English & School Education Senior Project Manager

As a valued employee of the British Council, you help us deliver our mission to 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. You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. We connect. We inspire.

Role Purpose

This role provides project management expertise to the English and School Education portfolio of contracts and programmes. The postholder contributes to business development and quality, compliant delivery of programmes and contracts across the portfolio. They also actively share knowledge, expertise and best practice from their country’s operation with the global English and School Education team and externally.

Role Accountabilities

• Strategy and Planning: Drive business planning and performance discussions through insightful analysis, progress tracking, and continuous improvement. Contribute to compelling impact narratives that showcase outcomes and align programme delivery with organisational priorities and strategic goals.
• Leadership and Management: Provide direction for the effective delivery of projects and programmes, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high performance. Champion the integration of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) principles, ensuring inclusive approaches are embedded throughout programme design and delivery.
• Relationship and Stakeholder Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with partners, clients, stakeholders, and delivery organisations to support successful collaboration and programme outcomes. Strengthen networks across local and global communities, encouraging knowledge sharing, innovation, and collective impact.
• Commercial and Financial Management: Oversee budgets, expenditure, forecasting, and reporting to ensure effective use of resources and strong financial performance. Support informed decision-making through robust financial analysis, risk management, and continuous monitoring of opportunities and challenges.
• Programme Management: Lead the planning, implementation, and oversight of programmes, ensuring compliance, quality, and effective risk management. Strengthen programme performance through data-driven decision-making, monitoring and evaluation, learning, reporting, procurement, and stakeholder engagement. Foster continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and applying insights to future programme design and delivery.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Promote equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in every aspect of programme delivery and team engagement. Create environments where individuals feel valued, respected, and supported, while actively advancing wellbeing, belonging, and continuous learning across the organisation.

Qualifications and Work Experience

Qualifications

• Essential: First degree in related field
• Professional qualification and certification Essential: Foundational level Project Management qualification (in-house training or evidence of CPD in this area could be considered)
• Desirable: Qualification in monitoring, evaluation and learning

Work Experience

• Essentials:
• Experience of managing multi country or large in-country programmes that have met project closure and audit standards.
• Knowledge and/or experience of working with at least two types of funding sources within a structured compliance regime.
• Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management.
• Experience of managing a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with SRO.
• Understanding of MEL principles.
• Experience of conducting lessons learned reviews/After action reviews to inform future programme design and management.
• Desirable: Experience of managing dispersed teams

Important Information

• Language requirements: The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.
• Pay Band: Grade 7
• Department: Cultural Engagement
• Contract type: Indefinite Contract
• Working location: Kenya
• 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. Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Closing Date of Applications: 2 Sep (23:59 IST/ 21:29 EAT)

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