Country Director Senegal

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.

Country Director Senegal, overseeing Francophone Africa

Location: Dakar, Senegal
Contract Type: Two (2) Year Fixed Term Contract

Pay Grade: 8

Closing date: 26 March 2025 at 20:59 Senegal Time 

Requirements: You must have the legal right to work in Senegal at the time of application.  We are unable to support with visa sponsorship and relocation.

Role Context - About The Team:

The country context, outcomes we are working to for Arts and Culture, English Programmes and Education for the next three years, and alignment with His Majesty’s Government. The Country Director is based in Senegal, and delivery into Francophone Africa will be done remotely and supported by the region/Geographic Network directorate.

The role will be responsible for a broad range of British Council activities and stakeholders within the Country across Arts and Culture, English programmes, Teaching and Exams. Country activity and employee numbers in Senegal are medium in scale, with responsibility to provide support to other activities in the region.

The role will involve fostering coordination and collaboration across Departments and teams

Role will also work under some guidance from the Regional Director and Global Sector Leads.

Role Purpose - The Job:

Through an in-depth understanding of [Senegal, Francophone Africa] and the UK, lead the development and delivery of effective, sustainable and corporately aligned cultural relations between the two geographies, drawing on the UK’s cultural assets and thereby strengthening awareness of, positive attitudes towards and collaboration with the wider UK.

The main areas of responsibility include:

• UK and country insight and intelligence to identify cultural relations opportunities.
• Strategy and/or planning: Shaping, monitoring & delivering the whole country British Council strategy, narrative and brand - our cultural relations response
• Business development: Identifying and leveraging partnership and contract opportunities to deliver the strategy, achieve business and growth targets
• Relationship and Stakeholder management: Managing stakeholders: FCDO, UK Missions, devolved administrations, representatives of UK institutions and sectors
• Leadership & management: Lead the Senegal team. Overall duty of care

Brand and market positioning: Protect trust in the British Council and the UK

By role modelling inclusive leadership, the role will be unifying across all areas of the British Council, across Cultural Engagement, Teaching, Exams and Professional Service functions.

Main Accountabilities:

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

• Has an understanding of the UK and country context, comparators and potential partners.
• Is able to identify opportunities and support business development to increase cultural relations impact through networks and insights.Shares insight widely and uses this to influence regional and global strategies.
• Champions a wider understanding of the country context in the organisation.

2. Strategy and/or planning

• Develop and deliver a strong medium-term strategy and annual country plan with a compelling articulation of our niche and value across all areas.
• Strategy is financially sustainable, aligned with and informs regional and pillar strategies to amplify our impact and ensure our cultural relations response is seen as cohesive. Programme plans are informed and agreed, performance is monitored, evaluated and reported against agreed KPIs. Mitigation is sought where agreed plans are at risk. Lessons learned are reflected in future plans.
• Is accountable for setting and achieving targets and business performance.
• Is the Senior Responsible Officer for certain programmes.

3. Business development

• Is the public face of the British Council in-country, strengthening the UK’s and the British Council’s reputation.
• Secures and maintains partnership and contract opportunities which align with our strategy, achieve business and growth targets, through effective market, client and partner insights and networking.
• In partnership with the region and global teams, meets financial and non-financial targets, and identifies the right balance between high-impact quality global programme delivery and developing new business based on market insight and British Council priorities.

4. Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Identify in-country and UK-based stakeholders. Ensure they understand and value our insight, networks and impact for supporting their objectives and UK objectives.
• Our strategy and plans are consulted on, shared and agreed with the UK Embassy. Contribute to the Embassy’s business planning and KPIs. Advocate for and aim to be the SRO for cultural, educational and English items in the Embassy’s Plan.
• Builds and maintains senior relationships, following purposeful global account management, drawing upon skills and knowledge from country, regional and global colleagues.

5. Leadership & management

• Manage and champion change within the country team.
• Role model the British Council values, open and committed, expert and inclusive, optimistic and old. 
• Create an inclusive organisational culture, putting our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) into action.
• Being aware of biases and taking action to mitigate these, engaging in associated learning and development. Staff and direct reports feel empowered and enabled to deliver excellence, are valued and treated equitably - feeling part of one operation.
• Staff understand and operate within the Code of Conduct, values and behaviours. The Country Leadership Team is led effectively to ensure successful delivery and compliance. Members of the CLT are supported to meet their objectives and development potential.
• HR issues are managed effectively, in accordance with our values
• Crises are managed effectively through the establishment and leadership of Incident Management Teams.

6. Brand and market positioning

• Risks across the operation (safeguarding, fraud, safety and security, etc)  are monitored, managed and escalated appropriately.
• Compliance with policies and processes is modelled and championed, including commitments to EDI, Safeguarding, Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment, Anti-Racism and Environmental protection, and staff are held to account.
• Resources are used effectively and demonstrate value for money.
• Local legal and regulatory obligations are understood, managed and monitored, in consultation with UK specialist teams and drawing on local professional advice as required
• Duty of care obligations to staff, customers and partners are effectively exercised.

Requirements Of The Role:

Minimum/essential

• Qualified to degree level, or equivalent by experience.
• Recent experience of working in-country and an understanding of the government, education and culture sectors and decision-making processes.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the UK’s international policies and priorities in relevant sectors (Arts & Culture, Education, English) and the UK’s culture.
• Experience living/working in the UK

Language Requirements:

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required (C1 English)
• French – ability to operate at the C1 level or is learning to achieve this level.

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