Head of UK-NG Season of Culture

AI summary

The British Council is hiring a Head of UK-NG Season of Culture to lead the delivery of the UK/Nigeria Season across Arts and Higher Education. The role is based in Abuja or Lagos on a fixed-term contract until 31 March 2029, with leadership, stakeholder management, and business development responsibilities.

• Senior leadership role leading UK/Nigeria Season delivery
• Based in Abuja or Lagos, Nigeria
• Fixed-term contract until 31 March 2029
• Pay band 8/E
• Focus on Arts, Higher Education, and stakeholder engagement

Original source description

Head of UK-NG Season of Culture at British Council ⏲ Sep 8, 2026, 8:17 AM ⋕ View all NGO & Humanitarian / Nonprofit Organizations jobs The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education: and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Head of UK-NG Season of Culture Location : Abuja or Lagos Contract type: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2029 Pay band: 8/E Role Purpose 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. 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. To lead the Implementation of UK/Nigeria Season to a high standard and in compliance with British Council policies and procedures. Main Accountabilities Leadership & Management: Champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within the programme and empower team members to effectively identify opportunities for mainstreaming EDI in the programme delivery. 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 Relationship & Stakeholders: Responsible for relationships with partners/funders clients and internal stakeholders for UK/Nigeria Season Maximise channels and communicate on a variety of platforms about the programme or projects. Holds delivery partners, team members and consultants to account including through effective supply chain management. Responsible for identifying and management of stakeholders that will be relevant for the delivery of the Season’s priorities Business Development: Applies due diligence requirements: for potential partners. Participate in programme and project reviews and closure activities, helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business. Manage or supports the development of high-quality bids/ proposals. Support the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners. 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. Embed effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management. Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities. Manage network of associate advisors, consultants and partners. Programme Management: Ensure that the procurement, grants management and due diligence are managed in compliance with corporate standards 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). Responsibility for managing all contractual obligations on programme or project, including financial Based on programme monitoring data, support periodic review of programme with a focus on documenting learning and improvement of performance. Convenes risk meetings, updates risk register and either mitigates or escalates risk 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. Responsible for project/programme management reporting (including contributing to financial reporting) Manage and monitor the Nigeria Season’s budget by working closely with Culture Engagement team and finance team in the country and the region 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 Requirements: of the role Minimum/essential: Extensive experience: of managing complex, senior, client, stakeholder and partner relationships and reporting requirements. Extensive experience: of leading and managing programmes or large projects. Project management or equivalent qualification 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 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. Experience: of working with several different funding sources and knowledge of different programme frameworks and compliance rules. Degree and/or equivalent experience: Experience: of identifying risk, mitigating risk and monitoring risk and reporting risk through appropriate channels. Desirable: Experience: of developing MEL frameworks and designing data collection mechanisms Monitoring and evaluation qualification Experience: of presenting and communicating programme success to a range of external audiences. Experience: of working within a consortium arrangement or with other funding partners or sponsors and management of associated contracts. Project management qualification 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. How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should: Click here to apply online Application Deadline: 22nd September, 2026. View all Jobs in Nigeria Lagos State and 1 other location Lagos State , Abuja