Country Director Ukraine

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.

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Country Director Ukraine

Role Purpose

Through an in-depth understanding of Ukraine 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. By role modelling inclusive leadership, the role will be unifying across all areas of the British Council, whether Cultural Engagement, Teaching and Exams or Professional Service functions. 

Role context  

• British Council Impact Categorisation: Top 12  
• Cultural Engagement Income Category: Accelerate       
• English and Exams Income Category: Reach

The war in Ukraine is a pivotal geopolitical moment both regionally and globally. Ensuring that Ukraine survives the war as a viable, independent and sovereign state, and that it emerges successfully from the recovery and reconstruction phase that we expect to follow is of vital importance to the UK’s security, influence and, ultimately, prosperity. While the context is dynamic, the needs to which we will respond in Arts and Culture, Education and English include:

• Professional development of English language teachers with the framework of ongoing reforms in basic education
• Demand from teachers for skills to manage new classroom challenges arising from the war (Language for Resilience)
• Protection of cultural heritage (both tangible and intangible) and survival of key cultural institutions, especially those which emerged following the Revolution of Dignity in 2014
• Need for Ukrainian voices to be heard more internationally, including in parts of the world where narratives are contested
• Government of Ukraine’s new law foregrounding English as the official language of business and international co-operation.
• Aspirations of partners in the cultural sector and higher education to move once and for all beyond post-Soviet models of management
• Capacity building for the higher education in the context of a likely major “optimisation” programme
• Skills for young people to contribute to recovery and reconstruction
• Demand for high quality provision of English language teaching and UK assessment products

The Ukraine country will operate from our new Office in Kyiv (which is currently being fitted out and will open in March), though the number of colleagues able to work there each day is capped for safety reasons. Some colleagues work remotely from other parts of Ukraine, and one remains supported to work in Warsaw.

The successful candidate will join the British Embassy Kyiv Platform in Ukraine, and act as the Cultural Attache, as well as holding British Council responsibilities.  The posting is unaccompanied and subject to the stringent security measures in place due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.  This includes mandatory adherence to security protocols, restricted travel within the Kyiv Green Zone and limited travel across Ukraine

Main accountabilities

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

• Has a thorough understanding of the country context, through extensive networks of opinion leaders and formers and other sources, and identifies opportunities to increase cultural relations impact through a similar understanding of the UK
• Has a sound understanding of comparators and (potential) partners to enrich insight and support business development and cultural relations impact, including competition in the ‘soft power’ space
• Ensures insight is organisational, it is shared and accessible to the organisation, rather than retained by the individual and the country 
• Insight is used to influence global strategies

Shaping, monitoring & delivering the whole country British Council strategy, narrative and brand - our cultural relations response

• Develop and deliver a strong medium-term (3-year) strategy and annual/multi-year country plan for Ukraine, with support of marketing leads and relevant members of the country team. Strategy and plans are based on insight and include a compelling articulation of our strengths, niche and value, drawing these from across all areas of British Council, ensuring we aim for the strongest possible cultural relations impact
• Strategy and narrative are aligned with, and inform, agreed strategy/global programmes and narratives to enable us to amplify our impact appropriately and ensure our cultural relations response is seen as cohesive
• Sector business plans and activities within Ukraine are informed by drawing on a wide range of sources, challenged and agreed. High-level performance of these components of the country plan is monitored and evaluated against agreed Key Performance Indicators, reporting as required. Assurance of adequate mitigation is sought and obtained (up the management line if necessary) where successful delivery of agreed plans is at risk.
• Strategies and plans are financially sustainable and reviewed as appropriate to ensure they reflect changing internal and external realities.
• Is the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO)/Programme Director for an agreed number of important programmes.
• Lessons learned are reflected in future plans.
• Accountabilities for setting and achieving targets and business performance 

Identifying and leveraging partnership and contract opportunities to deliver the strategy

• Is seen as a strong public face of the British Council in country leading and contributing to relevant public debate in ways which strengthen the UK’s and the British Council’s reputation and position the British Council to work in partnership with like-minded organisations.
• Secures partnership and contract opportunities which align to our strategy and benefit the British Council and UK, through effective market, client and partner insights and networking.
• Builds and maintains strong senior relationships with key agencies, partners and individuals to support the achievement of British Council global and country strategies and plans.  Relationship management will follow the planned and purposeful global account management approach embedded within the Partnerships and Fundraising Framework, and draw upon skills, knowledge and insight from appropriate country and global colleagues.
• Meets CE country financial and non-financial targets as agreed with pillar leads and Geographic Director.
• In partnership with the global business and pillar leads, identifies the right balance for the country between high impact and high-quality global programme delivery and developing new business based on market insight and British Council priorities.
• Accountabilities for developing an integrated income plan, pipeline and pursuit and ‘Reach Market for E&E’ 

Managing stakeholders: FCDO, other UK Delegations, devolved administrations, representatives of UK institutions

• Identify key in-country and UK based stakeholders at the Mission/s. These must include, as a minimum, HMA and DHM with whom CD must maintain proactive contact – at least once per month with regular participation in SLT / Heads of Section meetings
• Key HMG stakeholders are actively consulted on our Country Strategy and Plan, which are shared and agreed with the Mission. Equally, we will contribute to the Mission’s business planning and KPIs and aim to be the SRO for any cultural, educational and English sub-items in the Mission’s Strategic Plan, and to advocate for such activity as part of the Mission’s activities.
• Stakeholders understand and value the British Council’s insight, networks and impact and recognise the British Council’s value in supporting their objectives and those of the wider UK
• Accountabilities for country relationship management of all strategic stakeholders 

Lead the Ukraine team. Overall duty of care

• Support and champion change within the country team when needed, and instil a culture which embraces continuous change
• To consistently create an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases and take action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health, particularly through periods of significant change.
• Have a deep understanding of and take accountability for putting the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism into practice. To make time for and visibly engage with learning and development related to EDI and anti-racism.
• Others are held to account to deliver to the same values and behaviours
• Staff feel empowered and enabled to deliver excellence
• All staff feel part of one British Council country/territory operation (as well as part of a specific sector or professional function team), are aware of the British Council’s overall purpose and its strategy and narrative for the country/territory
• All staff understand and operate within the Code of Conduct
• The Country Leadership Team (CLT), representing the local and Professional Functions, is led effectively (even where members report to roles outside the country operation) to ensure the delivery of successful cultural relations and compliance across the operation
• Members of CLT are supported to meet their objectives and development potential (even where they report to roles outside the country operation)
• All day-to-day country HR issues, including employee relations, relations with staff bodies and staff well-being, are managed effectively and in accordance with our values
• Crises are managed effectively through the establishment and leadership of Incident Management Teams

Protect trust in the British Council and the UK

• Risks (safeguarding, fraud, IGRM, safety and security etc) are managed effectively across the operation and evidence of this monitoring and challenge is clear (e.g. through recorded reviews of the risk register). Concerns are escalated up the management line appropriately
• Compliance with British Council policies and processes, (including amongst teams reporting outside the country operation) is modelled and championed and staff are held to account for the same
• Our commitments to EDI, the Anti-Racism Action Plan, and Environmental protection are delivered
• Our resources are used effectively and demonstrate value for money
• In consultation with UK legal, status and tax teams, and drawing on local professional advice as required, ensure our local legal and regulatory obligations are understood, managed and monitored to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Our duty of care obligations (e.g. safety) to staff dependents, customers and partners are effectively exercised

Person specification

British Council core competencies (sometimes referred to as Core Skills)

• Managing People (Level 5): Leads a major unit - Leads a major business unit or function, setting its structure and processes, defining future workforce requirements, promoting diversity in the workplace and reshaping the workforce to meet needs. 
• Managing finance & resources (Level 5): Evaluates performance - Evaluates resource allocation and use over time, to understand business and service performance and assess future opportunities and constraints. 
• Managing Risk (Level 4): Exemplifies strategic risk management - Has track record of balancing and mitigating risks in strategic and business plans and of providing a clear model of best practice to the business area/function. 
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 5): Influences at the highest level - Influences and manages relationships at the highest levels to build mutual understanding, shapes perceptions of the British Council and creates positive change over the medium term. 
• Managing Projects (Level 5): Assures project standards - Develops and ensures the implementation of high-quality project management disciplines across functions, teams and business areas. 
• Planning and organising (Level 4): Plans for the longer term - Shapes forward plans for 3-5 years ahead for a major unit or multiple units, taking account of British Council strategy and the need to manage contingencies, risks and impact. 
• Analysing Data and problems (Level 4): Solves complex problems - Able to apply or devise specialised concepts and methods of analysis, or commission them from others.  Understands the output and uses the results to make clear and/or solve complex business, market or policy problems. 
• Managing Accounts and Partnerships (Level 5): Shapes strategic relationships - Sets overall direction for the formation and management of strategic relationships, collaborations and contracts with stakeholders, customers and partners in a significant market. 
  
  

Role specific skills

• Business Development: Uses a range of market analysis, research and business intelligence to develop and implement across a group of diverse products/ programmes/ services and markets to meet British Council objectives.  
• Inclusive Leadership: Leads teams to create new solutions to address future challenges. Actively seeks out and considers diverse perspectives to inform decision-making and collaborates more effectively with others. 
• Geographical Knowledge and Experience: Connects complex information on geopolitics and demographics, establishes a vision, anticipating changes internationally, whilst effecting change through priorities. 

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• Ability to balance diplomatic and cultural relations stakeholder-facing responsibility with commercial priorities
• Commercial acumen and an understanding of business performance and financial drivers

Desirable

• Experience of living and leadership in a fragile context 

Language Requirements

• C1 English
• B1 or higher Ukrainian desirable, or the ability to achieve, maintain or improve this level

Education

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.  

Professional Qualification and Certification

Minimum/essential

• Qualified to degree level, or equivalent by experience.

Additional job requirements

• International Assignment – 2 years. UK Nationality required.
• This role is based, unaccompanied, in Kyiv on a 6-week at post, 2-week break rotation. This is the FCDO’s stipulation, under whose duty of care we operate, and not negotiable (although our office and the CD’s accommodation are not on the FCDO platform).  
• Regular domestic/international travel 
• Attendance at some evening or weekend events. 
• This role will require security clearance at DV (Developed Vetting) level.

Further Information

• Pay Band: LMFGS
• Contract Type: International Assignment – 2 years.
• Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
• Closing Date:  Applications will close on Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 20:59 UK Time 
• Eligibility: UK Nationality required.

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