Head of Anaplan Product Delivery

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. The Role: Lead the FP&A Product Development and Support team, overseeing Anaplan stability, optimisation, data stewardship, integrations, model enhancements, testing, and issue resolution. Manage a team, partner with key stakeholders to align solutions with business needs, and drive successful implementation, continuous improvement, and ongoing development of Anaplan to support accurate planning, forecasting, budgeting, and strategic decision-making across the organisation. Accountabilities: Product Ownership, Delivery & Governance * Own the end-to-end Anaplan product lifecycle, including roadmap planning, release management, prioritisation, and execution. Define and communicate the product vision, ensuring alignment with FP&A strategy and evolving organisational planning requirements. * Establish and embed Agile product development practices, including sprint planning, backlog management, and delivery governance. Lead and mentor a cross-functional team of Anaplan model builders, data analysts, and integration specialists to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions. * Monitor SLAs and oversee timely resolution of incidents and user requests. Partner with CoE leadership, Process Excellence, and Delivery teams to align priorities, optimise resources, and support the long-term success and evolution of the Anaplan platform. FP&A Tool Development & Platform Evolution * Define the future-state Anaplan architecture, guide model design and integrations, and ensure alignment with global FP&A strategy, planning processes, and business requirements. * Oversee development, enhancements, testing, and deployment activities while ensuring adherence to information security, licensing, and quality standards. * Identify opportunities to optimise model performance, streamline processes, enhance user experience, and strengthen the overall effectiveness of the Anaplan platform. Collaboration, Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management * Lead change management, user adoption, training, and communications initiatives while partnering with global process owners and senior leaders to align Anaplan solutions with strategic objectives and enterprise processes, and provide executive stakeholders with clear updates on progress, risks, dependencies, and resource requirements. Technical Oversight & Platform Expertise * Provide Technical Leadership & Platform Governance: Define and enforce Anaplan design standards, architecture principles, and integration best practices; oversee data quality and system integrations; drive platform innovation through roadmap enhancements; and foster team capability development through training, certification, and continuous learning. Role specific knowledge and experience: Essential: * Proven experience delivering and managing Anaplan solutions across complex planning or forecasting processes. * Experience leading delivery teams (e.g., Anaplan model builders, Anaplan data analysts, Anaplan integration specialists). * Demonstrated ability to run Agile delivery cycles, manage product roadmaps, prioritise backlogs, and oversee release management. * Strong experience in stakeholder management. Stakeholders for this role include Finance, IT, Data, and CoE teams. Additional stakeholders include Directors across the business. * Strong understanding of financial concepts (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, driver-based forecasting, budgeting cycles). * Anaplan certification (Anaplan Model Builder Level 2 or above). Desirable: * Professional finance qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent. * Experience with enterprise BI tools (Power BI, Tableau) or data engineering/data lake environments. * Familiarity with ERP/CRM integration and API-based data pipelines. * Training or certification in Agile methodologies (Scrum Master, Product Owner) * Background working within a global Centre of Excellence (CoE) structure or contributing to the creation of a CoE operating model. * Anaplan Certified Master Planner certification. Role specific skills: * Ability to lead end-to-end Anaplan product delivery, including roadmap planning, backlog prioritisation, and Agile sprint execution. * Strong capability to translate complex business processes into scalable Anaplan model designs, working closely with finance, data, and CoE teams. * Skilled in reviewing, challenging, and approving user stories, technical designs, and architectural decisions. * Proficiency in coordinating cross-functional delivery teams (Anaplan model builders, Anaplan data analysts, Anaplan integration specialists) to ensure high-quality outputs. * Experienced in overseeing testing cycles (unit/system, integration, UAT) and ensuring smooth, controlled deployment and post-release support. * Excellent analytical and data skills along with strong planning and organisational skills are required. * Excellent communication and presentation abilities. * Flexibility, independence, and initiative to perform successfully in a global and rapidly changing environment. Education: Graduate Professional Qualification and Certification * Anaplan certifications (Anaplan Model Builder Level 2 or above). * Professional finance qualifications such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or equivalent. * Training or certification in Agile methodologies (Scrum Master, Product Owner) Language Requirements: The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 IST on Sunday, 13 September 2026 Important Information: * Business Division: Finance and Corporate Services * Department: Financial Planning and Analysis * Pay Band: 9/D * Country/Location: Noida, India * Contract Type: Indefinite Contract (Permanent) * Proof of Identity requirements/right to work in country: Candidates should ensure they have the pre-existing legal right to live and work in the country where the role is based. 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