Executive Assistant to Directors Cultural Engagement and Arts

We 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.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories we are on the ground in the more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Executive Assistant to Directors Cultural Engagement and Arts

The Role:

We are looking for an experienced and professional Executive Assistant who will play a pivotal role in supporting the Director Cultural Engagement 50 and Director Arts 50 and will work closely with the Directors and their global management teams to ensure Cultural Engagement (CE) delivers work to the highest standard.

This is a key role within Cultural Engagement; a primary point of contact for both directors holding relationships with external stakeholders and colleagues globally and across the British Council.

Cultural Engagement works with people in over 200 countries and territories and is on the ground in 100 countries. CE builds connections understanding and trust through our work in arts and culture education and English.

Accountabilities:

Some of the main accountabilities for this role include managing the Directors participation in meetings and events providing input into agendas and structure and liaising with stakeholders and working with internal colleagues for briefing content to ensure the Directors are properly prepared for meetings and events and have all relevant materials. You also liaise with senior managers internal stakeholders and external contacts.

A critical aspect of this role includes taking swift and concise meeting minutes. You also write and coordinate responses to correspondence as appropriate ensuring that confidential matters are managed appropriately. You manage complex diaries and prioritise meetings for internal and external contacts. Another important aspect of this role involves making travel arrangements with and on behalf of the Directors including multistop itineraries that require strategic forward planning.

The successful candidate prioritises and makes decisions on the Directors behalf. You ensure any matters are dealt with appropriately or directed to the appropriate colleague actions are followed up to completion and responses are prepared and forwarded to the Director of Cultural Engagement or the Director of Arts for signoff where appropriate.

Requirements of the role:

• Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrating assertiveness confidence and approachability
• Experience of detailed and complex diary management and executive support to one or more senior people
• Experience of meeting preparation and virtual conferencing including concise minute taking
• Experience of complex travel arrangements and reconciliation of financial claims
• Knowledge of best practice of managing emails efficiently and effectively
• Ability to work proactively and without supervision.
• Experience of SAP or a comparable financial system
• Experience of organization of conferences to function/job family skills framework where applicable
• Motivation and commitment to Equality Diversity and Inclusion and antiracism demonstrated through an understanding of the British Councils approach and of equality considerations relevant to the role and examples of behaviours and decisions or actions that contribute to a more inclusive organisational culture

Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on Sunday 4 May 2025 South Africa Time.
Interviews will be held around the last week of May.

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

Important Information:

Department:Cultural Engagement

Contract type:Indefinite (Permanent) Contract (Full time 36 hours per week).
Pay band: 7

Salary:30839 plus 3300 London Market Allowance for those based in the London area only.

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

Location: London UK.(Hybrid office and home working)

Requirements:
Please note that candidates must have the preexisting legal right to work in the UK.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

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.