Senior Programme Officer – International

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In we reached 650 million people.

Senior Programme Officer, International Chevening Scholarships.

Pay band: 7
Salary: Starting at 30,839 per annum, plus 3,300 London Market Allowance for those based in the London area only.
What well offer you: In addition to a competitive salary and excellent civil service pension contributions, the British Council offers:
32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
Opportunities to grow and develop in the role with continuous professional development.

Location: UK London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.
Department: Higher Education, Education, Cultural Engagement.
Contract type: Fixed term contract until 29th August 2025.
Closing Date: 12th December 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Requirements:

This role is based in the UK and therefore you must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

We are unable to support with mobility, relocation or sponsorship.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

The Team:

The British Council has been awarded a contract by the FCDO to become the supplier to provide administration services for two prestigious scholarship programmes: the Chevening Scholarship programme, owned by the FCDO; and the Marshall Scholarship programme, funded by the FCDO and owned by the MACC an arms length body of government. Both programmes offer postgraduate scholarships and a small number of fellowships to international students to study in the UK.

Under Chevening, around 1,500 scholarships are awarded annually to students from across the world. Under Marshall, around 50 scholarships are awarded to US citizens.

Details on each programme can be found at and

The British Council took on responsibility as supplier for these programmes on 1 September 2023. The services required to be delivered in the contract include: Communications; programme promotion; scholar selection; scholar placing assistance; pre-departure services; support to scholars in the UK; alumni engagement; impact reporting and MEL; financial reporting; partnership development; and ensuring social value.

The British Council delivers a wide range of programmes in international higher education that promote cultural relations and understanding. These include grant-funded programmes supporting international student recruitment to the UK, trans-national education, and alumni engagement. Delivery of the Chevening and Marshall programmes will complement these activities and serve to demonstrate the British Councils value as a partner of UK government and as a partner for the UKs higher education sector. Facilitating the long-lasting and deep relationships between people across the world and the UK will strengthen individual and subsequent institutional connections as well as ties of friendship.

The Role

Were looking for a Senior Programme Officer to join the team on a fixed term basis until August 2025.

The Senior Programme Officer – International (SPOI) is a key administrative member of the Chevening Secretariat team, responsible for the delivery of services by the International Programme team.

This team currently comprises around 6 colleagues with the SPOI line-managing 2-3 reports directly.

The SPOI ensures that the team provides an excellent standard of service to UK embassies and high commissions, known as posts. There are approximately 140 around the world covering 160 countries and territories that work with the Secretariat to recruit, select and support Chevening Scholars and Fellows.

In addition to the primary task of effective people and relationship management, with delegation, team development and monitoring performance all being of paramount importance, the role also entails being the designated administrative point of contact for a small portfolio of posts.

You will be required to support the Programme Manager International (PMI) on continual policy and procedural development, with a view to improving services and the efficiency of delivery, set within a complex international context.

Accountabilities, but is not limited to:

Planning
Under guidance from the PMI, manage the international teams administrative support to posts throughout the marketing, recruitment, and selection periods including coordinating the scheduling of interviews for candidates at post and the submission of interview scores.
Coordinate the international team, under guidance from the PMI, on the development and updating of materials for posts as part of the annual recruitment and selection cycle, working closely with the communications team on yearly updates to marketing materials and their distribution.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management
Be the designated point of contact for a small number of posts, and carry out relevant administrative activities for this portfolio.
Facilitate the planning of POI travel to posts based on the international team travel strategy and approve travel requests for POIs in consultation with the PMI and Head of Programme Management. To accompany POIs on occasional overseas visits, where appropriate.

Operational Delivery
Work closely with the Communications and Partnerships teams to make recommendations for improvements to guidance and materials for Posts.
Manage the day-to-day administration of the scholarship applicant journey under guidance from the PMI so as to ensure the effective and timely administration of the Chevening programme from application to selection.
Under direction of the PMI, coordinate the international team in the selection, training and work of the reading committees (UK academics who assess Chevening applications).
Support the international team in guidance to posts for establishing and negotiating local partnerships and working closely with the Senior Partnerships Policy and Business Development Officer to ensure that local partnerships are in line with Chevening partnership policy and priorities.

Leadership and Management

Present on Chevening and Marshall programmes to FCDO staff, British embassies and high commissions, applicants, scholars, alumni, partners, and other stakeholder groups. Represent the Chevening programme (and the British Council) externally at a senior level.
Assist the PMI in a range of activities such as preparing progress reports for senior management and the FCDO, deputise for the PMI as requested and keep Chevening policy, practice and timelines under review, making recommendations as appropriate.
Undertake a full range of team management activities for the Programme Officers, including managing workloads and monitoring performance of POs and Programme Assistant, and overseeing the training and development of team members and delegating activities where necessary.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
To actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for peoples well-being and mental health.
Understand the British Councils approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, making time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.

Requirements of the role:

An in depth of understanding of the experience and needs of international higher education students.

Experience of using an online application system or other bespoke software package(s). Proven administration experience, including experience of Microsoft Office, updating and maintaining databases, and portfolio management.

Managing people (level 2) Supervises a small team. Supervises a small team of people doing similar jobs to deliver short term tasks to agreed quality and time standards

Closing Date: Applications will close on 12th December 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Additional Information:

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. We are unable to support with sponsorship or relocation support.

Interviews will be held around the middle of January 2024.

This role is based in the UK only.

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 iscommitted 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 Councils Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email

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