English and School Education (ESE) Operations Manager

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. Contract type: Indefinite Contract Hours: Full-time, 36 hours per week Pay band: 6 Location: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast. Salary: £28,072, plus London Market Allowance of £3,300 for London Based candidate Closing Date: 20th September 2026 Requirements: Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Visa Sponsorship and relocation assistance is not provided. Role Context Cultural Engagement (CE) is one of two global strategic departments within the British Council. It brings together our work in Arts, Education, English & School Education and research. With a workforce of approximately 1000 globally and an income in 2024/25 of £200 million CE delivers impact through research and insight, sector engagement, policy dialogue and a mixed portfolio of commercial and Grant and Partnership Funded (GPF) work globally. CE delivers much of its work through a suite of global programmes/ programmatic frameworks aligned to the British Council’s strategic outcomes. The aim of the English and School Education portfolio of work is to support the improvement of teaching and learning in formal and non-formal basic education systems. English and School Education’s work is organised into three globally-operating programmes, each of which has a range of projects all working towards common objectives and outcomes: * English Connects – open and online professional development opportunities, communities, events and resources for school leaders, teacher educators, teachers and other education professionals * School Systems – support to international basic education systems and governments, with particular focus on language policy and practice, foundational learning, professional development, equitable access to and utilisation of education technology, and supporting women and girls to access quality education * Empowerment – building English language, digital and core skills where it empowers disadvantaged girls and young women, displaced people, economically and ethnically marginalised youth and disabled people. The English and School Education team delivers these programmes in country through policy advice, research and insight, and the delivery of grant, co-funded and full cost recovery contracts and programmes in more than 50 countries in collaboration with UK and international partners, ministries of education, education and donor agencies. This role is part of the English and School Education Operations and Programmes Delivery hub within the Central Team. This is a dispersed team, with roles in the UK and across the global network. The hub plays a crucial role in driving the development of an effective and efficient operating environment within English and School Education. Their primary objective is to enable English and School Education to deliver its business plan while aligning with the Cultural Engagement (CE) global business objectives. This supports the growth of English and School Education and a need for streamlining of internal processes to ensure corporate compliance and effective working Role Purpose The English and School Education (ESE) Operations Manager will support an effective and efficient operating environment within ESE that enables delivery of its business plan, aligned to the Cultural Engagement (CE) global business objectives. In addition, they will provide operational and service delivery support for globally/UK led projects, initiatives and activity across the ESE global programme framework as agreed with the Director English and School Education and Director Operations and Programmes. The postholder will help champion, utilise and feed into processes, standards and frameworks set by the Global Cultural Engagement Operations. The postholder will apply operations activities in ESE including those focused on embedding the single assurance framework and global standards, achieving compliance against those standards, embedding good practice in programme and contract management, implementing the mechanisms developed for effective global workforce planning, building the capability needed to deliver the business and supporting continuous improvement. Main Accountabilities Leadership and management * Support the delivery of the English and School Education (ESE) annual work plan for activities within the operations remit so that business objectives are realised in accordance with the overarching British Council strategy, global and ESE plans. * Provide coordination and support to projects, initiatives and activity as agreed within the Global/UK ESE Operations and Programmes team. * Support the involvement of ESE in the wider CE Operations network community of practice, supporting the wider team’s involvement and participation. Operational delivery * Provide 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. Wider Cultural Engagement network * Support ESE colleagues’ participation in the CE Operations Network and its associated community of practice. * Support ESE input on the evaluation of ways of working and the consultation of new organisation wide or CE wide initiatives and or processes including Global Programming and the Management Control Checks (MCCs) – to help develop fit for purpose solutions. * Contribute to the sharing of information and learning within ESE and with BSO colleagues, supporting effective communication and continuous improvement activity. Service delivery * Use 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 internal and/or external customers. Business assurance and global standards * Support the embedding of a culture of compliance within, ESE ensuring that the CE single assurance framework (including MCCs, ACC, deep dives etc), corporate policies and procedures, global standards, operating guidelines, and local regulations are implemented, monitored, and maintained across the ESE portfolio. * Analyse data on the quality of delivery, including MCC reports, so that this information can be shared and used to drive continuous improvement within ESE. * As part of above help to ensure that risks and issues are systematically identified and reported via agreed systems and support the reporting of ESE. * Participate in the strengthening of the required Skills, Knowledge and Experience capacity and capability building within ESE – including strengthening project management and contract management processes, understanding, quality assurance and oversight and encouragement for ESE colleagues to attend professional development opportunities /communities of practice led by sector teams. * Procurement – support the implementation of best practice frameworks that deliver value for money, ensure social value is considered and identify and secure savings for the organisation. * Support the implementation and embedding of a range of corporate and CE wide strategies and programmes including but not exclusively anti-racism, gender, wider equality diversity and inclusion and social value. This includes supporting the implementation of the environmental framework and ensuring social value is embedded in procurement and within the approach to workforce planning. Relationship and stakeholder management * Develop good working relationships with appropriate colleagues throughout the British Council to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery. * As required, support 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. * Work with peers and colleagues across the Operations Network, supporting its effectiveness as a vehicle to drive change and implement new ways of working. * Help identify challenges/opportunities within corporate services so that challenges can be addressed, and opportunities maximised to increase productive collaboration and a more streamlined and consistent service provision. Global resource management * Coordinate the gathering of insight and feedback on resourcing and workforce planning issues and support the development and implementation of the workforce planning solution for Cultural Engagement in ESE. Analysis and reporting * Use standard procedures and templates, regularly record, analyse and report on operational activity levels and performance data, to support senior managers in making timely and effective business decisions that respond to operational needs. Commercial and/or financial management * Operate and run 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, SAP, procurement processes. Actively seek to maximise value for money when acquiring resources, goods or services for the team, unit or project. Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) * Consistently create 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 particularly through periods of significant change. * Have a deep understanding of and take accountability for putting the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism into practice. To make time for and visibly engage with learning and development related to EDI and anti-racism Requirements of the role Minimum/essential * First degree or equivalent qualification * Providing logistical and/or operational support to colleagues * Supporting colleagues in developing standards * Gathering evidence to demonstrate assurance * Providing support to a range of teams * Experience using Microsoft Office 365 Desirable * Project management qualification * Remote working with a diverse range of stakeholders across the business * Using SharePoint to share and promote information and resources 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