At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to manage large-scale projects and programmes across English & Exams.
- Company: Join the British Council, a global leader in education and cultural relations.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global education while fostering innovation and quality.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and leading large projects in a multinational environment.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion while driving change.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: London (hybrid)
Role Description and Purpose: This role leads and directs a Programme and Project Delivery Team responsible for the design, development, planning, and management of large-scale projects and programmes across English & Exams. Working through a matrix of internal and external resources and partnerships, the role ensures that delivery is aligned with strategic business objectives. It oversees the effective design and implementation of programmes and manages or influences virtual, dispersed teams to deliver high-quality products and services on a global scale. The role sits within a team accountable for the design, development, and performance management of both digital and analogue products that support the For Schools, Higher Education, and Work propositions. This team ensures that the product portfolio is strategically aligned, commercially viable, scalable, and responsive to customer, delivery, and technology needs. It plays a critical role in ensuring the right mix of quality and innovation to support the direction set by Proposition Directors.
Role Accountability: The role provides leadership across programme and resourcing functions, working closely with business leads and stakeholders to define a clear vision and roadmap for delivery. It ensures alignment with wider British Council policies and proposition plans. The postholder leads the development of project delivery plans that meet corporate priorities and performance standards, while negotiating realistic timelines and targets based on market analysis, feasibility, and resource availability. They are responsible for ensuring that programmes are structured, resourced, and motivated to deliver efficiently and effectively. The role also provides expert advice to internal clients, supporting the development of new initiatives from business case through to delivery. It contributes to business improvement planning and ensures that quality assurance, reporting, and evaluation processes reflect best practice and deliver value for money. The postholder builds external networks to bring in professional insights and continuously improve project management methodologies across the organisation.
In terms of performance and resourcing, the role leads the planning and acquisition of resources, working with corporate functions, regional teams, and external partners. It defines and communicates performance expectations and benefits, and leads retrospectives and post-launch reviews to embed learning and improve future delivery. The role also leads senior relationships across the British Council and with external partners to ensure joined-up delivery and stakeholder alignment. Risk and compliance are central to the role, with responsibility for identifying and mitigating operational risks and ensuring compliance with all relevant internal and external standards. The postholder also plays a key role in embedding the British Council's commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism, fostering a culture where people feel valued, supported, and treated equitably—particularly through periods of change.
Essential Core & Role Competencies
- Finance & resource management
- Managing Projects
- Managing Risk
- Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 or agile etc).
- Demonstrable experience of leading and successfully managing large (£-multi-million) projects concurrently for a multi-national organisation with considerable global reach.
- Experience of leading projects using a variety of methodologies – e.g. Agile, Scrum at Scale, Scaled Agile, Waterfall
- Experience of leading digital/online/technology projects or programmes on a global scale
- First degree or equivalent qualification/ experience
- Professional programme management qualification(s), such as Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner, or equivalent programme qualification (MPA / PMI, etc).
Desirable:
- Experience of delivering learning and / or assessment programmes and projects
Essential:
- Fluency in English
- Unlimited right to work in the UK without visa or sponsorship
- Flexible for hybrid working from our Stratford office in London
Team Lead: PMO in London employer: British Council
Contact Detail:
British Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Lead: PMO in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show us you’re genuinely interested in what we do, and come armed with questions that demonstrate your knowledge.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You never know when you’ll meet someone who could help you land that dream job. Keep it concise and highlight your leadership skills and project management experience.
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Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the latest roles we have available.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Lead: PMO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Team Lead: PMO role. Highlight your experience in managing large-scale projects and your familiarity with methodologies like Agile or PRINCE2. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience with digital projects and leading teams.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, emphasise your leadership experience. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and manage teams effectively, so share examples of how you've successfully led projects and motivated your team in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at British Council
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the projects you've led or been a part of. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you managed risks, and the methodologies you used. This will show your depth of experience and ability to lead large-scale projects.
✨Align with Strategic Objectives
Understand the British Council's strategic goals and how the PMO role contributes to them. Prepare examples of how you've aligned project delivery with business objectives in the past. This demonstrates that you can think beyond just project management and understand the bigger picture.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach, especially in managing virtual and dispersed teams. Share examples of how you’ve motivated teams and ensured effective collaboration across different locations. This is crucial for a role that requires strong leadership and stakeholder alignment.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about how you’ve implemented lessons learned from previous projects into future planning. Highlight any frameworks or methodologies you’ve used to improve project management processes. This shows that you’re committed to quality assurance and value for money, which are key aspects of the role.