British CouncilHiring for Director Libraries at New Delhi, Delhi Full Time

Location: New Delhi, South Asia, IN

Company: British Council

The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK. These connections lead to an understanding of each other’s strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications.

Role Purpose:
This role sits within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research; however, it works very closely with the English and Exams SBU. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locates our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.

All programme management roles deliver activities and projects within this global programme and strategic framework. Our programmes are funded by the British Council’s grant in aid, through partnerships and external clients.

The British Council has a contextualised programme and project management framework with clear standards and procedures for programme management set out by the CE Centre of Excellence. This framework is in line with Cabinet office functional standard for project delivery, FCDO Operating Framework and the Association for Project Management Body of Knowledge. Programme managers within the CE SBU deliver programmes following the standards and procedures set out in this framework.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
Leadership & Management

Leadership of dispersed, delivery teams (mainly in South Asia, and through the matrix in over 45 countries).

Acts as Senior Responsible Officer for Digital and Physical Libraries.

Builds capacity and capability in programme delivery teams.

Contributes to pillar/region or global strategy.

Champions EDI across the portfolio and ensures the portfolio has gone through the diversity mainstreaming exercise both at design and delivery stage.

Champions the anti-racism policy and ensures that anti-racism action planning is carried out and implemented at the portfolio level.

Actively contributes to communities of practice and learning networks and ensures a culture of active learning and improvement

Strategy & Planning

Strategic leadership of design, development, delivery, and closure of projects/programmes within Libraries

Leads on programme planning covering technical and operational management

Champions and ensures understanding of corporate strategy

Contributes to overall global business strategy

Business Development

Leads on establishing a sustainable model for both Physical and Digital Libraries

Understands the market in which Libraries operate, plays a proactive role in co-ordination with other organisations/funders, spots opportunities and shares. intelligence about the market through appropriate channels.

Relationship & Stakeholders

Could own a client or partner relationship on behalf of the organisation.

Leads on relationships with a range of senior stakeholders and partners at a programme or project level, including representing and communicating about the programme and the British Council at senior external level.

Holds partners, teams, consultants, and delivery partners to account in line with their relevant contracts and performance objectives.

Programme Management

Effective oversight of risk and assurance of compliance in Libraries

Accountable for establishing and maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance which enables successful decision-making and, assurance and risk management.

Develops Theory of Change and oversees M&E Plans and/or results frameworks (including indicators and relevant tools) for Libraries

Ensure portfolio is meeting British Council and specific funder impact targets.

Demonstrates ability to collate learning strategically across Libraries to develop generalised thematic, business or country-level learning.

Drives and negotiates solutions to complex issues with internal and external partners and stakeholders.

Ensures that digital skills and expertise are secured and deployed effectively across all Libraries and provides opportunity for digital skills to be developed.

Role specific knowledge and experience:
Project management or equivalent qualification at a Practitioner level

Extensive experience leading programmes

Experience of managing successful, compliant complex, multi-country programmes

Experience of working with a range of clients or funding partners and familiarity with a range of compliance standards and programme frameworks

Experience of negotiating and contracting with a range of external strategic and delivery partners

Experience as Senior Responsible Officer on a large/complex programme

Experience of client management, reporting, relationships contract management

Experience of leading diverse and dispersed teams

Proven evidence of capacity and capability building with programme teams

Experience of managing and mitigating risk across a large programme or portfolio

Experience of establishing and maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance structures

Proven experience of embedding EDI in programmes and championing EDI principles

Further Information

Pay Band – 8 / E

Contract Type – Indefinite Contract unless local law requires differently

Location – Flexible in south Asia

Requirements – Candidates must have the pre-existing right to work in location.

Right to work – You will need the right to work in one of the countries in South Asia. If you do not have pre-existing right to work, appointment will be subject to your ability to obtain a visa. We will facilitate your visa process.

Candidates from outside South Asia (if they have right to work in one of the countries in South Asia or can get one) will be offered a one-off relocation package in line with our international relocation policy.

Closing Date – 14 July 2022, 23:59 IST

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.