Head of UK-NG Season of Culture

About the British Council

The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It works through education, arts, culture, language and creativity to build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

Position Details

• Job title: Head of UK-NG Season of Culture
• Job ID: 50246
• Location: Lagos or Abuja, Nigeria
• Contract type: Fixed-term contract until 31 March 2029
• Pay band: 8/E
• Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Travel and working hours: Occasional national, regional or international travel may be required, and some unsocial or extended working hours may arise due to collaboration between Nigeria and the UK.
• Work eligibility: Candidates must already have the permanent legal right to work in Nigeria. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not provided.

Role Context

The UK/Nigeria Season of Culture is a major bilateral cultural-relations programme covering arts, the creative economy, education, research and innovation. It will be co-created with partners in Nigeria and the UK and is expected to create opportunities for individuals and organisations, strengthen professional networks and deepen people-to-people connections.

The Head of Season sits within the British Council Nigeria Arts team and Cultural Engagement portfolio. Reporting to the Director of Programmes Nigeria, with assurance and oversight from the Season’s Senior Responsible Owner, the postholder will lead the British Council-funded and organised component delivered in Nigeria.

Role Purpose

The postholder will lead implementation of the UK/Nigeria Season to a high standard and in compliance with British Council policies and procedures. The role will ensure that activities across Arts and Higher Education are designed, coordinated, communicated and delivered effectively, on time, within budget and with maximum impact.

The Head will provide strategic programme leadership, manage relationships with government, funders and delivery partners, oversee business development and financial performance, and establish systems for effective data collection, monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Management

• Act as Head of the UK/Nigeria Season and lead delivery of the programme’s activities across Nigeria and the UK.
• Translate the Season’s objectives into clear implementation plans, governance arrangements, responsibilities and timelines.
• Work closely with the Senior Responsible Owner, Country Director Nigeria, Director of Programmes Nigeria, country Heads of Arts, Education and English, Regional Arts Director and relevant UK teams.
• Build and lead a large, diverse and geographically dispersed programme team.
• Establish clear expectations, provide direction and hold staff, consultants and delivery partners accountable for agreed outputs.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion and ensure that EDI is mainstreamed throughout programme delivery.

Programme and Project Management

• Ensure that the programme is delivered according to British Council quality, compliance and project-management standards.
• Lead programme planning and redesign when required, ensuring alignment with intended outcomes and priorities.
• Manage contractual obligations, implementation schedules, financial controls, milestones and reporting requirements.
• Convene risk-management meetings, maintain the risk register and ensure risks are mitigated or escalated appropriately.
• Oversee procurement, grant management, partner due diligence and supply-chain processes.
• Maintain effective governance, documentation and audit readiness throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Lead programme reviews and closure processes and ensure that learning informs future work.

Stakeholder and Partner Management

• Identify and manage the stakeholders required to deliver the Season’s priorities.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with government institutions, funding partners, clients, sponsors, cultural organisations and internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate effectively with the Federal Ministry and UK Government stakeholders involved in the bilateral programme.
• Manage delivery partners, consultants and suppliers through clear agreements, performance expectations and follow-up.
• Communicate programme priorities and results through appropriate internal and external channels.
• Protect the reputation and interests of the Season and the British Council in all partnerships.

Business Development

• Coordinate research and analysis on country and regional client, funder and partner trends.
• Build and manage relationships with strategic clients, funders and programme partners.
• Apply due-diligence requirements when assessing potential partners.
• Manage a network of associate advisers, consultants and delivery organisations.
• Establish systems and tools for pipeline management and partner relationships.
• Lead or support the preparation of high-quality bids, proposals, budgets and partnership documentation.
• Participate in negotiations and prepare agreements such as non-disclosure, pre-bid, partner, consultant and funding agreements.
• Ensure timely communication and reporting for externally funded contracts and grant-funded initiatives.

Financial and Contract Management

• Lead financial planning, forecasting and monitoring for the Season.
• Manage the programme budget in collaboration with Cultural Engagement and finance colleagues in Nigeria and the region.
• Monitor expenditure, commitments, variances and financial risks and take corrective action when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with funder conditions, organisational controls and audit requirements.
• Oversee grants, contracts, procurement and supplier performance.
• Promote value for money and accurate, timely financial reporting.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting

• Develop or oversee monitoring and evaluation plans, results frameworks, indicators and appropriate data-collection mechanisms.
• Ensure delivery and impact data are collected, analysed and reported accurately.
• Track progress against British Council and client impact targets.
• Use programme-monitoring evidence to review performance and improve delivery.
• Document results, challenges, lessons and good practices for internal and external reporting.
• Ensure learning is embedded in new programme and business-development activities.

Marketing and Communications Coordination

• Work with regional and country marketing and communications colleagues to ensure the Season has an effective communications strategy.
• Ensure communications are informed by clear audience analysis and programme objectives.
• Support consistent articulation of the Season’s aims, progress, results and impact.
• Coordinate with relevant Arts, Education, English and UK teams to maintain coherent messaging.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Project-management or equivalent professional qualification.
• Extensive experience leading and managing large programmes or complex projects.
• Experience in financial planning, budget monitoring and financial reporting.
• Experience managing multi-country or major programmes that met project-closure standards and passed audits.
• Experience working with several funding sources and applying different programme frameworks and compliance rules.
• Experience leading a large, diverse and geographically dispersed project or programme team.
• Experience working within consortium arrangements or with funding partners and sponsors and managing associated contracts.
• Extensive experience managing complex relationships with senior clients, stakeholders and partners.
• Proven experience identifying, mitigating, monitoring, escalating and reporting programme risks.

Desirable Requirements

• Monitoring and evaluation qualification.
• Additional recognised project-management qualification.
• Experience developing MEL frameworks and data-collection mechanisms.
• Experience presenting and communicating programme results to different external audiences.

Equality, Diversity and Safeguarding

The British Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. It is a Disability Confident Employer. The organisation is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults. Relevant appointments are subject to appropriate checks completed in line with legal requirements and British Council safeguarding policies.

Application Instructions

Apply through the official British Council recruitment portal before the deadline. Applicants should demonstrate their programme-leadership, financial-management, partnership, compliance, team-management and risk-management experience with clear evidence.

NGO Career Link is not the recruiting organisation and does not influence the selection process. Applicants should never pay anyone for recruitment or employment.