Project Manager - Talent Acquisition Transformation

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Date: 23 Jun 2026

Location: London, UKM, GB

Company: British Council

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 British Council is seeking a Project Manager to provide strategic leadership within the Global Talent Acquisition (TA) team. This role plays a critical part in delivering transformation across a global network of 115 countries, each with unique operational requirements and challenges.

The position is responsible for shaping and orchestrating the TA transformation roadmap, ensuring initiatives are aligned with organisational strategy, effectively prioritised, and delivered in structured waves. Working closely with business leaders, HR, data specialists, and change teams, the role ensures that TA processes, capacity, and candidate experience are optimised for successful delivery.

Key responsibilities

The role holder will:

  • Lead the planning and orchestration of transformation waves, ensuring alignment with business priorities, governance frameworks, and TA capacity
  • Validate hiring forecasts and transformation demand data to support effective workforce planning
  • Monitor performance, timelines, and risks across delivery waves, providing insight to inform decision-making
  • Build strong stakeholder relationships across TA, HR, programme leadership, and data teams
  • Identify and manage risks, dependencies, and issues throughout the project lifecycle
  • Deliver clear, data-driven reporting on transformation readiness, capacity, and progress
  • Represent the TA transformation agenda in senior governance forums
  • Drive continuous improvement across recruitment processes, tools, and candidate experience
  • Collaborate with onboarding teams to ensure seamless handoffs and accurate tracking of offers
  • Apply end-to-end project management expertise to deliver projects on time, within scope, and budget

Requirements

  • Proven experience delivering complex projects, ideally within large-scale or global environments
  • Strong understanding of Agile ways of working
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and influence at senior levels
  • Experience in data-driven planning, reporting, and risk management
  • Professional project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile, APM) or equivalent experience

Experience within Talent Acquisition transformation, recruitment operations, or process optimisation is advantageous.

Additional information

  • Pay Grade: 8/E
  • Salary: £38,820 (plus London Market Allowance of £3,300 if applicable)
  • Contract: 1 year (with possibility of extension)
  • Closing date: 30 June 2026

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Visa sponsorship and relocation support are not provided.

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