Project & Partnerships 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.

The Role:

This role is an exciting opportunity to work with the Ireland team in our cultural relations work in Arts and Education (higher education and non-formal education).

The Project & Partnerships Manager role purpose comprises:

• developing and managing stakeholder relationships
• convening and brokering projects
• and includes business development work on our portfolio in Ireland.

The British Council office in Ireland is located in the EU Region of the British Council global network. We are the only global network office to share a language and a land border with the UK and in this context we have an exciting relationship with the UK Region the EU Region and the wider global network of the British Council.

Our work sits within a larger programme of multi-country programme activity in the EU region and the Project & Partnerships Manager will liaise regularly with colleagues across countries in the network.

Accountabilities:

Relationship & Stakeholder management:

• Nurtures and develops strong relationships with partners and key stakeholders within and outside country ranging across UK government and Irish government including FCDO DCMS DfE DFAT arms length bodies and key representative organisations in the sectors we work in providing sector expertise at a country level and feeding relevant insight upwards.
• Identifies and secures new partners and stakeholders that are aligned to British Council purpose values and programmes.
• Represents British Council in country as a recognised credible authority on Arts and/or Education to external stakeholders and audiences.
• Provides inputs for well-informed and up-to-date briefings for senior colleagues on current and emerging themes in Arts/ Education in country.
• Works with colleagues in the region to influence decision-making across regional Arts / Education in Cultural Engagement building strong internal relationships and networks within the British Council working to develop a strong self-supporting eco-system across Regions.
• Understands the importance of Marcomms in Relationship and Stakeholder Management and drives Marcomms for Ireland across a range of platforms and contacts.

Business development:

• Contributes to business and partnership development for the portfolio aligning with country/regional and corporate priorities systems and processes.
• Applies due diligence requirements to potential partners.
• Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities.
• Manages network of associate advisors consultants and partners.
• Embeds effective processes standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management.
• Manages or supports the development of high-quality bids/ proposals.
• Participates in contract negotiations with partners and clients and prepares agreements such as non-disclosure pre-bid contract and partner and consultant agreements.
• Ensures timely reporting and communication on externally-funded contracts/grant funded initiatives.
• Participates in programme and project reviews and closure activities helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business.

Project Management:

• Leads on country portfolio planning working closely with senior leadership regional and in country colleagues ensuring portfolio aligns to global strategic framework and is tailored for in country relevance/delivery.
• Owns and delivers Project Management Plans for Arts/ Education portfolio work.
• Identifies risks in a project or programme and puts together mitigation strategies with SRO.
• Responsible for internal and client procurement contracting compliance and reporting.
• Checks and reports on compliance managing procurement on a project/programme.
• Responsible for portfolio data management including timely data entry quality assurance of data undertaking basic analysis of monitoring data and developing progress reports to meet funding needs.
• Undertakes programme-specific data collection as needed. This includes working with colleagues to identify monitoring and evaluation indicators and tools for data collection quality assuring all data and undertaking basic analysis.

Commercial and Financial Management:

• Ensures sound financial planning working closely with finance teams to ensure British Council and client financial year plans are up to date.
• Responsible for accurate and timely monthly (re)forecasting is in place monitoring reports in the SAP system on actuals monitoring outstanding purchase orders reviewing commitments analysing and commenting on reasons for variances to plan and recommending corrective actions.
• Monitors project finances including budget forecasting project reconciliation and financial reporting.
• Leads on British Council partner or client reporting and ensures reports are delivered on time to budget and to a high standard.
• Compliance to BC financial policies and procedures.

Equality Inclusion & Diversity (EDI):

• Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture being aware of your own biases and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably with support for peoples well-being and mental health

• Understand the British Councils approach to equality diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.

Role specific knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Specialist knowledge and developed understanding of trends and practices in Arts and/ or Education in country.

Desirable:

• Specialist knowledge and developed understanding of trends and practices in Arts and/ or Education in the UK.
• Additional language(s).
• Experience of living and working in the UK and / or other countries.
• Experience of working in cultural relations and cultural diplomacy.
• Experience of working in Irish or UK government.

Role Specific Skills:

• Intermediate experience in developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships and partnerships in Arts and/or Education.
• Intermediate experience in leading managing and delivering high-quality complex projects from start to finish on time and within budget in Arts and/or Education.
• Intermediate experience in experience of monitoring managing and reporting project finance and compliance in Arts and/or Education.
• Intermediate experience in procurement monitoring and evaluation in Arts and/or Education.
• Intermediate experience in marketing and communications in Arts and/or Education.
• Fluent English

Education: Graduate and Postgraduate

Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 IST/18:29 UK Time on Monday 10 November 2025

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

Important Information:

Pay Band: 6

Country/Location: Dublin Ireland

Department: Arts (International Ops - country & regional reporting lines)

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (1 year)

Starting Salary:The gross annual salary for this post is 41040

Requirements:
Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing legal right to work in Ireland.

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 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 Councils Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application please email