Project Delivery Lead

The British Council is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Global Project Delivery Lead to manage the successful delivery of large-scale projects or major components of global programmes. This role plays a critical part in driving change across our global network of over 100 countries, with project values typically under £10 million. You will lead projects from initiation through to closure, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and delivering both tangible outputs and effective change management.

As Project Delivery Lead, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining detailed project schedules, tracking critical paths and interdependencies, and ensuring timely completion of tasks. You will lead the change control process, assessing the impact of scope changes on time, budget, and resources, and ensuring all changes are approved through appropriate governance. You will own and maintain key project documentation, including Project Initiation Documents, RAID logs, and lessons learned, while ensuring document control standards are upheld.

This role requires a strong focus on both the technical and human aspects of project delivery. You will ensure that projects are designed and delivered with equal attention to tangible deliverables and the engagement of people through effective communication, resource planning, and benefits realisation. You will work closely with business analysts, change managers, and digital professionals, reporting to a Senior Responsible Owner and collaborating with stakeholders across the organisation.

You will be expected to navigate complex internal and external stakeholder environments, build strong relationships across the British Council, and raise the professional credibility of the Global Change Programme. Proactive risk and issue management, effective communication of progress, and timely escalation of challenges are essential to success in this role.

In addition to leading your own projects, you will support senior team members by mentoring and coaching staff and stakeholders, helping to build organisational capability in business change and project delivery. You will also work with key stakeholders to ensure benefits are clearly defined, success factors are understood, and benefit realisation is effectively managed. When required, you will deputise for the Senior Responsible Owner in senior leadership forums.

If you are a strategic thinker with a strong track record in project leadership, stakeholder engagement, and change delivery, and are passionate about making a global impact through education and cultural relations, we invite you to apply and join our Global Change Programme.

Qualifications & Experience:
Minimum / Essential
•    2 years experience working on large, complex and/or high financial value projects.
•    Track record of project delivery to time, quality and budget in complex stakeholder settings.
•    Demonstrable knowledge and experience of Agile ways of working.
Desirable
•    Experience of working with and realising change within charities, HM Government and private sector (corporate) are all desirable.
•    Proficient in using project management tools (e.g. MS Project, JIRA, SharePoint, Power BI) to plan, monitor, and report on progress

•    A recognised professional project Management qualification, e.g. PRINCE2, Agile or Association of Project Managers.
•    Degree level qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Important information:

Location: UK
Closing Date: Tuesday, 3rd of February 2026
Pay Grade: 8/E
Contract: Fixed term - 2 years
Requirement: Candidates must have the legal rights to work in the mentioned locations at the time of application and in future. No relocation support is provided.