Arts Projects Manager - Qatar : Hourly Paid

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

 
Contract: Hourly Paid (Non-Permanent Worker)
Location: Qatar
Company: British Council

Role Purpose
Implementation of projects with a level of complexity funded by British Council or by another client or funding mechanism. Leads the successful delivery of a range of arts and culture projects from start to finish including managing the contract or project plan, managing client or internal stakeholders, successfully achieving reporting and meeting compliance standards. This will include business development, fundraising and bidding responsibilities.
 
Role Context
This role sits within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU).    

CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locates our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.

All programme management roles deliver activities and projects within this global programme and strategic framework. Our programmes are funded by the British Council’s grant in aid, through partnerships and external clients.   

The British Council has a contextualised programme and project management framework with clear standards and procedures for programme management set out by the CE Centre of Excellence. This framework is in line with Cabinet office functional standard for project delivery, FCDO Operating Framework  and the Association for Project Management Body of Knowledge.   
 
Main Accountabilities

Relationship & Stakeholder management
•    Has relationships with delivery partners and stakeholders within country and is able to procure services and contract delivery partners.
•    Holds suppliers to account for delivering against contract.
•    Build strong internal relationships and networks

Commercial and Financial Management  
•    Ensure sound financial planning, working closely with finance teams to ensure British Council and client financial year plans are up to date. 
•    Ensure accurate and timely monthly (re)forecasting is in place,  by running regular reports in the SAP system on actuals, monitoring outstanding purchase orders, reviewing commitments, analysing and commenting on reasons for variances to plan and recommending corrective actions.
•    Monitoring monthly finances, including correct expenditure, ensuring the P2P process is being followed and correcting any mis-postings or journals needed.
•    Lead on British Council, partner or client reporting (including, with Finance Manager, financial reporting) and ensure reports are delivered on time, to budget and to a high standard.
•    Compliance to British Council financial policies and procedures.
 

Project Management 
•    Supports the identification and development of professional networks, relationships and partnerships to increase the British Council’s impact and reputation. 
•    Ensures high quality and accurate pipeline data for country/pillar.
•    Conducts specific pipeline and partner/competitor analysis to contribute to business development planning and prioritisation.
•    Provides support with development of new business proposals, ensuring that internal and external professional standards are met.
•    Secure sponsorship, partnership and funding for some of the agreed activities and events
 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
•    To actively Contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health. 
•    Using EDI tools at all stages of the project
•    Understand the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.

Language requirements
•    C1 level English (Minimum/essential)
•    Arabic (desirable)

Person specification 

Qualifications 
•    Foundation level Project Management certificate or equivalent work experience. (Desirable) 

Role specific knowledge and experience (Minimum/essential)
•    Experience of managing projects from start to finish and familiarity with project life cycles. 
•    Understanding of procurement, evaluation and reporting requirements of projects. 
•    Proven experience of managing project finances. 
•    Experience of managing stakeholders. 
•    Project management qualification desirable. 
•    Experience working in project or programme management. 
•    Experience of using technology n project delivery.
•    Good understanding and experience of supporting monitoring and evaluation.
•    Experience in fundraising and sponsorship for events.

Role specific skills 
•    Arts and Culture project management
•    Business Development skills
•    Understanding Qatar culture and arts sector 
•    Understanding of UK Culture sector is a plus

British Council Core Competencies
•    Managing projects (level 2): Examines project data and performance, reporting on progress and recommending corrective action as needed.
•    Communicating and Influencing (level 2): Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences.
•    Managing risk (level 2): Has track record of identifying and highlighting risks and suggesting mitigating actions.
•    Account and Partnership management (level 2): Communicates regularly with diverse stakeholders, customers and/or partners to build mutual understanding and trust.
•    Planning and organising (level 2): Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.
•    Managing Finance and resources (level 2): Uses corporate financial systems and processes appropriately as part of the job and on behalf of a team.
•    Commercial and business development (level 2): Research markets and conducts cost/benefit analyses to identify new opportunities or recommend improvements to current initiatives.
 

British Council values and behaviours
British council values and behaviours are applicable across our organisation, in all roles and at all levels. They are important because they say what we stand for at the British Council and help us to deliver our strategy. We use them to guide our decision making, as well as guiding how we treat one another and the people we work with. These will be assessed in the selection process. Our values are: Open and Committed; Expert and Inclusive; Optimistic and Bold. 

The behaviours for each values pair can be found on our Intranet SharePoint site for internal staff and at our Careers portal for external applicants.

 
Further Information
•    Number of positions: 1(One)
•    Pay Band:  Grade 6 / G
•    Department: Cultural Engagement - Arts & Culture
•    Location:   QATAR-Doha
•    Contract type:  Hourly Paid (Non-Permanent Worker). 
•    Contract duration- 6 months (July 2025 – January 2026)
•    Other:  This role is open to candidates who have right to work and live in Qatar. There is no relocation or sponsorship support.
•    Background check: Selected candidate will undergo appropriate police checks and must obtain three satisfactory references.
•    Closing date: 23 June 2025

 Notes:
*  Please note that all applications should be submitted only in English.
*  It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment.
 

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

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; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.