Senior Relationship Manager Architecture Design Fashion

We support peace and prosperity by building connections understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas to learn English to get a highquality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 202122 we reached 650 million people.

Senior Relationship Manager Architecture Design & Fashion.

Pay band: 8

Salary: Starting atplus 3300 per annum London Market Allowance for those based in the London area only.

(For candidates with exceptional skills knowledge and experience (specific to the role) the British Council may consider a moderate broadening of the advertised pay range).

Benefits Include but are not limited to:
32 days annual leave in addition to public holidays
3 days volunteering leave
Career average defined benefit pension scheme

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover) for 912 months until approximately March 2026.

Location: Cardiff London Edinburgh or Belfast. (The UK only). Manchester candidates would be offered a homeworking contract as we no longer have an office located here.
Department: Architecture Design & Fashion Arts.
Closing Date: 20th April 2025 at 23:59 UK Time.

This role is based in the UK. You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

Overview:

The British Councils Architecture Design and Fashion (ADF) team is looking for a Senior Relationship Manager who will provide specialist expertise and management skills to deliver high quality strategic programmes within the ADF portfolio. The role requires a deep knowledge of the architecture design fashion and/or craft sectors in the UK and an aspiration to foster international connections.

About the team

The Senior Relationship Manager sits within the Arts department within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

Cultural Engagement brings together our portfolio of work in arts education English and research. Our UK arts team works with the arts and culture sector in the UK and our global network of offices to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting through the arts.

The role will be part of a small team but connected with colleagues across the global network to shape and ensure high quality delivery of programmes.

The Role

With expertise and management skills you will develop and deliver a range of strategic Architecture Design & Fashion (ADF) projects and programmes within the arts portfolio of Global Programmes. In addition you will be skilled in project and financial management and be comfortable managing large and complex programmes with a number of stakeholders.

Enhancing the sector content contributes to achieving targets meets global and local requirements as appropriate and creates international opportunities for the UK sector while supporting the British Councils cultural relations objectives.

With extensive knowledge of the UKs contemporary architecture design fashion and/or craft sectors will work closely with the Director on the development of the overall strategy and share responsibility for the implementation of the strategy within the British Councils framework of global programmes.

The role will oversee the daytoday management and delivery of ADF programmes working closely with the programme management team and colleagues in the arts network and managing relationships with key strategic UK partners and external delivery teams along with deputising for the Director when necessary. The role will contribute to wider objectives to ensure that the British Council is recognised by external stakeholders and audiences as a respected credible authority around the areas of architecture design and fashion.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

Supports the strategy for the development of ADF programmes and projects within the global Arts portfolio helping to establish medium and longterm development plans.

Represents the ADF portfolio within British Council and externally to enhance its reputation and to promote collaborative opportunities.

Support the ongoing planning design and quality assurance of the ADF portfolio. Ensuring all the elements are specified and designed to high professional and technical standards whilst reflecting the needs of UK stakeholders and demonstrating cultural sensitivity and that have the potential to attract income.

Using British Council systems and processes to support the planning and management of budgets as necessary for a range of medium to large projects and programming.

Develops longterm trustbased relationships with key partners organisations opinion formers and stakeholders to promote the ADF portfolio partnership work in the UK and offers opportunities for UK organisations.

Develops a network of relationships with organisations capable of delivering ADF projects and supporting them to develop capacity in international work as appropriate.

Identifies and manages the organisation production compliance and submission of high quality market responsive bids/tenders/proposals/sponsorship appeals and ensuring timely and appropriate input from all necessary internal stakeholders/experts/functional advisors.

Champions an inclusive organisational culture with opportunities for continuous professional development.

Actively promote the British Councils antiracism action plan and EDI strategy.

Requirements of the role:

Detailed knowledge of and proven experience of working at a senior level in the UKs Architecture Design or Fashion sector

UK based network of contacts within the Architecture Design & Fashion sector
Experience in writing technical Proposals or sections of crossdisciplinary proposals within the ADF sector
Demonstrate planning commissioning and managing programmes and projects delivered through thirdparty organisations

Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on 20th April 2025 UK Time.

Interviews will be held around the middle of May.

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion(EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from underrepresented groups in particular but not exclusively on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council iscommitted 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; these will include qualification checks reference checks identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Councils Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email

Please 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.