E+ Head of Grants Management (HE & VET)

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.

The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+. 

In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 million to UK organisations.

Job Title: Erasmus+ Head of Grant Management – Higher Education + Vocational Education Training

Pay Band: SMP (9) 
Contract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension  
Location: London, United Kingdom  
Right to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.
Closing Date: Applications will close on Wednesday 29 April at 22:59 UK Time

We are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds.  

Role Purpose

Head of Grants Management will manage a portfolio of high value projects ensuring delivery to the highest standards.

Reporting to Director Grants, Head of Grants Management is responsible for the effective and efficient planning, development, implementation, oversight, management and delivery of Erasmus+ grant activity assigned under their portfolio.

The role provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and governance for the delivery of Erasmus+ grant projects under their remit. The postholder will ensure high quality implementation, compliance with appropriate EU regulations and EC regulations, strong stakeholder engagement, and support to beneficiaries to deliver impactful outcomes across mobility, cooperation, and capacity building projects. The role will also support the Director Grants and the NA Director to ensure robust stewardship of public funds and effective risk and assurance frameworks.

The individual will have an advanced level of technical expertise and substantial experience in managing high value programmes or projects, delivering to the demanding requirements of external clients (EC and HMG).

The role is a member of the Erasmus+ leadership team and will provide senior leadership representation for Erasmus+ with stakeholders.

Strong People management and leadership are important elements of this role to develop individuals, build capability and lead large teams to provide high quality delivery.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Grant Management:

• Ability to design and deliver high value grant programmes linked to organisational strategy.
• Assures grant management and project management standards – developing and ensuring the implementation of high-quality grant and project management disciplines across their portfolio.

Strategy & Direction

• Assists in the delivery of the overall programme implementation strategy
• Works at a senior level, providing expert advice, options, and risk-based recommendations

Delivery and Management

• Manages and oversees a number of projects and/or programmes within areas of specialism.
• Monitors and manages the financial performance of their portfolio, in line with global standards, contract requirements and respective KPIs.

Managing People

• Leads large teams. Manages a substantial group to deliver on annual targets and KPIs.
• Creates an environment that fosters professional development and overcomes barriers to learning and change.

Key Stakeholder & account management

• Builds and maintains trusting relationships with key internal teams and stakeholders as well as clients, beneficiaries, partners and associates.
• Ensures high levels of professionalism are demonstrated in the team with customer and client needs and perspectives reflected in the leadership behaviours and focus of the team. Empowering and enabling others to be roles models for Erasmus+ and the British Council.

Continuous Professional Development and Networking

• Ensures career planning, development planning and continuous professional development are embedded in own area of work
• Proactively shares best practice and learning across the grant's teams
  
  
  

Requirements of the role

Role Specific Skills:

• Technical knowledge of and experience in at least one of the following 2 sectors:  Higher Education; Vocational Education Training - this ensures the postholder can evaluate complex proposals, shape programme designs, and challenge assumptions
• Managing multimillion pound grant portfolios with strong public accountability – including strong familiarity with due diligence, financial analysis, contract and grant agreement oversight
• Ability to set, maintain and operate compliantly within grant assurance frameworks that protect organisational and public funds.
• Ability to use data and evidence to: shape funding design; track delivery performance; monitor risk; measure outcomes and impact
• Workforce planning, resource allocation, coaching, motivation, and performance management.
• Using knowledge and expertise of Learning & Development (L&D) and resource management insight to develop and implement an L&D plan to ensure individuals have the right skills, knowledge and expertise to deliver business objectives

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience:

Minimum/essential

• Substantial senior level experience in grant management and delivery, including for external clients to contractual requirements.
• Ability to work successfully with finance and audit teams to ensure clean audit trails.
• Team leadership in a global matrix environment.
• Evidence of commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, anti-racism and well-being, demonstrated through understanding and practical experience

Desirable

• Extensive knowledge of Erasmus+ or large scale international mobility/education programmes
• Familiarity with UK or EU regulatory environments
• Multilingual communication skills
• Experience of working on Erasmus+

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in national languages and additional EU languages an asset.

Education

• Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development and professional networking

Professional Qualification and Certification

• Association of Project Management (Practitioner Level) or equivalent

Requirements:

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the listed locations at the time of application.

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.

#LI-Hybrid

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