Cultural Heritage & Climate Policy Engagement

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.

 Cultural Heritage and Climate Policy Engagement Manager.

Purpose of the role:

The British Council is a partner in the EU Horizon funded European partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage. The European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage aims to enhance the preservation of cultural heritage while addressing the impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable practices. It aligns with the European Green Deal and the Creative Europe programme, facilitating research on heritage resilience and sustainable management.

The British Council is leading two strands of this EU Horizon funded partnership programme:

Accelerating transfer to policy and society: a living labs approach which positions Living Labs as both a testing ground for emerging findings across the partnership and a long-term participatory infrastructure for embedding cultural heritage within relevant climate change and sustainability and green transitions.

Fostering international collaboration which focuses on Cultural Heritage and Climate Policy Engagement including the developing an international engagement strategy for the Partnership and engagement with policy platforms.

The purpose of the British Council’s Research and Insight (R&I) function is to systematically generate useful new knowledge that will achieve impact for our mission and for UK and overseas stakeholders.

We support the British Council to be an organisation guided by evidence, knowledge and insight, one that is confident in its voice as a cultural relations thought leader and a credible partner, and one that is generous in sharing its knowledge and insight in core areas.

Accountabilities:

Your role will be to:

• Design and deliver an international engagement strategy for the Partnership, strengthening global collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• Translate research into policy‑ready insights, working with climate‑heritage platforms, UNFCCC‑aligned networks and European policy actors.
• Engage with international policy platforms (e.g., UNFCCC, UNESCO, IPCC‑adjacent networks) to share research findings, strengthen visibility and support evidence‑informed climate action.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange, convening partners and stakeholders to share methodologies, case studies and policy implications.
• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and learning, ensuring evidence informs EU reporting, policy dialogues and future programme design.
• Manage budgets, risks and governance requirements, ensuring compliance with EU Horizon frameworks and British Council standards.

Requirements of the role:

•  Expert communication skills and able to present to a wide range of audiences at professional, academic or policy events as chair or speaker 
• People and relationship management skills to obtain buy-in, maintain momentum and complete to deadlines 
• Significant and proven interpersonal, communication and influencing skills (including with senior managers), with the ability to develop global professional networks and work across international partnerships.
• Operating in a complex partnership matrix environment
• Programme and risk management — experience of managing complex, EU funded, multi‑partner programmes with budgets, risks and compliance requirements.

• Embedding culture and behavioural change to improve effectiveness and efficiency
• Evidence based decision making and problem solving
• Relationship building and management
• Understanding of the dynamics of EU Cultural Heritage and climate sectors and of the related academic and policy landscape
• Understanding of EU Horizon funding reporting and financial requirements

Important Information:

Department: Research & Insight, Cultural Engagement.

Contract type: FTC for 3 years
Pay band: 8

Salary: £40, 381 - £47,418 plus £3,300 London Market Allowance if you are based in the London area only. 

Benefits:

32 days annual leave plus public holidays

Excellent Civil Service Pension Scheme

Location of the role:  UK & Brussels ONLY.  

Closing Date: Sunday 18th October 2026 at 23:59 UK time.

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the countries that are listed, at the time of application.  Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be 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