipeline and partner/competitor analysis to contribute to business development planning and prioritisation. Provides support with development of new business proposals, ensuring that internal and external professional standards are met. Relationship & stakeholder management * Develops good working relationships with appropriate colleagues throughout the British Council to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery. * As required, supports senior colleagues in hosting/attending external events or meetings, ensuring these run efficiently and effectively and that a positive, professional image of the British Council is projected. These events may be face to face, delivered digitally or in a blended model. * Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners, end user(s), suppliers and contractors, to facilitate the smooth running of the project and ensure ongoing alignment of interests. Risk & compliance * Follows agreed corporate risk management and procedures when delivering services (e.g. safeguarding, EDI, 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. * Contributes actively to monthly control checks (MCC) and annual compliance check (ACC) process to ensure risks & issues are captured across the entirety of the project/programme Analysis & reporting * Using standard procedures and templates, regularly records, analyses and reports on operational activity levels and performance data, to support senior managers in making timely and effective business decisions that respond to operational needs. * Contributes to establishment and implementation of an effective M&E process for a particular project/programme, for instance through capturing audience participation or feedback through a recognised M&E process. Commercial and/or financial management * Operates and runs regular reports on range of standard, corporate financial processes and procedures to enable effective budget and resource management for the team, unit or project(s) – e.g. purchase order system, vendor creation, SAP reporting, procurement processes. * Actively seeks to maximise value for money when acquiring resources, goods or services for the team, unit or project by adopting current best practice in procurement and advising managers on the use of tenders etc. Leadership & management * Plans and prioritises own work activities, which span across a range of different work streams, responding to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a weekly/monthly time horizon. * Tasks, coordinates or assists/motivates others (e.g. third party suppliers, external partners and internal colleagues) to complete activities in accordance with agreed service delivery/ contractual/ project milestones or requirements (e.g. cost schedules, time deadlines etc) * Provides on-the-job coaching and mentoring to less experienced colleagues, as required. 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 people’s well-being and mental health. * Understand the British Council’s 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: * Knowledge of the UK school education systems * Experience of using technology effectively in the workplace * Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience of project delivery, particularly client-funded and/or partnership projects * Experience of maintaining project standards in delivery, in line with Centre of Excellence Project Management Standards. * Experience of working across different cultures * Experience of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within projects * Understands and promotes ethical conduct, and able to ensure that own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and values of the British Council. * Experience of communicating and working with schools customers/audiences * Knowledge and experience of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) * Knowledge of and passion for the Education sector Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on Tuesday 19 May 2025 India Time. Interviews will be held around the last week of May. You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Important Information: Department: Cultural Engagement Contract type: Fixed term contract (Part time 50%) for 3 years Pay band: 6 Salary: £25,520 plus £3,300 Market Allowance if based in London. The salary and market allowance will be prorated as per the working hours. Location: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast or Manchester Homeworking Contract, United Kingdom Requirements: Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the UK. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 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. A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities. Safeguarding Statement The British Council is committed 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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children. If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org