ESE Programme Manager

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Role Purpose

This role provides programme and project management expertise to the English and School Education portfolio of contracts and programmes. The postholder contributes to business development and quality, compliant delivery of programmes and contracts across the portfolio, and actively shares knowledge, expertise and best practice from the country operation with the global English and School Education team and externally.

In South Africa, this role operates in a complex and highly diverse education context, shaped by significant inequalities in access, learning outcomes, language, geography and opportunity. A key priority is supporting English literacy and reading for meaning in a multilingual context, recognising the importance of learners' home languages while strengthening the role that English can play in access, progression and opportunity. The role holder will need to position English and School Education work in ways that support inclusive, equitable and system-relevant change, while strengthening partnerships with government, education stakeholders, UK institutions and local communities.

Role Accountabilities

Strategy and Planning

Contributes to the business planning process, aligned to the corporate annual planning timetable, including providing input for quarterly business reviews, reviewing progress against global financial and non-financial targets, and driving continual improvement to deliver the plan for global and agreed UK-led sector programmes. Contributes to developing effective impact narratives related to the English and School Education portfolio, aligned to the strategic vision and corporate strategic evidence map.

Leadership and Management

Leads the day-to-day delivery of ESE projects and programmes, managing delivery and project teams. Manages all EDI processes and ensures comprehensive use of internal tools in programme design and delivery, maintaining oversight of the resulting action plan.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

Proactively identifies, develops and maintains a network of strategic partners in-country and in the UK for project collaboration, building relationships with partners, stakeholders and clients across the ESE portfolio. Holds delivery partners to account, including supply chain management where applicable, and plays a proactive role in the global ESE network for knowledge sharing and developments.

Commercial and Financial Management

Manages and controls the agreed budget, expenditure and income against plans, ensuring accuracy of reports and sound financial management and analysis across the portfolio through monthly finance and quarterly business reviews. Ensures timely and accurate planning and forecasting, and timely reporting of risks, including financial, identifying opportunities and mitigation actions.

Programme Management

Ensures every project/programme is compliant with internal policies and processes, including safeguarding, EDI, supply chain management, social value and conflict sensitivity. Develops, owns and delivers the Programme Management Plan, identifying risks and mitigation strategies with the Senior Responsible Owner. Responsible for data management, including timely data entry, quality assurance and basic analysis of monitoring data, and developing progress reports, undertaking programme-specific data collection as needed and supporting the design of results-based programmes, including M&E plans and results frameworks. Undertakes lessons-learned and action-reporting to inform future design, and manages finance, procurement, compliance and reporting, working closely with digital experts to ensure high-quality inputs.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Consistently creates an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of personal bias and taking action to mitigate it, and supporting colleagues' wellbeing, particularly through periods of significant change. Takes accountability for putting the British Council's approach to EDI and anti-racism into practice, engaging visibly with related learning and development.

Knowledge & Experience

Education

Essential:

• First degree in a related field
• Foundational level Project Management qualification (in-house training or evidence of CPD in this area could be considered)

Desirable:

• Qualification in monitoring, evaluation and learning

Experience

Essential:

• Strong programme and project management skills
• Strong stakeholder and partner engagement skills
• Ability to use evidence, data and learning to support programme delivery and improvement
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of managing multi-country or large in-country programmes that have met project closure and audit standards
• Knowledge and/or experience of working with at least two types of funding sources within a structured compliance regime
• Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management
• Experience of managing a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with the SRO
• Understanding of MEL principles
• Experience of conducting lessons learned/after action reviews to inform future programme design and management

Desirable:

• Ability to work effectively across dispersed teams and global networks
• Experience of managing dispersed teams

Important Information

• Location: South Africa
• Contract Type: Indefinite (IDC)
• Pay band: 7
• Department: Cultural Engagement
• Languages: Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Background Checks

Employment with the British Council is subject to satisfactory background checks, both before appointment and periodically during employment, as required. The nature and level of checks will depend on the role and applicable local laws.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Visa sponsorship, immigration support and relocation assistance are not provided for this role. Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in the recruiting country and other British Council country offices, provided they meet the right-to-work requirement.

Closing date for applications:

11:59 PM IST, Monday, 19th October 2026

8:29 PM South Africa Time (SAST), Monday, 19th October 2026.

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]