We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
Job title: Project & Partnerships Manager
Pay Band: 6
Country/Location: Dublin, Ireland
Department: Arts (International Ops - country & regional reporting lines)
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (1 year)
Starting Salary: The gross annual salary for this post is € 41040
Closing Date: Monday, 31 March 2025 - 23:59 IST Time/ 18:29 UK Time
Role Purpose:
This role is an exciting opportunity to work with the Ireland team in our cultural relations work in Arts and Education (higher education and non-formal education).
The Project & Partnerships Manager role purpose comprises:
developing and managing stakeholder relationships,
convening and brokering projects,
and includes business development work on our portfolio in Ireland.
The British Council office in Ireland is located in the EU Region of the British Council global network. We are the only global network office to share a language and a land border with the UK, and in this context we have an exciting relationship with the UK Region, the EU Region, and the wider global network of the British Council.
Our work sits within a larger programme of multi-country programme activity in the EU region and the Project & Partnerships Manager will liaise regularly with colleagues across countries in the network.
Accountabilities:
Relationship & Stakeholder management
Nurtures and develops strong relationships with partners and key stakeholders, within and outside country, ranging across UK government and Irish government, including FCDO, DCMS, DfE, DFA, arm’s length bodies and key representative organisations in the sectors we work in, providing sector expertise at a country level and feeding relevant insight upwards.
Identifies and secures new partners and stakeholders, that are aligned to British Council purpose, values and programmes.
Represents British Council in country as a recognised credible authority on Arts and/or Education to external stakeholders and audiences.
Provides inputs for well-informed and up-to-date briefings for senior colleagues on current and emerging themes in Arts/ Education in country.
Works with colleagues in the region to influence decision-making across regional Arts / Education in Cultural Engagement, building strong internal relationships and networks within the British Council working to develop a strong self-supporting eco-system across Regions.
Understands the importance of Marcomms in Relationship and Stakeholder Management and drives Marcomms for Ireland across a range of platforms and contacts.
Business development
Contributes to business and partnership development for the portfolio, aligning with country/regional and corporate priorities, systems and processes.
Applies due diligence requirements to potential partners.
Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities.
Manages network of associate advisors, consultants and partners.
Embeds effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management.
Manages or supports the development of high-quality bids/ proposals.
Participates in contract negotiations with partners and clients, and prepares agreements such as non-disclosure, pre-bid, contract and partner and consultant agreements.
Ensures timely reporting and communication on externally-funded contracts/grant funded initiatives.
Participates in programme and project reviews and closure activities, helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business.
Project Management
Leads on country portfolio planning working closely with senior leadership, regional and in country colleagues, ensuring portfolio aligns to global strategic framework and is tailored for in country relevance/delivery.
Owns and delivers Project Management Plans for Arts/ Education portfolio work.
Identifies risks in a project or programme and puts together mitigation strategies with SRO.
Responsible for internal and client, procurement, contracting, compliance and reporting.
Checks and reports on compliance, managing procurement on a project/programme.
Responsible for portfolio data management including timely data entry, quality assurance of data, undertaking basic analysis of monitoring data, and developing progress reports to meet funding needs.
Undertakes programme-specific data collection as needed. This includes working with colleagues to identify monitoring and evaluation indicators and tools for data collection, quality assuring all data, and undertaking basic analysis.
Commercial and Financial Management
Ensures sound financial planning, working closely with finance teams to ensure British Council and client financial year plans are up to date.
Responsible for accurate and timely monthly (re)forecasting is in place, monitoring reports in the SAP system on actuals, monitoring outstanding purchase orders, reviewing commitments, analysing and commenting on reasons for variances to plan and recommending corrective actions.
Monitors project finances, including budget forecasting, project reconciliation and financial reporting.
Leads on British Council, partner or client reporting and ensures reports are delivered on time, to budget and to a high standard.
Compliance to BC financial policies and procedures.
Equality, Inclusion & Diversity (EDI)
Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health.
Understand the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.
Role specific skills:
Intermediate experience in developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships and partnerships in Arts and/or Education.
Intermediate experience in leading, managing and delivering high-quality, complex projects from start to finish, on time and within budget in Arts and/or Education.
Intermediate experience in experience of monitoring, managing and reporting project finance and compliance in Arts and/or Education.
Intermediate experience in procurement, monitoring and evaluation in Arts and/or Education.
Intermediate experience in marketing and communications in Arts and/or Education.
Fluent English.
Role specific knowledge and experience:
Essential:
Specialist knowledge and developed understanding of trends and practices in Arts and/ or Education in country.
Desirable:
Specialist knowledge and developed understanding of trends and practices in Arts and/ or Education in the UK.
Additional language(s).
Experience of living and working in the UK, and / or other countries.
Experience of working in cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.
Experience of working in Irish or UK government.
Requirements:
Education: Graduate and Post Gradudate
Condition of Employment:
Locally Recruited - Applications are welcomed from candidates currently in this location with a natural right to work.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
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; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.