Director Education

Job summary

About the Role

The British Council is looking for an exceptional Director Education to lead our global education portfolio maximising its impact, influence and income.

As Director Education, you will provide strategic leadership to our global education work, setting the overall direction and ensuring our programmes, partnerships, contracts and services deliver strong impact, relevance and results across our international network and in the UK. You will play a key role in ensuring that education delivers positive cultural relations outcomes for the UK. .

You will bring together a broad range of education expertise and capabilities, including sector specialists, business development, programme management and operational teams, creating a coherent approach across the portfolio.

As a member of the British Council’s global leadership team you will collaborate closely with colleagues across the organisation to shape strategic priorities and ensure effective planning and delivery through our global matrix.

You will also be a senior external ambassador for the British Council’s education work, building strong relationships with stakeholders across the UK and internationally and representing the organisation with government, education leaders, partners, sector bodies and the media. You will use your understanding of the education landscape, alongside the British Council’s unique position and global reach, to identify opportunities that strengthen our influence and impact.

Job description

Role Title: Director Education

Location: Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh or London

British Council Grade: EL

Reports to:Director Cultural Engagement (SLT)

Contract type: this is a four-year assignment, with the possibility of extension if both parties agree.

About the Role

The British Council is looking for an exceptional Director Education to lead our global education portfolio maximising its impact, influence and income.

As Director Education, you will provide strategic leadership to our global education work, setting the overall direction and ensuring our programmes, partnerships, contracts and services deliver strong impact, relevance and results across our international network and in the UK. You will play a key role in ensuring that education delivers positive cultural relations outcomes for the UK. .

You will bring together a broad range of education expertise and capabilities, including sector specialists, business development, programme management and operational teams, creating a coherent approach across the portfolio.

As a member of the British Council’s global leadership team you will collaborate closely with colleagues across the organisation to shape strategic priorities and ensure effective planning and delivery through our global matrix.

You will also be a senior external ambassador for the British Council’s education work, building strong relationships with stakeholders across the UK and internationally and representing the organisation with government, education leaders, partners, sector bodies and the media. You will use your understanding of the education landscape, alongside the British Council’s unique position and global reach, to identify opportunities that strengthen our influence and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the global strategy, performance and overall direction of education, ensuring it makes a strong contribution to the British Council’s strategic priorities and remains relevant, distinctive and financially sustainable
• Provide strategic leadership as a member of the Cultural Engagement Executive Team, contributing to wider organisational strategy, decision-making and performance. Set clear priorities, choices and trade-offs across the education portfolio, informed by evidence, external developments and organisational priorities.
• Lead global planning, target-setting and performance management, working closely with geographic leadership and other functions to ensure effective delivery through the matrix. Ensure education programmes, partnerships, contracts and services are delivered with high impact, quality, coherence and operational effectiveness.
• Provide authoritative advice and insight to senior leaders, trustees and the wider organisation on education strategy, performance, opportunities and risks. Strengthen the use of research, evaluation and insight to inform strategic decisions, demonstrate impact and continuously improve our work.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with UK government, education stakeholders, partners, funders, clients and sector bodies in the UK and internationally.
• Drive income generation and financial sustainability across education, including through partnerships, contracts, funded programmes and other revenue streams. Ensure education activity is positioned and delivered in ways that strengthen our impact, reputation and position as a trusted international partner.
• Lead and inspire a diverse global organisation, bringing together specialist teams around a shared purpose while embedding strong governance, accountability, risk management and compliance
• Drive continuous improvement in ways of working and organisational effectiveness, ensuring education remains agile, integrated and fit for the future.

About You

You will be an experienced and influential senior leader with a strong track record of leading complex, international education portfolios and organisations. You will combine strategic leadership and sector expertise with the ability to translate strategy into effective delivery across a complex global matrix. You will be comfortable operating at the highest levels of an organisation and influencing senior stakeholders across different countries, cultures and organisational functions.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant senior leadership experience within the education sector, with a strong understanding of the international education landscape.
• A proven ability to develop and deliver global or international strategies across complex, geographically dispersed organisations.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding, with experience of developing partnerships, contracts, funded programmes and income-generating activity.
• Experience of working effectively through a matrix structure, influencing across organisational and geographic boundaries without relying solely on direct authority.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to engage senior government, education, business and sector stakeholders.
• Experience of representing an organisation externally and acting as a credible ambassador with senior audiences, partners and the media.
• A strong understanding of evidence, research, evaluation and impact measurement and how these can inform strategic decision-making.
• A track record of leading diverse, specialist teams and creating an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Strong governance, risk management and compliance awareness, with the ability to balance ambition with effective organisational stewardship.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling vision and bring others with you through change and complexity.
• The ability to make difficult decisions, set priorities and manage competing demands across a complex portfolio.

Desirable: