People Business Partner

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.

The British Council is undergoing a major transformation to support its commercial and digital growth, with new operating models being implemented across the organisation. The Business-Aligned People Partnering team, within the Talent & Organisational Development Directorate, works closely with leaders to embed these changes, strengthen organisational capability, build future skills, foster an inclusive culture, and drive the people agenda. Acting as trusted advisors, the team collaborates across the People function to deliver strategic initiatives that support the organisation's long-term success.

Accountabilities:

• Leadership & management: Partner with senior leaders as an equal on decisions relating to talent progression and retention, and in the alignment of organisation design with business strategy. Convene and coordinate across multiple People function teams to design and deliver key initiatives, embedding new ways of working and a culture of learning.
• Strategy and/or planning: Co-create plans with leadership teams to enable delivery of the strategic workforce plan and oversee delivery, including coaching and enabling leaders to deliver their accountabilities as part of the plan, so that the impact is realised. Work in partnership with business leaders to identify, shift and enable the skills profile of their workforce aligned to their business strategy, including commercial, digital and other priority skills. Carry out key talent exercises with business leaders, including talent reviews, critical roles assessments, succession planning, capacity, capability and skills reviews, and others. Provide data and insight and actively participate in business planning so that people considerations are at the heart of business plans and the right areas are prioritised.
• Relationship and Stakeholder management: Build and manage relationships with senior leaders and their teams, bringing challenge and thought leadership so that talent & organisational development are at the heart of their business delivery and the People function builds its credibility and impact. Act as a coach to senior leaders within the business area and help improve relationships and ways of working to build One British Council and maximise the British Council’s impact. Work collaboratively with colleagues across the People team so that business insight and needs are at the heart of product and initiative design and therefore achieve maximum impact. Embed new ways of working with colleagues across the People function, cultivating collaborative feedback loops to continuously strengthen our delivery models.
• Commercial and financial management: Have a deep understanding of the business model of their stakeholder group, and partner with leaders on enabling a workforce with the size, shape and skills profile that best supports that model. Provide input to the Talent & OD budget so that the biggest impact opportunities are prioritised in spending decisions.
• Sector/subject expertise: Act as the business partner to designated senior directors within the business area and provide coaching in all aspects of strategic HR to build organisational capability in strategic talent management and organisational development.
• Consultancy, analysis and problem solving: Consult with the senior leadership team and use data and insight to identify solutions to strategic people-related problems. Convene design and delivery teams, co-create delivery plans and oversee and/or lead on delivery.

Role specific skills:

Minimum/Essential:

• University degree or equivalent professional experience
• Experience of business transformation and aligning people plans to enable change, including talent and organisational design & development
• Experience as a member of a business leadership team, in a line or professional services partnering role
• Experience of strategic business and workforce planning

Desirable:

• CIPD or equivalent OD / Change qualification
• Experience within a centre of excellence in learning & / or organisational development, talent management, employee engagement or change
• Experience within a global organisation
• Experience in strategic organisation re-design projects
• Experience in an external or internal consulting role

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the UK. This is a hybrid role – primarily working from the office with home working flexibility. Applications will close at 22:59 UK Time on 12 July 2026. Interviews are likely to take place week of 27 July.

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.