British CouncilHiring for Cluster Academic Manager 1, Adults at Kolkata, West Bengal Full Time

Location: Kolkata, South Asia, IN Chennai, South Asia, IN New Delhi, South Asia, IN Mumbai, South Asia, IN

Company: British Council

Overview

The English and Examinations Strategic Business Unit (E&E) is one of three strategic business units in the British Council (the others being Arts and Education & Society) all of which have the remit to build trust for the people of the UK by building relationships through aspects of our language and culture. E&E achieves this by enabling people across the world to access the life-changing education and work opportunities that are created by learning English or gaining valuable UK qualifications. Promoting the English language also provides a medium for communication, helping break down barriers of misunderstanding or mistrust between cultures.

The British Council’s 2020 vision for English & Examinations is to be the world authority in high quality English language teaching, learning and assessment, as well as the International distributor of choice for UK professional and school qualifications

This role is a new role as part of English Transformation programme. In line with the Global Recruitment policy, standard application and recruitment decisions will apply for this role.

Role purpose

To drive the continuous improvement of products and services for the cluster, and innovation in meeting customer needs. To ensure consistency of standards in the delivery of new/existing products and services. To support centres to achieve product performance targets.

To play an important role contributing to and delivering elements of the Teaching Excellence project to help meet its aims, with particular focus on the delivery of adult and young learner courses, which will lead to enhanced teaching performance and the highest standards of teaching and or learning.

Main accountabilities

Product Management

Oversees and, as necessary, advises on the implementation of approved products to ensure these are efficiently and effectively delivered to all centres in the cluster.

Ensures standardization of approach across the cluster in product delivery for new/existing products and services as well as enhancements, through project management methodology and tools.

Manages the testing and roll out of new products/pilots for the cluster and develops a feedback cycle to ensure a continuous improvement process for all products and services

Sector/subject expertise

Working with colleagues across the Academic strand; both Product and Teaching Excellence:

Guides and oversee teaching staff to ensure that latest thinking, innovation and best practices in pedagogy and assessment are incorporated in products and enhancements.

Ensures consistency, quality and integrity of services across markets.

Works with academic staff to ensure effective roll out of Teaching Excellence initiatives including:

The new teaching standards and observation systems

the roll out and utilisation of Teaching Excellence (Academic) Quality Plans (TEAP) for teaching operations

The utilisation of the new Teaching Performance Review Project system (TCPR) and the utilisation of feedback and data gathering systems to understand teaching performance

Relationship & stakeholder management

Proactively identifies and cultivates potential/actual partners for product or programme development and delivery, and secures the successful achievement of BC income and impact objectives.

Develops strong working relationship with other Country and Cluster leads in the region, marketing and customer service and Regional Product teams to enable effective product/service development

Commercial and financial management

Using agreed corporate systems and processes, plans and manages the budget for a range of small/medium-sized projects and programmes, and conducts monthly and year-end reporting on income and expenditure, profitability and risk and other product KPIs

Leadership & management

Plans and prioritises own work activities, and those of a wider project team/teams (many of which exist outside the direct management line), to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and programme deliverables over a monthly to quarterly time horizon.

Shares intelligence and ideas to support senior managers in identifying/developing ways in which the subject/sector specialism could make the most effective impact on the British Council’s cultural relations and commercial strategies.

Role specific skills

Communication and Influencing

Subject Matter Expert

Bringing Others Together

Analysing Data and Problems

External Market Environment

Managing People

Languages

Essential

English at C2 level

Education, Certification and Professional Qualifications

Essential

TEFL-Q or British Council recognized equivalent.

Undergraduate degree or equivalent by experience.

Desirable

Project Management qualification

Undergraduate degree or equivalent by experience.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Experience of successful product management.

Demonstrated experience working in an English Language learning management or assessment development role.

Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders across multiple sites / countries to achieve objectives.

Proven experience and demonstrable success in coordinating/supervising/influencing others in an educational context.

Desirable

Experience of product development for use across multiple sites.

End-to-end product management experience.

Further Information

Pay Band – Pay Band 7

Contract Type – FTC for 2 years

Location – The location of the job will be flexible in SriLanka, India (all centres) Myanmar and Bangladesh

Requirements: Visa/Mobility Support will be provided if required.

Closing Date – 13th June 2022 (23: 59 UK Time)

Interviews – Will commence in the week of 20th June