Senior Programme Manager, International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), SSA at British Council

Role Context - About The Team:

• This role sits within the Britsh Council South Africa Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locates our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.
• This role will provide the opportunity to shape and deliver activities under the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), a client funded global programme on research and innovation, through extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
• ISPF will help the UK and its partners to deliver bigger, better science than one country can achieve alone.
• ISPF will allow UK researchers and innovators to collaborate with international partners on multidisciplinary projects. The British Council is one of the UK Partner Organisations delivering ISPF on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The Fund will help to:

• Deliver important research and innovation that can only be fully realized by working internationally.
• Tackle global challenges and develop future technologies, positioning UK researchers and innovators at the heart of global solutions.
• Make meaningful contributions towards the Sustainable Development Goals through the use of equitable international research and innovation partnerships.
• Enable groups of countries to collaborate in an agile way on issues that matter.
• Equip developing countries with robust research and innovation ecosystems.
• Strengthen the influence and connections of the UK and UK R&D community domestically and around the world.

Role Purpose - The Job:

• This role focuses on leading the planning, stakeholder engagement, implementation and monitoring of the British Council International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) programmes primarily in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) with additional global responsibilities.
• ISPF funding is managed by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and is part of the UK’s commitments to prioritise strategic science partnerships. ISPF supports UK researchers and innovators to work with peers around the world on the major themes of our time: planet, health, tech, and talent. The post-holder will engage with a wide range of international and external stakeholders.
• The role will provide integral operational support to the British Council SSA Regional Lead and the UK ISPF management team and leadership to the ISPF team in the region, with specific responsibility for the following key areas of work:
• Programme development and delivery – working with the ISPF UK and global team, and international partners to develop and deliver global research and innovation collaboration programmes, including positioning the British Council for the next phase of ISPF (post March 2026). The postholder will also manage partner and stakeholder relations for the ISPF in Kenya and other countries in the region
• Programme management and compliance – ensuring compliance with the British Council project management standards (including risks and issues, financial management, resourcing and records management), corporate policies and in accordance with key contractual and reporting obligations from tDSIT. Saharan Africa (
• Newton Fund (2014 – 2024) closure – supporting the closure phase of the Newton Fund in Sub Saharan Africa
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) – contributing to DSIT’s commissions and reporting, ensuring that lessons learned are captured and embedded into programme delivery and that all relevant reporting documentation is accessible for dissemination and future recommendations.
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – mainstreaming EDI in programme development and delivery with a focus on anti-racism, disability, and gender equality. Sharing learning and best practises on EDI with international partners.
• Task management – providing task management support to team members based in Kenya and providing support to the ISPF global team for their areas of responsibility.

Main Accountabilities:

Leadership & Management

• Could play a leadership role on a specific component of a larger project or programme
• Task manages delivery teams and/or project team.
• Manages all EDI processes and ensures comprehensive use of internal tools in programme design and delivery. Maintains an oversight of the action plan developed through the use of internal EDI tools 

Relationship & Stakeholders management 

• Leads on relationships at a project/programme level.
• Holds delivery partners to account including supply chain management where applicable.
• Communicates internally and externally about a project’s success/challenges and lessons learned.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Liaises with the global ISPF team and the Sub-Saharan Africa Finance Business Partner to ensure alignment with the British Council’s financial system figures and reporting to DSIT.
• Reviews spend against forecast and reports any variations and/or anomalies to the UK ISPF Finance Lead.
• Manage and control the agreed budget, expenditure and income against plans, ensure accuracy of reports and ensure sound financial management and analysis across the portfolio through monthly finance reviews and quarterly business reviews.
• Ensure timely and accurate planning and forecasting, timely reporting of risks, including financial and identify opportunities and mitigation actions 

Programme Management

• Follows up with the Centre of Excellence and other key internal support teams (Finance, IGRM, Contract Management) as required to ensure adherence to project closure standards.
• Assists with the setting up and uploading/saving of key data to a central repository for core project documentation including lessons learned
• Works collaboratively with and supports country-based colleagues and the UK-facing team to ensure consistency of approach and joined up ways of working, that reporting deadlines/RODA (Reporting ODA) are met and financial management systems/admin trackers and tools are managed effectively to record spend.
• Uses digital platforms and technological advancements to improve efficiency, impact and quality of project delivery 

Business Development

• Supports the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners.
• Applies due diligence requirements to potential partners.
• Coordinates research in country/regional context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities.
• Manages network of associate advisors, consultants and partners.
• Embeds effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management. 

Requirements Of The Role:

Minimum/essential

• Foundation level Project Management qualification (in-house training or evidence of CPD in this area could be considered)
• Experience of managing multi country or large in-country science and research or international education programmes that have met project closure and audit standards
• Knowledge/ and or experience of working in project and grant management experience
• Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with SRO
• Understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) principles 

Desirable:

• Experience of managing dispersed teams.
• Experience of conducting lessons learned reviews/After action reviews to inform future programme design and management.
• Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management.
• Able to manage delivery of digital events on basic platforms (Microsoft Teams) ensuring all corporate standards are met, including those for accessibility and safeguarding