Deputy Director Ukraine

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.

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Deputy Director Ukraine

Location: Kyiv Ukraine

Pay Grade: 8

Proof of Identity requirements/right to work in the country

Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in the country in which the role is based. Given that our offices have different legal status depending on the work we do in those countries we recommend that you contact HR in the country for additional information on the likelihood of securing a visa. Only at its discretion will the British Council provide support so please check first whether visa support is offered.

This role is open to UK and Ukrainian nationals.

For UK Nationals

• International Assignments
  • International Assignment: 11 nationality required.
  • This role is unaccompanied and is based in Kyiv on a 6-week at post 2-week decompression break rotation. This is the FCDOs stipulation under whose duty of care weoperate.
  • This rolewillrequire security clearance ata minimum of SC level.

UK nationals who are unable to undertake a full international assignment are eligible to apply but will be expected to spend a minimum of 2-3 weeks in Kyiv every two months.

For Ukrainian nationals

• This is an indefinite contract based in Kyiv on country-appointed terms and conditions.

Closing date: 12 May 2026 at 21:59 UK Time

Role Context - About The Team:

• British Council Impact Categorisation:Top 12

• Cultural Engagement Income Category:Accelerate

• English and Exams Income Category:Reach

The war in Ukraine is a pivotal geopolitical moment both regionally and globally. Ensuring that Ukraine survives the war asa viableindependentand sovereign state and that itemergessuccessfully from the recovery and reconstruction phase to follow is also of vital importance to the UKs security influence and ultimately prosperity.

While the context is dynamic the needs to which we respond in Arts and Culture Education and English include:

English: We focus on improving the quality of learning teaching and assessing English language skills supporting the Ukrainian Governments ambitious plans for English language reform. We work with British Embassy Kyiv to ensure that the UKs support for English language training of Ukrainian civil servants is targeted for maximum continue to scale up UK Examination Services and expand face-to-face English teaching where possible.

Education:Our work in Higher Education focuses on the development of leadership capabilitiesacrossUkraines top universities supporting the reform agenda ofthe UkraineGovernment and with a particular focus on womens connect hundreds of Ukrainian schools with schools in the UK connecting teachers and pupils (7-14 year olds) to foster cross-cultural understanding and enhance language and communication skills. Wework with the Ministry of Youth and Sport and networks of youth centres toupskillyoung peopleand empower them torebuild their communities. Our ambition is to develop new activities in schools and teacher trainingsignificantly boostour portfolio in Non-Formal Education and increase our reach in the Higher Education Sector.

Arts and Culture: Building on the foundations laid by the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture we aim to strengthen existing and develop new relationships between individual artists and institutions and to extend awareness and appreciation of Ukraines cultural identity. We support the continued development of Ukraines creative economy by sharing expertise and experience from across the UK.

Across all this work we will highlight opportunities for the UK organisations and institutions and seek to develop funding partnerships to allow us to scale up programmes for which we can demonstrate evidence of positive impact in the short to medium term.

Our Ukraineteam operatesfrom a new office in Kyiv though the number of colleagues able to work there each day is capped for safety colleagues also work remotely from other parts of Ukraine.

Role Purpose - The Job:

Through an in-depth understanding of Ukraine and the UK support the Country Director in the development and delivery of effective sustainable and corporately aligned cultural relations between the two geographies drawing on the UKs cultural assets and thereby strengthening awareness of positive attitudes towards and collaboration with the wider UK. By role modelling inclusive leadership the role will be unifying across all areas of the British Council whether Cultural Engagement Exams or Professional Service functions.

Main Accountabilities:

UK and country insight and intelligence to identify cultural relations opportunities.

• Through an understanding of British Council strategy UK priorities and the country context identifiesnetworks and opportunities to increase cultural relations impact in Ukraine across Education English and the Arts.
• Has a sound understanding of comparators and (potential) partners to enrich insight and support business development and cultural relations impact.
• Ensures insight is shared and accessible to the organisation rather than retained by the individual and is used to influence global strategies and long-term plans.

Managing external relationships and stakeholders:

Support the Country Director to:

• Represent the British Council externally including but not limited to senior Ukrainian stakeholders and partners/beneficiaries/customers international development partners and UK government partners in Ukraine and in the UK e.g. FCDO DCMS DfE.
• Maintainstrong senior relationships with key agenciespartnersand individuals to support the achievement of British Council global and country strategies and stakeholders understand and value the British Councils insight networks and impact and recognise the British Councils value in supporting their objectives.
• As required act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for key externally funded contracts to ensure effective and compliant delivery of those programmes and liaise with key clients.
• Position the British Council to work in partnership with like-minded organisations.

Identifying and leveraging partnership and contract opportunities to deliver the strategy

Support the Country Director Cultural Engagement English and Exams teams to:

• Identify new strategic income-generating opportunities across Education English and the Arts which contribute to agreed financial and impact targets and provide strategic support to proposal teams.
• Secure partnership and contract opportunities which align to British Council strategy through effective market client and partner insights and networking.
• In partnership with global business and pillar leads identifies the right balance for the country between high impact and high-quality global programme delivery and developing new business based on market insight and British Council priorities.

Leadership of Business Operations in Ukraine

• Ensure the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the British Council platform in Ukraine and compliance with British Council policies and processes.
• Responsible for maintaining clear efficient and effective processes across Business Operations functions (including Premises HR Finance Security etc) resolving operational challenges as they arise working closely with relevant country and global teams.
• Direct People management of Business Operations and Security staff in Ukraine ensure performance and development objectives are agreed and met address wellbeing and promote EDI within the team.
• In consultation with UK legal status and tax teams and drawing on local professional advice as required ensure our local legal and regulatory obligations are understood managed and monitored to ensure on-going compliance
• Ensures our resources are used effectively and demonstrate value for money.

Security and risk management

Support the Country Director to:

• Ensure risks (safeguarding fraud IGRM safety and security etc.) are managed effectively across the operation and evidence of this monitoring and challenge is clear (e.g. through recorded reviews of risk register). Concerns are escalated up the management line appropriately.
• Our duty of care obligations (e.g. safety) to staff dependents customers and partners are effectively exercised.
• Crises are managed effectively through the establishment and leadership of Incident Management Teams.
• Regularly liaise with the British Embassy and global Safety Security and Continuity teams on security and risk management in Ukraine.

Support leadership of Ukraine team

• Actively co-lead the Country Leadership Team (CLT) on areas to ensure the delivery of successful cultural relations and compliance across the country.
• Model British Council values and behaviours and hold others to account to deliver the same values and behaviours.
• Support and champion change within the country team when needed and instil a culture which embraces continuous change.
• Ensure all staff feel part of one British Council operation are aware of the British Councils overall purpose and its strategy and narrative for the country/territory and feel empowered and enabled to deliver excellence..

Requirements Of The Role:

Minimum/essential

• Experience of managing operations (including finance and security) in high-risk complex contexts.
• Experience in leading change across a large operation or multiple (dispersed) teams.
• Experience of growing and/or leading high-performing teams that model organisational values.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Desirable:

• Recent experience of working in-country and an understanding of the government education and culture sectors and decision-making processes.
• Experience of representing the British Council externally.

Language Requirements

• C1 English
• B1 or higher Ukrainian desirable or the ability to achieve maintain or improve this level

Other requirements

• Regular domestic/international travel.
• Attendance at some evening or weekend events

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