Senior Digital Engagement Manager, ISM

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to 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.

You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Role Purpose:

Lead and coordinate participant-facing digital engagement across the International Student Mobility (ISM) programme, supporting effective participant journeys, engagement and programme delivery across ISM pathways. Working as an integrated enabling function, you will connect programme, marketing and digital delivery activity to create aligned and effective participant engagement across platforms and channels.

You will work closely with programme teams, the Senior Digital Delivery Manager and marketing colleagues to support coordinated audience journeys, continuous improvement, engagement effectiveness and audience insight.

Role Accountabilities:

Participant Engagement and Programme Coordination

• Lead and coordinate participant-facing digital engagement across ISM platforms and programme delivery.
• Work with programme teams, the Senior Digital Delivery Manager and marketing colleagues to support aligned participant journeys and coordinated engagement across systems and channels.
• Support the planning and coordination of audience engagement across programme delivery teams and participant-facing platforms.
• Coordinate participant engagement approaches, audience segmentation and engagement activity to support programme objectives, participant experience and operational effectiveness.
• Champion participant experience across programme platforms and engagement activity throughout the participant lifecycle.

Marketing and Digital Engagement Alignment

• Work with marketing, content and digital colleagues to support effective programme engagement across digital platforms and channels.
• Support alignment between programme priorities, audience engagement and wider British Council digital and marketing approaches.
• Contribute to audience insight, engagement analysis and continuous improvement of participant-facing digital activity.

Operational Improvement and Insight

• Monitor engagement activity and identify opportunities to improve participant experience, audience engagement and operational effectiveness.
• Support the operational use of participant engagement platforms, audience tools and digitally enabled engagement.
• Identify risks, issues and dependencies relating to participant-facing digital engagement and support mitigation and escalation.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Support collaborative and integrated working across programme, digital delivery and marketing teams.
• Contribute to coordinated planning, governance and operational alignment across participant-facing programme activity.
• Promote safeguarding, compliance, accessibility, data protection and risk awareness across participant-facing digital engagement.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist culture, recognising and addressing personal biases and supporting equitable practices.
• Ensure ISM activities and communications are accessible and inclusive for diverse global audiences.
• Engage with EDI and anti-racism learning and development and apply this in day-to-day work.
• Support a welcoming and respectful environment where all participants are valued and able to participate.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Recognises and reduces bias, values diverse perspectives, and applies empathy, intercultural awareness and evidence-based decision-making to address equality barriers.

Qualifications:

Professional Qualification and Certification

Professional qualification or recognised training in digital engagement, communications, marketing or programme delivery, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

Essential

• Experience leading or coordinating participant-facing digital engagement, communications or digitally enabled programme activity across complex environments.
• Experience with participant engagement platforms, CRM systems, audience tools or digitally enabled engagement channels.
• Strong understanding of participant journeys, audience engagement and digital engagement approaches across multiple platforms and channels.
• Experience collaborating across programme, marketing, digital or content-focused teams for coordinated delivery.
• Experience supporting audience engagement planning, participant communications or digitally enabled engagement.
• Strong stakeholder management, coordination and operational planning skills.
• Ability to use audience insight and engagement analysis for improvement and operational decision-making.
• Understanding of safeguarding, accessibility, compliance, data protection and participant experience considerations relating to digital engagement.

Desirable

• Experience in international education, cultural relations, international development or similarly complex partnership environments.
• Experience supporting participant engagement or audience development across international or multi-market programmes.
• Experience with CRM, participant engagement or audience insight platforms.

Language

English written and verbal proficiency is required. The British Council systems and global processes operate in English.

Important Information

Location: UK (Open to employees in all UK offices including employees already on homeworking contracts)

Contract type: Indefinite Contract (IDC)

Contract Hours: Full time - 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Pay band: PB8

Starting Annual Gross Salary: £40,179

Benefits for the UK 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 

Background Checks- Employment with the British Council is subject to satisfactory background checks, both before appointment and periodically during employment, as required. The nature and level of checks will depend on the role and applicable local laws.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Visa sponsorship, immigration support and relocation assistance are not provided for this role. Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in the recruiting country and other British Council country offices, provided they meet the right-to-work requirement.

Closing Date & Time for Applications –

1 October 2026 11:59 IST (Indian Standard Time)

1 October 2026 7:59 BST (British Summer Time)

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