Senior Arts Manager

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.

• Job Title: Senior Arts Manager
• Pay Band – 7
• Closing Date – 22 April 26
• Location – Mumbai, Chennai
• Contract Type: Indefinite Contract Local

Purpose of job:

• Represents the British Council’s Arts and Creative Industries work nationally, leading programmes like Art in Action and Creative Growth.
• Manages and delivers arts projects, builds partnerships, and contributes expertise to shape the country’s arts portfolio.
• Collaborates with national and global teams to influence regional arts strategy and support key engagements.

Main opportunities/challenges for this role 

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:

Sector/subject expertise

• Demonstrates an understanding of and interest in the arts and creative industries sector, and uses this insight to inform programme design and partnerships.
• Uses their own expert knowledge on the arts and creative industries, intelligence and insight from other sector stakeholders, opinion formers and funders to support the ongoing development of global arts programmes that will meet the specific needs of the country while also providing value to a diverse range of UK arts and creative industry organisations.
• Through ongoing relationships with the Global Arts team, builds and maintains good understanding of UK arts and creative industry sector priorities as well as FCDO and other HMG priorities. 
• Represents British Council in country as a recognised, credible authority in Arts and the creative industries to external stakeholders and audiences. 
• Provides input for up-to-date and well-informed senior-level briefings on current and emerging themes in arts and creative industries in country.
• Identifies and develops opportunities for the UK Arts sector to work in and collaborate with peers in country

Leadership & management

• Actively works across the matrix in the Arts network, empowering and enabling colleagues to collaborate on programmes, while promoting equity, diversity and inclusion
• Is responsible for assuring quality and impact and managing issues and risks relating to relevant programme grants, partner agreements and supplier contracts.
• Uses digital platforms and technological advancements to improve efficiency, impact and quality of activity design and delivery
• Manages relevant Arts portfolio day-to-day ensuring global standards on programme and contract management are achieved 
• Direct line management and matrix management support provided to Arts teams in country/across the region as required.
• Ensures effective financial management and compliance on relevant Arts portfolio -manages and delivers to target, budgets, profitability, timelines, and to corporate quality standards in all areas
• Contributes to and inspires arts initiatives which actively drive forward to the British Council’s anti-racism action plan. Is accountable for Arts delivering to EDI strategy (to mainstream EDI and become anti-racist in our cultures and practices within our organisation and in our programmes.)

Strategy and/or planning

• Supports with planning process for country arts portfolio within region
• Management of design, development, delivery and closure of projects and or programmes as relevant
• Develops and nurtures internal relationships across Cultural Engagement to ensure strategic objectives are aligned, understood and achieved
• Considers the role of digital products, services and channels in optimising the impact and sustainability of the portfolio, working with regional marketing and digital colleagues

Relationship & Stakeholders

• Builds and maintains critical country partner relationships relevant to the Arts, and wider cultural sectors, to maintain an excellent understanding of relevant themes and issues in the arts and creative industries. Uses this insight to identify new opportunities and partnerships for the British Council, and build favourability for the UK.  
• Builds and maintains a broad, diverse and dynamic network of key creative and cultural sector representatives in country, including artists, creative professionals, creative hubs, arts organisations, arts advocacy groups, intermediary and sector bodies, etc.
• Builds and maintains the sector institutional relationships that will help open doors for artistic collaboration, cultural exchange and creative economy work
• Represents British Council Arts externally and internally

Brand and market positioning

• Promotes and positions the diversity of the UK arts and creative industries sector in country
• Ensures British Council’s value proposition and support to the UK arts sector in country is clear, agreed and communicated.
• Ensures that British Council’s reputation for quality and as a valued not-for-profit partner remains high and contributes to our organisational mission of building trust between the UK and other countries.
• Works closely with colleagues and experts in the SBU to feed market/customer insights into the programme development planning cycle, to ensure the British Council’s offer is market relevant for the country and the UK, demand-led and consistent with the British Council and FCDO objectives.
• Contributes to the development of internal and external communications materials to highlight impactful stories from the country Arts portfolio

Business development

• Contributes to business and partnership development for the portfolio, aligning with country/regional and corporate priorities, systems and processes
• Supports the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners.
• 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.

Programme management

• Supports country portfolio planning in collaboration with Arts leadership and operational colleagues
• Applies strong programme and project management practices to ensure effective delivery across Arts activities.
• Ensures activities under the global Arts programmes are tailored to country context
  Contributes to financial oversight of the Arts portfolio and interprets financial information
• Holds delivery partners, consultants and suppliers to account, including supply chain management
• Develops and monitors project management plans
• Manages contractual obligations where relevant
• Maintains governance frameworks and ensures compliance across programmes
• Oversees procurement, grants management and due diligence processes

Language Requirement: English and one regional Indian language

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/Essential:

• Specialist knowledge and understanding of current trends and practices in arts and creative industry in the country
• Experience of managing national arts/ creative industry projects  
• In depth understanding of and interest in the arts and creative industries in country
• Experience of working in and/or with the arts and/or creative industries sector 
• Active and up-to-date network of diverse arts sector contacts
• Experience of maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance structures
• Able to lead digital events on basic platforms (Microsoft Teams) ensuring all corporate standards are met, including those for accessibility and safeguarding

Desirable

• Understanding and appreciation of current arts trends and practices in the UK 
• Experience of managing  international arts projects  

Additional Job Requirement :

• Minimum of three days working from the office (Chennai or Mumbai)
• Attendance at evening or weekend arts events to build knowledge and networks as agreed with line manager
• Regular domestic travel and some opportunities for international travel

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

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 Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org