Senior Arts 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. Senior Arts Manager Important Information: Contract Duration: One (1) year fixed term Gross Salary: R65 393 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Closing Date: Applications will close on 28 May 2026 at 22:59 UK Time/ 23:59 South Africa Time Rights to work: You must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of application. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. Hybrid model: Mandatory 3 days in the office each week The Role: The Senior Arts Manager will lead and implement activities in country delivered through one or both Arts global programmes: Art in Action and Creative Growth. They may also lead multi-country programmes. They will be a senior member of a small specialist Arts team in country and may lead and manage sector partner and stakeholder relationships. They will provide Arts and Creative Industries sector expertise at a country level and feed relevant insight to senior leadership. They will build relationships and work closely with colleagues in the Global Arts team, other countries and across the global arts network to share best practice and identify multi-country programme collaboration and income generation opportunities. Main accountabilities but not limited to the following: Leadership & management * Manages relevant Arts portfolio in South Africa day-to-day, ensuring global standards on programme and contract management are achieved. * Is responsible for assuring quality and impact relating to relevant programmes. * Ensures effective financial management and compliance on relevant Arts portfolio. Strategy and/or planning * Supports with planning process for country arts portfolio within the Arts global programme portfolio. * Manages design, development, delivery and closure of projects and or programmes as needed * Considers the role of digital products, services and channels in optimising the impact and sustainability of the portfolio, working with marketing and digital colleagues. Sector/subject expertise * Uses their own expert knowledge on the arts and creative industries, intelligence and insight from other sector stakeholders, opinion formers and funders to support the ongoing development of global arts programmes that meet the specific needs of the country/cluster while also providing value to a diverse range of UK arts and creative industry organisations. * Through ongoing relationships with the global Arts team, builds and maintains good understanding of UK arts and creative industry sector priorities and HMG priorities. * Represents British Council in country as a recognised, credible authority in Arts and the creative industries to external stakeholders and audiences. Relationship & Stakeholders * Builds and maintains a broad, diverse and dynamic network of key creative and cultural sector representatives in country, including artists, creative professionals, creative hubs, arts organisations, arts advocacy groups, intermediary and sector bodies, etc. * Builds and maintains the sector institutional relationships that will help open doors for artistic collaboration, cultural exchange and creative economy work. * Represents British Council Arts externally and internally Brand and market positioning * Promotes and positions the diversity of the UK arts and creative industries sector in country. * Ensures that British Council’s reputation for quality and as a valued not-for-profit partner remains high and contributes to our organisational mission of building trust between the UK and other countries. * Works closely with colleagues and experts in CE to feed market/customer insights into the programme development planning cycle, to ensure the British Council’s offer is market relevant for the country and the UK, demand-led and consistent with the British Council and FCDO objectives Business development * Contributes to business and partnership development for the portfolio, aligning with country, Arts and CE priorities, systems and processes. Programme management * Ensures that agreed activities delivered through the Arts global programmes are tailored to the specific needs of South Africa, through collaboration with colleagues in globally dispersed programme teams. * Oversees finances of the relevant Arts programmes and can interpret financial information * Holds delivery partners, team members and consultants to account including supply chain management. * Where applicable has responsibility for managing all country contractual obligations on programme or project. * Maintains governance frameworks and manages compliance on a project. * Oversees procurement, grants management and due diligence on programmes Requirements of the role: * Written and verbal proficiency in English * Bachelor’s Degree (Arts, Social Sciences, Management, or related) or equivalent * Specialist knowledge and understanding of current trends and practices in arts and creative industry in the country * Experience of managing national arts/ creative industry projects * Active and up-to-date network of diverse arts sector contacts * Experience of maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance structures Desirable: * Understanding and appreciation of current arts trends and practices in South Africa * Experience of managing international arts projects * Certificate in Project management 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