UK/NG Season Marketing and Communications 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. UK/Nigeria Senior Marketing & Communications Manager Location: Nigeria Contract Type: 30 months - Fixed term contract Pay Grade: 7 Closing date: 09th Sept 2026 at 21:59 IST Time Requirements: Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the country in which the role is based. Role Context - About The Team: Marketing and Communications at the British Council is a strategic function which drives awareness, understanding and engagement with our work across diverse audiences. We use insight, knowledge and analysis of our markets and our audiences to engage them with our work in the most impactful and effective way. We lead the development of our brand and use our expertise to tell inspiring stories to enhance our global reputation, build lifelong relationships, engage our staff and demonstrate our impact. The UK/Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 is a major bilateral cultural programme delivered by the British Council in partnership with Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. It runs from June to December 2028, with legacy activity continuing through 2029. The Season builds on the 2015/16 UK/Nigeria Season of Culture, which reached 199 million people globally, trained over 7,000 artists, and delivered 31 projects across twelve cities. The 2028 Season is anchored on a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed between the British Council and the Federal Ministry in February 2025, publicly endorsed during Nigeria's State Visit to the UK in March 2026, and aligned with the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership. It operates as two connected halves - a British Council-led programme and a Nigerian government-led programme working to shared aims across five focus areas: cultural heritage, identity and infrastructure; market access and mutual growth; creative collaboration and partnerships; new artistic commissions; and research, policy and knowledge exchange. For a Season of this scale and political profile, marketing and communications is a core function in its own right, delivered by a dedicated professional. The postholder brings marketing and communications leadership to the Season team, working alongside programme colleagues rather than duplicating their delivery role. Every public moment, every partner announcement, every audience reached, every Ministry-facing communication, and every reputational risk runs through this role. Alongside the Season, the British Council Nigeria arts portfolio delivers a substantial annual programme that feeds into it. This includes Film Lab Africa, Music Connects Africa, Insights Out Africa, SCALE (a co-funded programme with the UK Department for Business and Trade), Art Exchange: Moving Image, the BBC Audio Drama Competition, Connections Through Culture, and delegations to international creative sector platforms. The postholder plays a complementary role supporting marketing and communications across these programmes, ensuring alignment between annual portfolio delivery and Season narrative, and building a coherent audience presence for British Council arts work in Nigeria. Role purpose – The job: The purpose of this role is to lead the marketing and communications strategy and delivery of the UK/Nigeria Season of Culture 2028, and to play a complementary role supporting marketing and communications across the wider British Council Nigeria arts and creative economy portfolio. The role sits within the Season delivery team and works closely with programme colleagues throughout the Season's lifecycle. It shapes how the Season is understood, experienced, and remembered by every external stakeholder from Federal Ministry counterparts to Nigerian and UK audiences, and from creative sector partners to media and diaspora communities. Alongside the Season, the postholder supports the marketing and communications work of the annual arts programmes that feed into it, ensuring a coherent audience narrative and consistent brand across the portfolio. Key Responsibilities Sector expertise and campaign delivery * Lead the Season and portfolio marketing and communications function as a dedicated professional discipline, working closely with programme colleagues across the Season's lifecycle. * Lead marketing campaigns for the Season of Culture 2028 and for the annual arts programmes that feed into it. * Ensure campaigns are data-led, strategically aligned, and proportionate to scale. * Manage day-to-day delivery with internal teams and external suppliers. * Brief and manage external agencies, ensuring brand and ethical marketing standards are met. * Manage the Season website and digital channels; commission content aligned to the wider portfolio narrative Brand and market positioning * Manage the Season brand identity in coordination with the Federal Ministry and British Council UK. * Ensure annual arts programme communications build toward and align with the Season brand. * Protect and enhance the British Council brand across the Season and its pipeline programmes. * Provide marketing expertise, advice, and challenge to programme colleagues. * Keep abreast of trends in the Nigerian creative sector and cultural marketing. Consultancy, analysis, and audience insight * Evaluate marketing impact through evidence, insight, and audience data across the portfolio. * Use annual arts programme insight to inform Season audience strategy. * Identify marketing opportunities that strengthen both the annual portfolio and the Season pipeline. * Distil complex programme narratives into audience-facing content. Strategy and planning * Lead the Season marketing and communications strategy across its delivery lifecycle. * Ensure annual arts programme communications contribute to the Season narrative arc through 2028. * Align Season marketing with British Council global marketing and Nigeria country priorities. * Plan announcement calendars, key public moments, and campaign timings across the portfolio Commercial and financial management * Plan and manage the Season and arts portfolio marketing budget as a coherent whole. * Report monthly and at year-end on delivery, budget, risks, and issues. * Lead on procurement, contracting, and financial oversight of agencies Relationship and stakeholder management * Manage senior stakeholder communications for the Federal Ministry, UK Government, and the Bilateral Board. * Coordinate with Global and Nigeria Arts colleagues to align Season and portfolio Marketing and communications with wider British Council marketing direction. * Coordinate with British Council UK marketing teams and the International Seasons team. * Participate in the British Council global Marketing Community of Practice, marketing townhalls, and cross-Season learning networks. * Adopt British Council brand and marketing methodology and stay current on evolving ways of working across the marketing function. * Manage Nigerian and UK media relationships that serve both the annual portfolio and the Season Leadership and management * Plan and prioritise own work across the Season delivery lifecycle. * Coordinate colleagues, agencies, and vendors to deliver Season and portfolio moments. * Support and mentor junior marketing colleagues and interns. * Manage crisis communications and reputational risk across the portfolio Requirements of the role: Minimum/essential * Degree in marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. * At least seven years' marketing and communications experience, with at least three in a senior role. * Proven ability to lead complex marketing campaigns across multiple audiences. * Experience of managing brand identity for public-facing programmes. * Experience of briefing and managing external agencies and creative suppliers. * Experience of working with senior stakeholders, including government or institutional partners. * Excellent written English and strong content development skills. * Strong digital and social media skills. Desirable * Professional marketing qualification (CIM, CIPR or equivalent). * Experience of cultural programmes, festivals, or bilateral cultural work. * Knowledge of the UK/Nigerian creative sector and media landscape. * Experience of crisis communications. * Experience of monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting in a cultural or arts programme. 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