Global Change Programme Manager

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.

Purpose of the Role:

We are looking for a Programme Manager to join us on a two year fixed term contract.

As a senior resource, you will provide leadership for a select collection of projects or will take ownership for a major component of the largest global programmes within the organisation. 

Overall programme value is likely to vary but total value of tens of millions of pounds is the expected norm, delivering changes that may straddle many or all of a global network of 100 countries or an entire business area.

 The Global Change Programme has been established to achieve an improvement in the profit and loss from current losses to sustainable surplus by 2030, through a combination of business growth and cost savings, divestments, operating model and organisational design changes.

Please note this is not a finance role. 

Accountabilities:

 The role will cover the following but is not limited to: 

Delivery Lead and direct the design, development, planning and management of programmes across a major operational area (e.g. a major region or major business unit) through a matrix of internal and external resources, to ensure effective achievement of organisational objectives.  

Portfolio Lead and direct the prioritisation and effective allocation of resources across a specific area of change. Managing the project pipeline to ensure optimal delivery of organisational objectives in line with priorities. 

Strategy Lead and direct shape, design and thinking of strategy formulation across specific areas of change. Building the case to secure funding, which will lead to programmes of work to meet organisational objectives.

 
Conducts delivery assurance reviews across workstreams to monitor adherence to quality standards and mitigate risks to programme outcomes.

Ensuring that all programmes are designed, developed and delivered to take equal consideration of both the ‘hard scope’ that delivers tangible outputs (e.g. documents, systems, assets) and the ‘soft scope’ of engaging people and managing effective change (e.g. communications skills, resource change, benefits realisation, etc.). Specifically, this means overseeing activities for major programmes you have been assigned to.

Works flexibly within the Programme Management Office to ensure consistent reporting, risk oversight, milestone tracking, and compliance with organisational delivery standards, in close collaboration with the SRO.

Identify and understand the complex stakeholder and internal political landscape within the British Council, build relationships across British Council globally to ensure the early identification of initiatives and issues and act as a trusted advisor to shape and develop responses as needed.

Proactive identification, management and timely escalation of programme level risks, issues and dependencies. 

Qualifications & Experience:

▪     Substantive experience of leading and successfully managing large multi-million pound programmes for a multi-national organisation with considerable global reach. 

▪    This should include procuring and managing third party supplier and partner arrangements (on a case-by-case basis).

▪    Demonstrates experience of the ability to plan, structure and manage the ‘hard scope’ of a programme that delivers tangible outputs (e.g. documents, systems, assets) AND the ‘soft scope’ of engaging people and managing effective change (e.g. communications, skills, resource change, benefits realisation).

▪    Demonstrable knowledge and experience of Agile ways of working

Important Information: 

Department: Business, Partnership and Programme Development
Contract type: Two Year Fixed Term Contract
Contract Hours: Full time - 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 
Pay band: SMP-S
Salary: £55,699 - £68,649 (Plus an additional £3,300 per annum London Market Allowance if you are based in the London area only). 

 
Benefits for the UK include, but are not limited to:

•    32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
•    3 days volunteering leave
•    Career average defined benefit pension scheme 
 
Location of the role:  UK - London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast.

 
Please note, you will be required to work in the office for 3 days per week. 

Closing Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026 at 23:59 UK time.

 
Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

 
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

 
Interviews will be held around the middle of March. 

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 [email protected]