UK/NG Season Marketing and Communications Manager

About the British Council

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

Position Details

• Job title: UK/NG Season Marketing and Communications Manager
• Official description title: UK/Nigeria Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
• Job ID: 50081
• Location: Nigeria (the role information identifies Lagos)
• Work arrangement: Hybrid
• Contract type: 30-month fixed-term contract
• Pay grade: 7
• Deadline: 9 September 2026 at 21:59 IST, as displayed on the official portal
• Work eligibility: Applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in Nigeria.

Role Purpose

The postholder will lead the marketing and communications strategy and delivery for the UK/Nigeria Season of Culture 2028 while supporting communications across the wider British Council Nigeria arts and creative-economy portfolio. The role will shape how the Season is understood, experienced and remembered by government counterparts, creative-sector partners, media, diaspora communities and audiences in Nigeria and the UK.

The manager will work closely with programme colleagues throughout the Season’s lifecycle, ensuring that annual arts programmes contribute to a coherent portfolio narrative and build momentum towards the 2028 Season.

Key Responsibilities

Sector Expertise and Campaign Delivery

• Lead the Season and arts-portfolio marketing and communications function.
• Design and deliver marketing campaigns for the Season of Culture 2028 and the annual arts programmes that feed into it.
• Ensure campaigns are evidence-led, strategically aligned and proportionate to the scale of each programme.
• Coordinate day-to-day delivery with internal teams, external agencies, suppliers and creative partners.
• Prepare briefs for agencies and suppliers and ensure compliance with brand and ethical-marketing standards.
• Manage the Season’s website and digital channels and commission relevant audience-facing content.

Brand and Market Positioning

• Manage the Season’s brand identity in coordination with the Federal Ministry and British Council UK.
• Ensure communications for annual arts programmes align with and strengthen the Season’s overall brand.
• Protect and enhance the British Council brand across all Season and portfolio activities.
• Provide professional marketing advice and constructive challenge to programme colleagues.
• Monitor developments in Nigeria’s creative sector, cultural marketing and media environment.

Audience Insight and Impact

• Evaluate marketing performance using evidence, audience data and programme insight.
• Use learning from annual arts programmes to strengthen the Season’s audience strategy.
• Identify marketing opportunities that support the portfolio and build the Season’s public profile.
• Translate complex programme information into clear, engaging and accessible public content.
• Support monitoring, evaluation and reporting on communications reach, engagement and impact.

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and lead the Season’s marketing and communications strategy across its full delivery lifecycle.
• Ensure annual programme communications contribute to a coherent narrative through 2028.
• Align local marketing plans with British Council global marketing standards and Nigeria country priorities.
• Plan announcement calendars, campaign milestones and major public moments across the portfolio.
• Anticipate communications risks and prepare appropriate mitigation and response measures.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Plan and manage the marketing budget for the Season and wider arts portfolio.
• Monitor expenditure and report monthly and at year-end on delivery, budget, risks and issues.
• Lead procurement, contracting and financial oversight for communications agencies and suppliers.
• Promote value for money and compliance with British Council financial and procurement requirements.

Stakeholder and Relationship Management

• Manage senior stakeholder communications involving the Federal Ministry, UK Government and Bilateral Board.
• Coordinate with Global Arts, Nigeria Arts, British Council UK marketing teams and the International Seasons team.
• Participate in the organisation’s global marketing community of practice, town halls and cross-Season learning networks.
• Maintain relationships with Nigerian and UK media that support the annual portfolio and the Season.
• Ensure messages are accurate, consistent and suitable for different stakeholder groups.

Leadership and Management

• Plan and prioritise work across the Season’s lifecycle.
• Coordinate colleagues, agencies and vendors responsible for major public and portfolio moments.
• Support and mentor junior communications colleagues and interns.
• Lead crisis communications and manage reputational risk across the portfolio.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in marketing, communications or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• At least seven years’ marketing and communications experience, including at least three years in a senior role.
• Proven ability to lead complex marketing campaigns serving multiple audiences.
• Experience managing brand identity for major public-facing programmes.
• Experience briefing and managing external agencies and creative suppliers.
• Experience working with senior government, institutional or partner stakeholders.
• Excellent written English and strong content-development skills.
• Strong digital and social-media capability.

Desirable Experience

• Professional marketing qualification such as CIM, CIPR or an equivalent credential.
• Experience with cultural programmes, festivals or bilateral cultural initiatives.
• Knowledge of the UK and Nigerian creative sectors and media landscapes.
• Experience in crisis communications.
• Experience monitoring and reporting the impact of cultural or arts communications programmes.

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 also committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults. Appointments involving direct contact with vulnerable groups are subject to appropriate checks in line with applicable law and British Council safeguarding policies.

Application Instructions

Apply through the official British Council recruitment portal before the stated deadline. Applicants should complete the online form carefully and provide accurate evidence of how their experience meets the essential requirements.

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