Regional CE Operations Lead

Date: ‎19-Jun-‎2022
Location: Cairo, Middle East and North Africa, EG
Company: British Council
The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people
in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the
English language.

We work in two ways - directly with individuals to transform their lives, and
with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term,
creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young
people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to
realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive
communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education
and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and
culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative
enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the
world with the UK.

These connections lead to an understanding of each other's strengths and of
the challenges and values that we share. This builds trust between people in
the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be
strained. We work on the ground in more than ‎100 countries. In ‎2019-‎20 we
connected with ‎80 million people directly and with ‎791 million overall,
including online and through our broadcasts and publications.
Role Purpose
To drive the development of an effective and efficient operating environment
within the region that enables the region to deliver its business plan,
aligned to the Cultural Engagement (CE) global business.
To champion, utilise and feed in to processes, standards and frameworks set by
the Global CE Operations
To manage operations activities in the region including those focused on
embedding the single assurance framework and global standards, achieving
compliance against those standards, embedding good practice in programme and
contract management, implementing the mechanisms developed for effective
global workforce planning, building the capability needed to deliver the
business and supporting continuous improvement

Role context
This role is also part of the wider CE Operations function which comprises a
global CE Operations Team and a wider operations network with sector/regional
roles to support and drive the implementation of the CE operating environment.
The purpose of the CE Operations function is to set and support an operating
environment that enables CE to efficiently deliver the CE global business
plan. It focuses on enabling teams to embed ways of working, good practice,
continual improvement and to demonstrate compliance

Main Accountabilities:
Leadership & Management
* Participate in the wider CE Operations network community of practice and deputise for the Regional Director / Head of Operations as appropriate.
* Manage the annual priority work plan for activities within the operations remit for the region to ensure defined business objectives are realised in accordance with the overarching BC strategy and that of CE global operations
* Manage global initiatives as agreed with regional business director and global CE Director Operations
* Be the project lead/manager for programmes/initiatives as agreed with regional Director Operations / Head of Operations

Relationship & Stakeholder Management
* Be an interlocutor to the Global CE Operations team, working with peers and colleagues across the Operations Network
* Identify challenges/opportunities within corporate services and work with the Director Operations / Head of Operations to ensure productive collaboration and more streamlined and consistent service provision.
Operations
* Be an active supporter of the CE Operations Network and an active member of its associated community of practice - sharing ideas and insight to inform more effective and efficient ways of working and more streamlined provision of services fromcorporate teams (HR, GIS, Procurement etc)
* Manage the input from the region on the evaluation of ways of working and the consultation of new organisation wide or CE wide initiatives and or processes including Global Programming and the MCCs - to help develop fit for purpose solutions
Assurance and global standards
* Support the embedding of a culture of compliance within the region, ensuring that the CE single assurance framework (including MCCs, ACC, deep dives etc), corporate policies and procedures, global standards, operating guidelines and local regulations are implemented, monitored and maintained across the regional portfolio.
* As part of the above, support compliance with global standards on business development including pipeline management, adherence to due diligence processes and support to the business development approvals process.
* Analyse and interpret data and insight on the quality of delivery, including MCC reports, using this information to share learning across programmes and projects and drive continuous improvement.
* As part of above to ensure that programme/project risks and issues are systematically identified and appropriately managed
* Support the management of regional risks and, where relevant escalated to the Regional (and CE) strategic risk register
* Manage the MCC and ACC coordination & reporting and at a regional portfolio level support actions to address systematic issues and drive continuous improvement
* Support the Director Operations / Head of Operations to review monthly financial health checks for the contracts. Investigating and escalating anomalies as appropriate
* Procurement - manage the implementation of best practice frameworks that deliver value for money and identify and secure savings for the organisation

Global resource management
* Manage the gathering of insight and feedback on resourcing and workforce planning issues
* Manage the development and implementation of the workforce planning solution for Cultural Engagement in the region - supporting the initiative, building readiness for change and ensuring new ways of working are embedded and relevant systems data maintained
* As part of the above to input to fit for purpose, achievable capability profiling for the region that will support workforce planning
* Work with HR in improving regional resourcing data
* If relevant, support the regional mechanism on short term assignment /reassignment deployment - aligned with Global CE and corporate HR processes

Contract management
* Support the planning and allocation of technical input to priority contract opportunities where needed
* Support the contract management team to build contract management capability in region, including to help identify existing regional capability that could be utilised to support both capacity building and delivery

Internal Information and Knowledge Management
* Manage CE regional internal information and knowledge resources and associated internal communications so that they provide maximum value to business development and delivery, driving people to global/central resources, information and approaches, working with sector leads on effective business development information approaches (markets, client trends & priorities, research), collate, communicate and celebrate impact and success (bulletins, events) and Influence and improve global/central resources, information and approaches

Learning & Continuous Improvement
* Drive learning and developing capability within the region: including strengthening project management and contract management processes, understanding quality assurance and oversight and encouragement for colleagues in region to attend professional development opportunities /communities of practice led by sector teams. Also connecting with central support/advice, triaging and directing requests for support and advice while new ways of working are introduced and embedded, particularly on digital delivery and contracting/working through others.
* Manage training inputs associated with introduction of new ways of working in the transformed operating model. Drive an open learning culture of continuous improvement through approaches to lessons, evaluation, innovation and communication.
* Manage a cycle of prioritised training inputs, working where appropriate with central and other regional operations teams and professional services teams.
* Provide and encourage communities of practice, and mentoring support to project managers, and establish and sustain a culture of sharing of knowledge and expertise.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
* Actively Contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people's well-being and mental health.
* Understand the British Council's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti-racism.

About you (essential requirements for the role):
* Degree or equivalent qualification
* Experience of supporting colleagues to improve compliance
* Facilitating the development of standards
* Gathering evidence to demonstrate assurance
* Bringing ideas and insight which informs more effective ways of working
* Commissioning and delivering training and development opportunities
* Managing systems and processes and reporting risks
* Experience of leading/managing projects
* Knowledge of good practice in one or more of these areas - programme/project/contract management, assurance frameworks or workforce planning

Desirable requirements
Project or Programme management accreditation

Further Information
* Number of positions: ‎1
* Location: Egypt
* Contract: FTC
* Deadline to receive applications: July ‎4, ‎2022

Applications are welcomed from candidates currently in this location with a
natural right to work.

Please note candidates must have a natural right to work in the country, on
a permanent basis, as immigration clearance and/or on-going visa support is
not provided by the British Council for this role. Relocation support is also
not provided.

Please note that all applications should be submitted in English only.
It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the
last moment

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality,
diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make
sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address
under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups,
in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.
All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an
interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome
discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation
and engagement in our work and activities.

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; these will
include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record
checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's
Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email
[email protected]

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made
through the Apply section of our careers website. Our 'ASK HR' email is only
to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the
careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this
email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.