🇳🇬 Job Vacancies @ British Council – 7 Positions

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with - changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Test Day Coordinator
2.) CMR & Logistics Officer
3.) Driver
4.) Regional Operations Director, Cultural Engagement (x4)

Location: Lagos
Contract Type: Locally Engaged
Contract Duration: 12 months fixed term contract
Department: Exams
Pay band: 4

Role Context

• The Examinations business makes a significant contribution to British Council financial sustainability, and as such, it is essential that the business evolves in order to maintain its position in a fast-changing operating context.
• Nigeria exam business is the British Council’s largest operation in Sub-Saharan Africa with offices in 4 cities – Port Harcourt in the south, Kano in the north, Abuja the Federal capital, and Lagos the commercial centre.
• We also have a number of project offices across the country. Our 200 staff work across a range of states delivering large scale contracts, partnership programmes, examinations, projects as well as services in Arts, Education & Society and English & Exams. We are already delivering exams in about 23 states and have plans to grow and expand our impact even further across Nigeria.
• While we partner mostly with UK examination board and institutions to delivers exams, we also have a network of about 400 partner schools locally that sit Cambridge exams through the British Council.

Role Purpose

• The post holder will ensure effective and efficient delivery of Exams in Nigeria.  To manage Venue Supervisor engagement, relationship and performance.
• To co-ordinate and manage any risk or issue resolution, including co-ordination of customer communication directly or through customer services.
• To be point of contact for Venues/Venue Supervisors on the day.
• This role will be required to work test days which will involve weekend work as part of the contracted hours.

Essential Requirements
Role specific knowledge and experience:

• First Degree in any subject
• Experience working in a busy operational environment delivering high levels of customer service.
• Ability to ensure compliance, risk and security standards are monitored and maintained.
• Track record of working in a tightly controlled process driven environment
• Providing instructions to others and monitoring service within quality standards.
• Working quickly and accurately to tight schedules and deadlines.
• Training and managing others to deliver to quality standards.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience working in Exams
• Experience of supporting on delivery of computer-based exams.

Remuneration
N7,363,086 Annually.

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2022 (23:59 South Africa Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants should have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in country of application.
• The British Council will not facilitate/sponsor visa applications and work permits.
• 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.

Location: Lagos
Contract Type: 1 Year Fixed Term Contract
Pay band: 4

Role Purpose

• The purpose of this role is to support the safe handling in accordance with compliance standards, of confidential materials during the multiple exchanges in country/location.
• This includes movement and activities related to the primary storage area known as the Confidential Materials Room (CMR).

Main Accountabilities

• Supports the functions of confidential materials handling and the Confidential Materials Room (CMR) to ensure British Council standards are met in set up and day to day operations.
• Receives and responds to enquiries from/to customers and may be a specific point of reference on queries relating to an area of nominated expertise or responsibility.  Identifies where more complex issues require resolution by others and refers them on accordingly
• Carries out instructions and requests from Cluster operations and Operations Manager efficiently and effectively.
• Ensures adherence to CMR standards and management as set forth and carries out frequent random checks to proactively prevent issues from arising.
• Manages courier SLA/performance standards and builds relationship with courier service provider in country, so that quality of services and cost elements are in accordance with standards.
• Plans and prioritises own work activities, which span across a range of different work streams, responding to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a weekly/monthly time horizon.

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree in any subject or relevant qualification

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of and ability to deliver excellent standards of customer service
• Experience in identifying and minimising risk
• Experience in compliance environment
• Understanding and experience of risk and compliance management
• Track Record of working in a tightly controlled process driven environment.

Desirable:

• Experience of supporting delivery of computer-based exams

Language Requirements:

• English Language proficiency at C1 Level.

Remuneration
N7,363,086 Annually.

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2022 (23:59 South Africa Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants should have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in country of application.
• Role could require weekend working or late shift required.
• 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.

Location: Abuja
Contract Type: One (1) year fixed term contract
Pay band: BRC-K-F
Travel: Regular domestic travel.

Role Purpose

• To support in the provision of secure transportation of personnel and resources for British Council in accordance with the organisation’s policies and standards

Main Accountabilities

• Always prioritise safety of passengers and personal safety.
• Operate the vehicle in a safe and courteous manner.
• Ensure passengers use seat belts and do not unnecessarily distract the driver or MOPOL guards; report refusals; breaches or exceptions to the Facilities Manager

Essential Requirement

• Valid Nigeria driver’s licence
• SSCE passed.

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience:

• In depth knowledge of designated locations in the city and thorough knowledge of road signs.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role within the corporate sector
• Experience of working as part of a successful team/function
• Basic IT skills including word and excel

Desirable:

• Basic mechanical knowledge participation in previous defensive driver training.
• Experience operating in a complex and multi-cultural context.
• Basic mechanical knowledge.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in Written and spoken English.

Remuneration
N2,719,190 Annually.

Application Closing Date
31st October, 2022 (23:59 South Africa Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applicants should have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in country of application.
• 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.

Locations: Abuja, Port Hacourt - Rivers, Kano and Lagos
Pay Band: SMPL
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract
Duration: 2 years (possibility to renew)

Role Context

• 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.
• Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locate our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.
• With 1.75 billion - one in five of the world's population - set to live in the region by 2050 and a GDP that is forecast to grow by seven per cent over the next two decades - faster than China – the future for Sub Saharan Africa is looking more positive than ever.
• The African demographic is young, aspiring and not tied to the past. Within 15 years it will represent 25% of global under-25s. However, 25% of them will face unemployment.
• The challenge for the British Council and the wider UK is to recognise this new African reality and respond to it with products and services which serve the fast-changing needs of the region, and at the same time respond to the major developmental issues that remain, especially in the extraordinarily changing context of Covid-19.
• It is imperative for the British Council to monitor and continuously review the contexts in which it operates and ensure the impacts of Covid-19 are being understood and realised in order to be at the centre of an integrated cross HMG response.
• It is important for the British Council to ensure it is working across the full societal spectrum and also playing a significant role in ensuring the needs of the most poor and vulnerable are not forgotten but are actively met.
• Grant funding remains important to us as part of our commitment to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). However, earning income from other sources to enable us to deliver our cultural relations impact is becoming increasingly important, as the overall grant to the British Council decreases. Key areas for growing income are Full Cost Recovery (FCR) and co-funded contracts with donor agencies, foundations and corporate partners, particularly in Cultural Relations.
• Against this backdrop of significant opportunities, and a desire to scale up and generate considerably more income, is the fact that we operate in a high-risk region geopolitically, economically and with regards to security.
• Operating contexts in many of the countries in the region are complex and volatile and this can have a very adverse impact on business performance.
• Fraud and financial compliance risks are ever present in the region and we are currently moving to regularise our tax and status position across the region (most recently in Nigeria), which, while putting us on a firmer footing to generate more income, is not without its complexities and business risks. All of this serves to make this role a particularly challenging one for the Sub Saharan Region.
• The Cultural Engagement (CE) business unit in SSA aims to ensure a more coherent and integrated approach (within and between the client-funded and co-funded contract businesses) to our CE work in SSA that enhances our ability to achieve sustainable growth (turnover / profit) and create greater impact.
• This post is a critical in enabling us to deliver our current portfolio of work and to grow our business further in 22/23 and beyond.

Role Purpose

• Director Operations will be responsible for the overall day-to-day management of the Cultural Engagement (Education, Arts and English programmes) business operations within the region (i.e. business development, business delivery, assurance and adherence to global standards).
• They will work closely with SSA Portfolio Leads and report to the Regional CE Business Director.

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

• Assure that operations in CE are on track, compliant and effective.
• Deputise for the CE business director.

Strategy & Planning:

• Work with and support the business director of CE on business planning and strategy for the regional business.

Commercial and Financial Management:

• Decision making of active contracts and pursuit.

Business Development:

• Lead the rollout of business development systems including pipeline management and resourcing, contract approval process, etc.) and the SBU input to the regional Programme Based Planning process, ensuring fit with client and partner requirements, corporate standards, FP&A frameworks and compliance with commercial and non-commercial policy such as costing and pricing tools, ODA and non-ODA guidance, fair trade and state aid requirements.
• Ensure that systems are in place to support effective decision-making across the regional and SBU leadership team.
• Input into business development decision-making and resourcing as an active member of the Contract Approval Board
• Lead business development exercises as required by portfolio leads, including provision of content to both technical and commercial proposals, ensuring client procurement requirements are fulfilled and strong competitive bids for contracts are submitted

Operational Delivery:

• Ensure corporate and client best practice and adherence to standards in business development and delivery, including ensuring that Centre of Excellence, business and quality assurance approaches and tools, programme based planning etc. are embedded and/or adapted across the business as appropriate for the operating context, in consultation and collaboration with Global Consultancy and Business Services team, regional heads of professional services (HR, finance, procurement, IKM, etc.) and regional SSA management.
• Ensure that issues identified by business assurance systems are resolved.
• Working with Portfolio Leads, ensure that project start-up and inception for all commercial and non-commercial contracts and programmes meet client and corporate standards, ensuring resources are in place and capability is built to manage projects to client and corporate standards.
• Working with Portfolio Leads, ensure positive audit and external reviews
• Support the Senior Evaluation Adviser with the introduction of new systems & processes to improve monitoring and evaluation of impact and operationalisation of the REF, in order to better demonstrate impact in the main result areas for the regional SBU and contribute to an impact- and evidence-led Programme Based Planning system.
• Working with SROs and Portfolio Leads, address specific operational / programmatic challenges which will affect the achievement of agreed targets. This could include undertakings assignments individually, as a leader or member of a team, to fulfil achievement of impact, income and gross profit targets on the business plan.
• May take on an SRO for commercial or non-commercial contracts and/or programmes if required.
• Undertake reviews and lessons learnt of programmes / portfolios which will feed into the capacity development approach.

Risk Management:

• Lead on risk management and compliance across the regional CE business, ensuring that all business risks are appropriately controlled and minimised.

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience
The main essential knowledge and experience points that we are looking for you to evidence are:

• Graduate Degree in relevant field or work equivalent experience
• Senior experience in international development programme delivery
• Experience working in fragile states (desirable)

Application Closing Date 
30th October 2002

Interview Date
Commence 7th November 2022

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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.
• Candidates must have the pre-existing right to work in location.  Mobility / relocation support will not be provided
• If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org