Head of UK-NG Season of Culture

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.

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2029

Pay band: 8/E

Location: Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria

Closing Date: 22nd September 2026

Requirements:

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) legal right to work in Nigeria at the time of application. Visa Sponsorship and relocation assistance is not provided.

Role Context

This Season is framed as a bilateral cultural relations programme, aligned with existing UK/Nigeria frameworks, including the MoU with the Federal Ministry of Arts Culture Tourism & Creative Economy, Transnational Education Guideline, the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and the recently launched international education strategy where creative industries and education sector are identified as priority sectors. It will build on the gains of the recently concluded State Visit of Mr. President to the UK.

This Season is proposed to respond to global shift in cultural relations, particularly in the wake of threats from hard power and shifts in global geopolitics.

Culture & education are increasingly treated as infrastructure and assets of national value and enablers of cultural relations. The Season aligns directly with the British Council’s global programme as it relates to:

• Arts (Creative Growth and Arts in Action) as tools for addressing global challenges, building trust and a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic development.
• Education as an enabler of cross-cultural understanding, mobility and development.

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.   

The Head of Season’s role sits within the Arts team of the Nigerian operation and within the Cultural Engagement (CE) sector. CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. The Season of Culture is a defined programme between now (2026) and 2028 that although well connected to our core programme of projects, extends beyond it with standalone initiatives that meets the overall objectives.

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. The Head of Seasion, within the CE sector, delivers the Season following these standards and procedures set out in this framework.    

Reporting directly to the Director of Programme Nigeria but with assurances and oversight from the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of UK/Nigeria Season, the Head of Season leads on the delivery of the UK/Nigeria Season, a major cross pillar, bilateral, cultural season convening between July 2026 to March 2029. The role will ensure that plans are realised and communicated, delivering to the British Council’s longer-term objectives, as well as supporting those of government partners, the UK Arts and Education sectors, and commercial funders of the Season. The Season will be bilateral. In terms of delivery, the Head of Season will be responsible for overseeing the British Council-funded & organized half that is delivered in Nigeria. It is envisaged that the other, in-UK half of the Season, will be funded, organized & delivered by the Nigeria Government. But there may be some overlap (eg shared projects).

Marking 84 years of UK – Nigeria diplomatic relations and presence in Nigeria and period of political transition in Nigeria, the UK/Nigeria Season 2028 will elevate the bilateral cultural relationship, provide new opportunities for UK and Nigeria individuals and organisations, and contribute to the people-to-people links between the UK and Nigeria.

The UK/Nigeria Season will be ​co-created by UK and Nigeria partners across the arts, creative economy, education, research and innovation systems. ​The Season will showcase the best of UK and Nigeria culture, support professional development across sectors, and build strong networks between the UK and Nigeria.

Role Purpose

To lead the Implementation of UK/Nigeria Season to a high standard and in compliance with British Council policies and procedures.

This role will work with colleagues in Nigeria, SSA region and the UK, and ensure that all the strands of activity involved in UK/Nigeria Season, across Arts and Higher Education are developed and delivered effectively, on time, within budget and with maximum impact and our aims are clearly articulated and widely communicated.

This will include articulating concepts, managing processes and ensuring compliance, communication and evaluation of the UK/Nigeria Season, leading business development, managing internal and external stakeholder communications. This will include feeding into regional analysis on business development targets and achievements for Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), liaising with finance and business development colleagues and helping to set up systems for the collection and dissemination of data across countries and programmes.

Main Accountabilities 

Leadership & Management

• Act as Head of UK/Nigeria Season and lead the delivery of UK/Nigeria Season range of activities across Nigeria and the UK, and ensure that this is supported by all the stakeholders
• Work closely with SRO/Country Director Nigeria, Director Programmes Nigeria, Heads of Arts, Education and English in country, Regional Arts Director, UK Festival & Season, UK Arts teams and ensure that the activities will be aligned with Nigeria Season’s outcomes and priorities
• Champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the programme and empower team members to effectively identify opportunities for mainstreaming EDI in the programme delivery.

Relationship & Stakeholders

• Responsible for identifying and management of stakeholders that will be relevant for the delivery of the Season’s priorities
• Responsible for relationships with partners/funders clients and internal stakeholders for UK/Nigeria Season
• Holds delivery partners, team members and consultants to account including through effective supply chain management.
• Maximise channels and communicate on a variety of platforms about the programme or projects.

Business Development 

• Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities. 
• Support the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners. 
• Applies due diligence requirements for potential partners.  
• Manage network of associate advisors, consultants and partners.  
• Embed effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management. 
• Manage or supports the development of high-quality bids/ proposals. 
• Participate in contract negotiations with partners and clients, and prepare 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. 
• Participate in programme and project reviews and closure activities, helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business. 

Programme Management

• Ensure that programme/project is delivered according to all corporate (and where relevant, client) standards of quality and compliance (for example safeguarding, EDI, supply change management, social value and conflict sensitivity).
• Work with the Cultural Engagement team in Nigeria to support the design of result-based and impact-driven programmes and is responsible for planning and re-design as required
• Responsibility for managing all contractual obligations on programme or project, including financial
• Convenes risk meetings, updates risk register and either mitigates or escalates risk
• Ensure that the procurement, grants management and due diligence are managed in compliance with corporate standards
• Responsible for project/programme management reporting (including contributing to financial reporting)
• Develops M&E Plans and/or results frameworks (including indicators and relevant tools) and reports to both client and British Council impact targets.
• Act as the point of contact for the regional Marketing & Comms lead to ensure that the UK/Nigeria Season has effective marketing strategy that is based on clear understanding of target audiences, objectives of the programme, and the country context.
• Based on programme monitoring data, support periodic review of programme with a focus on documenting learning and improvement of performance.
• Manage and monitor the Nigeria Season’s budget by working closely with Culture Engagement team and finance team in the country and the region

Requirements of the role

Minimum/essential

• Degree and/or equivalent experience
• Project management or equivalent qualification
• Extensive experience of leading and managing programmes or large projects.
• Experience of financial planning, monitoring and reporting
• Experience of managing multi country or large programmes that have met project closure standards and passed audits.
• Experience of working with several different funding sources and knowledge of different programme frameworks and compliance rules.
• Experience of leading a large, diverse, dispersed project or programme team
• Experience of working within a consortium arrangement or with other funding partners or sponsors and management of associated contracts.
• Extensive experience of managing complex, senior, client, stakeholder and partner relationships and reporting requirements.
• Experience of identifying risk, mitigating risk and monitoring risk and reporting risk through appropriate channels

Desirable

• Monitoring and evaluation qualification
• Project management qualification
• Experience of working within a consortium arrangement or with other funding partners or sponsors and management of associated contracts.
• Experience of developing MEL frameworks and designing data collection mechanisms
• Experience of presenting and communicating programme success to a range of external audiences

Additional Job requirements

• Unsocial/long hours are likely to be required from time to time as role is required to work with Nigeria and the UK.
• The role may include occasional travel within the country, region or internationally

Language Requirements

The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required to CEF Level C1 English

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