Head English & School Education

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity. You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire. --- Role Purpose The Head of English and School Education supports the development and delivery of a strategic portfolio of partnerships, programmes and contracts across mixed funding streams and business models, ensuring an overall balance of impact and financial sustainability, delivering country outcomes, and supporting the Country Director to ensure benefit is achieved in-country and for the UK. The role holder leads the English and School Education (ESE) portfolio of School Systems, Empowerment and English Connects, leading contracts and programmes in-country, providing technical sector expertise, overseeing business development, and delivering quality, compliant implementation, while sharing knowledge, expertise and best practice with the global ESE teams and externally. Uganda's education sector has achieved high levels of enrolment, but learning outcomes remain a significant challenge. Key priorities include strengthening teacher training and professional development, improving English language proficiency among teachers and learners, and addressing gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy. The sector also faces added pressures in refugee-hosting districts, where overcrowding, limited resources and teacher shortages affect the quality and continuity of education, with improving equitable access to learning for the most vulnerable children remaining a central focus for government and development partners. Role Accountabilities Strategy and Planning Works closely with leaders in the global and country teams to translate corporate strategy into a high-impact, profitable programme of activity, aligned to organisational objectives and responsive to local market conditions. Uses analysis of commercial performance data to set a profitable annual business plan for English and School Education, translating global ambitions into team targets, closely monitoring progress and intervening where needed. Ensures ESE projects deliver demonstrable benefit to the UK through partnerships with the UK sector, leveraging grant through partnership funding. Leadership and Management Provides inspiring, motivational leadership that role-models the British Council's values and behaviours, empowering staff to deliver excellence while promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. Sets the vision, direction and annual business development plan for English and School Education in-country, in line with the wider strategy, and leads the development of high-quality programmes to build long-term business development capability. Provides formal line management to the in-country ESE team, developing, motivating and managing performance to create the right climate for success, and contributes to wider ESE and Cultural Engagement strategy. Business Development Quality assures and signs off bids, tenders and proposals within agreed schedules of delegation, and takes pursuit and contracting decisions based on robust analysis of costs, benefits and risk. Commissions expert advice as needed and leads complex or strategically important bid presentations and contract negotiations, ensuring a high-quality approach and appropriate team support to maximise success, while ensuring alignment with global ESE strategy. Stakeholder Management and Market Positioning Builds professional networks with opinion-formers, stakeholders, partners and clients, including relevant government ministries, using insight to inform business development, planning and investment decisions. Tracks market and competitor data to inform new products, services and ways of working, and collaborates with marketing and communications colleagues on the country ESE marketing strategy to build brand consistency and visibility. Leads key account and partner relationships to support commercial and impact targets, monitoring and adapting account management approaches over time, coaching junior colleagues, and building strong internal and external relationships across the sector. Market Knowledge, Research and Insight Oversees the development of English and School Education data and insight for the country, including sector trends and the competitor and partner landscape, informing recommendations on country strategy. Oversees the collection and use of monitoring and evaluation data in line with programme theories of change and represents the British Council's perspective and the UK's expertise in external forums such as government, NGO and funder-led working groups. Applies advanced sector knowledge to solve complex issues, deploying specialist methodologies to support high-quality advice and distilling complex analysis into persuasive business cases that influence decision-makers. Commercial and/or Financial Management Produces and communicates business performance reports, including income, cost management, results and impact against KPIs, working with the ESE team and business support functions to mitigate variances. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consistently creates an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of personal bias and taking action to mitigate it, and supporting colleagues' wellbeing, particularly through periods of change. Takes accountability for putting the British Council's approach to EDI and anti-racism into practice, engaging visibly with related learning and development. Knowledge & Experience Education Essential: * Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in an education-related subject area Desirable: * Masters in ELT, Educational Technology, Education and International Development or a similar subject area * English teaching qualification * Project management qualification Experience Essential: * Experience in a leadership role with oversight and accountability for leading and/or developing and delivering capacity-building education programmes * Proven track record designing and managing education-focused programmes in-country that deliver outcomes for all boys and girls * Experience leading proposals and bids for international development education programmes delivering results in partnership with national or federal Ministries of Education * Strong experience designing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies and managing diverse stakeholder groups, including multilateral agencies, donors, government officials, partners and academics * Established credibility in the field of education, including evidence of thought leadership within the sector * Able to manage the development and implementation of quality standards for English/education * Able to plan and manage dissemination of global thought leadership outputs, such as publications * Able to manage relationships with the UK sector and in-country * Desirable: * Demonstrable understanding of language-in-education policies and issues relevant to the country context * Experience designing and leading teacher education projects, including online * Experience designing and working on projects related to the English language subject area Important Information * Location: Uganda * Contract Type: Indefinite (Internal/External) * Pay band: 8 * Department: Cultural Engagement * Right to Work Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in the location in which the role is based * Languages: Written and verbal proficiency in English is required Closing date for applications: 11.59 PM India (IST), Thursday 27 August 2026 09.29 PM Uganda Time (EAT), Thursday 27 August 2026 Should you be shortlisted, the interview process will be conducted between 7th to18th September. 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