Head of Market

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.

Role Purpose

This role is responsible for setting strategic E&E plans for delivering products and services to the relevant market, identifying and converting revenue opportunities to drive significant growth and/or sustainability, and improving customer experience in line with global brand, product, and service standards. It ensures market plans align with organisational strategies, owns the market P&L, and fosters collaboration across functions to achieve business, financial, customer, and growth targets.

English & Examinations (E&E) is one of British Council’s two global Strategic Business Units (SBUs), supporting its mission to build trust in the UK through education, governance, culture, English language learning, and internationally recognised UK qualifications and skills. E&E aims to be the global authority in high-quality English language teaching, learning and assessment and the international distributor of choice for professional and school qualifications. As a commercially run business generating over £700 million annually, E&E contributes significant financial surpluses to the British Council’s sustainability. E&E delivers its global strategy through collaboration between Proposition, which provides the integrated learning and assessment products and services; Network, which translates global strategy into relevant market plans and manages market profitability; and Functions, which develop functional strategies to deliver global priorities efficiently and effectively.

Role Accountabilities

Leadership & Strategy: Provide inspiring leadership and coaching across market and cross-functional teams, role-modelling British Council values and promoting EDI, high performance, transparency, performance, and compliance. Represent the E&E Market within the country, secure stakeholder support, and lead the development and execution of the joint E&E Business Plan in alignment with global strategies, local customer needs, market propositions, revenue targets, and sustainable growth opportunities. Monitor academic and teaching staff performance and resource allocation, identify growth opportunities and risks, drive customer experience, satisfaction, retention and conversion, and act as legal representative or board member where required.

Stakeholder & Commercial Management: Build effective relationships with Proposition, Customer Management, Global Operations, Marketing, International Operations, Government Relations, Professional Services, and B2O Sales teams to ensure market plans, SLAs/KPIs, customer outcomes, marketing initiatives, operational delivery, government/B2B partnerships, resourcing, and sales targets are achieved. Own and manage the market P&L, revenue targets, investments, budgets, resource allocation, cost control, profitability, and corrective actions, while identifying opportunities for cost savings and process improvement.

Performance, Analysis & Risk Management: Regularly assess market and financial performance against KPIs, strategic goals, and revenue targets using data-driven analysis, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership. Identify and resolve issues across strategy, products, and operational delivery, using root-cause analysis and cross-functional collaboration to implement corrective actions. Proactively identify and mitigate risks to market plans and revenue, remove barriers to execution, and drive continuous improvement, operational excellence, and sustainable market performance.

Qualifications and Experience

Essentials:

• Relevant degree in business.
• Strong senior leadership and people management capability, with experience leading complex, cross‑functional and matrixed teams.
• Proven experience in a commercial leadership role with full P&L accountability for a medium to large market.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience driving growth, managing investment decisions and ensuring cost control and profitability.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders, including government and institutional partners.
• Demonstrated track record in improving customer experience, satisfaction, retention and conversion through effective strategy and delivery.
  
   

Desirables:

• Marketing or a related field, or equivalent senior leadership experience.
• Experience working in international or multi‑market environments, particularly within education or assessment.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, customer needs and competitive landscapes in relevant sectors.
• Experience contributing to or shaping global or regional business strategy.
   

Language Requirement

• Written and verbal proficiency in English is required, as British Council systems and global processes operate in English.

Important Information

• Location: Kazakhstan
• British Council Pay band: 7
• Contract type: Indefinite
• Proof of Identity requirements & right to work in the country: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the stated location. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not provided. 

• Application closing date: Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 23:29 Kazakhstan time (23:59 IST) 

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 askhr@britishcouncil.org