Senior Programme Manager Arts, Indonesia

We 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. We work with people in over 150 countries and reach over 700 million people. We connect. We inspire. British Council Payband 7 Contract Type: 1- year Fixed Term Contract, with possibility of extension. Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Closing Date: 22nd October 2026 (22.59 WIB) You must have the legal right to work in Indonesia at the time of application. There is no relocation or visa sponsorship support. Role Purpose: The (Senior) Arts Manager is a senior representative of Arts in the country and represents our work in Arts and creative industries externally. The (Senior) Arts Manager will lead and implement activities in country delivered through one or both of the 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 the Head of Arts and the Country Director. 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 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. Our Arts teams in the UK and in our global network of offices, work together and with the arts and culture sectors to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting and seeing each other through the arts and contribute directly to peace and prosperity. Our work is delivered through two global programmes. Art in Action connects UK and international artists and creative organisations, encourages innovative collaborations and supports them to access new markets and audiences around the world. We enable creatives to play a part in addressing global challenges and support under-represented groups to be heard. Creative Growth supports the UK and countries around the world to unlock inclusive and sustainable economic growth and innovation through advocacy, sector development and showcase programmes for the creative and cultural industries. Indonesia is of significant importance to the UK. As the world’s third largest democracy, largest Muslim majority nation and with a young population of 280 million and an economy projected to be one of the world’s top ten within a decade – its scale, demographic momentum, and geopolitical influence in the Indo-Pacific make it a critical partner for the UK. Indonesia’s national priorities—human capital development, digital transformation, inclusive economic growth, and long-term educational reform—create strong alignment with UK expertise in education, English, science, culture, and skills. The newly launched UK-Indonesia Strategic Partnership formalises this and our planned portfolio addresses Indonesia and the UK’s shared goals, including on Arts and Culture and the Creative Economy. Our Arts and Culture work in Indonesia will strengthen UK–Indonesia cultural relations by connecting artists and creative practitioners, supporting innovative collaborations, and building sector capability. Showcasing UK culture and enabling creatives to address global challenges, while enhancing Indonesia’s creative economy ecosystem through expanded skills, partnerships, and market opportunities. This will be delivered through the two global programmes, Art in Action and Creative Growth. As Creative Economy is a major contributor to Indonesia’s GDP and Indonesia is the first ASEAN country to establish its dedicated Ministry of Creative Economy, this reinforces Indonesia’s leadership in the sector, and positions Indonesia as a key partner in strengthening UK-ASEAN initiatives through programmes like ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy. Main accountabilities Leadership & management * Manages relevant Arts portfolio in the country day-to-day ensuring global standards on programme and contract management are achieved. * Is responsible for assuring quality and impact relating to relevant programmes. * May line manage members of a small Arts team in country. * Ensures effective financial management and compliance on relevant Arts portfolio. * Actively works to mainstream EDI and become anti-racist in our cultures and practices within our organisation and in our programmes 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. * Identifies and develops opportunities for the UK Arts sector to work in and collaborate with peers in country 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 * Develop and nurtures relationships across Cultural Engagement to ensure strategic objectives are aligned, understood and achieved. 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. * Contributes to the development of internal and external communications materials to highlight impactful stories from the country Arts portfolio. 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 country, 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 Role specific knowledge and experience: Minimum/Essential Requirements * First degree Desirable: * First degree in subject relevant to the programme of work * Good understanding of the arts, culture, and creative economy context in Indonesia, ASEAN, and the UK. * 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 Requirements * Foundation level project management qualification * Understanding and appreciation of current arts trends and practices in the UK * Experience of managing international arts projects Language Requirements The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. 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 we 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 and 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