Communications 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.

Pay Band: 6

Contract Type: Indefinite

Location: Beijing, China

Right to work: As we cannot sponsor work passes, applicants must already have the right to live and work in China.

Closing Date: Tuesday, 15 September 2026 - 23:59 China time (GMT+08)

Role Purpose & Accountabilities

We are seeking a Country Communications Manager to deliver integrated communications support for British Council China, helping drive business performance, strengthen stakeholder engagement and protect organisational reputation across our Exams, English and Cultural Engagement work. You will support the development and implementation of China communications plans covering external campaigns, stakeholder communications, issues management, strategic storytelling, internal and change communications, and leadership communications. Your local insight, language capability and stakeholder understanding will ensure all communications are relevant, audience-focused and effective in China’s complex operating environment.

This role offers a unique opportunity to support business-critical communications in a significant and fast-changing market. You will provide integrated counsel across market-facing campaigns, stakeholder engagement, leadership messaging and employee engagement, strengthening alignment between internal priorities and external reputation so that employees understand organisational goals and external stakeholders see a consistent, credible British Council narrative. You will manage communications risks and issues in a dynamic local context, safeguarding trust among government, partners, customers, employees and media, while maintaining continuity and resilience within the China Communications team.

In this role, you will apply deep understanding of the local context to assess and improve communications effectiveness, deliver tailored initiatives for our Exams and Cultural Engagement business units, and ensure consistency with regional and global plans. You will build close relationships with the China Leadership Team, the British Embassy communications team, and key external stakeholders and media outlets, while staying ahead of China’s rapidly evolving social media landscape across WeChat, Weibo and Xiaohongshu. You will also take responsibility for monthly and year-end reporting, manage budgets with a focus on value for money, and coordinate input from internal teams and external partners to deliver outstanding campaign results. This is a hands-on role for a creative, analytically minded communications professional who thrives on complex challenges and wants to make a lasting impact for the British Council in China.

Qualifications & Experience:

Essential:

• Relevant degree e.g. communications, journalism, marketing, or equivalent level of experience
• Local language native speaker
• Demonstrable experience in managing communications within a large and complex organisation or agency
• Experience in providing expert advice and guidance on internal and external communications
• Experience in managing and mitigating external and internal communications risks and issues
• Proven record of editorial experience (i.e. proofreading, translation, knowledge of different content types, etc.)
• Creative approach to implementing and evaluating communication activities
• Demonstrable experience delivering internal and external communications in a large, complex organisation or agency.

Desirable

• Experience in a global or matrix organisation
• Experience supporting education, exams, cultural relations or public-sector/mission-driven organisations
• Experience supporting strategic storytelling, market-facing communication campaigns, and internal communications in China

Benefits:

• 22 days of Annual Leave
• 13th Month Salary
• Non-consolidated bonus
• Comprehensive health and insurance package - includes accidental insurance, life insurance, and supplementary medical coverage
• Social insurance & housing fund - Coverage under national social insurance and housing fund
• Professional development - Ongoing learning and career growth opportunities to support your development.

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]