We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021-22 we reached 650 million people.

Role Purpose

To manage the development and implementation of communications strategies for the region/cluster/country including internal and change communications, external communications planning and delivery (media, PR, events) and stakeholder communications across all Strategic Business Units (SBUs). The Senior Communications Manager will work closely with internal and external key stakeholders, implement strategies that strengthen and integrate marketing initiatives to continue to engage current audiences, identify and attract new ones and create greater awareness of the British Council.

Main Accountabilities:

Strategy and Planning

• Supports the development and implementation of the communications strategy and plan, ensuring alignment to global communications strategy and plan.
• Manages the delivery of internal and external communications campaigns, advice and activities, ensuring that messages are consistent and support regional and global communications strategies as part of overall Marketing strategy and plans.
• Provides strategic oversight in communicating the British Council\'s profile to internal and external stakeholders working closely with Country Directors.
• Manages media relations activities across SBUs.
• Ensures that communications maintain the reputation of the British Council.
• Plans and co-ordinates internal and change communications activities to improve effectiveness, audience impact and eliminate duplication to ensure employees at every level have the right information to perform their roles.
• Ensures that internal, change, media and stakeholder communications risks and issues are effectively managed and mitigated with support from the regional Head of Communications.
• Ensures that communications messages are consistent, are aligned to global and regional communications strategy and support the British Council brand.

Consultancy, analysis & problem-solving

• Applies advanced communications expertise to provide advice to key stakeholders and develop and deliver agreed programmes of work.
• Applies analytical approaches to identify and assess current state of communications, define opportunities for improvement, develop and implement agreed projects and initiatives, ensuring consistency with regional communications strategies, plans and approaches and global strategy where appropriate.
• Develops appropriate communications initiatives and interventions to support business needs, aligned to global and regional communications strategies, plans and approaches.
• Presents complex information clearly, producing tailored presentations, which convincingly influence decision-makers about the case for cluster communications initiatives.
• Builds an in-depth understanding of the operational context, opportunities and challenges for communications.
• Makes appropriate linkages to issues across the broader organisation and region, to ensure that the development of communications projects and initiatives is based on informed business insight and joined-up thinking.
• Proactively seeks colleagues and other stakeholder feedback to monitor satisfaction with the standard of communications/media relations and PR advice and business support provided, enabling improvements to be made where issued are identified.

Subject/Sector expertise

• Ensures joined up planning and delivery of communications projects and initiatives.

• Ensures consistent application of agreed global communications and brand standards, templates and processes.
• Reviews impact and effectiveness of communications projects and initiatives and identifies opportunities for improvement.
• Provides expert advice, support and challenge on communications to internal customers and other stakeholders.
• Develops high quality and effective communications plans and solutions using established processes, tools and systems to ensure consistency.
• Proactively pursues an annual cycle of formally recognised Continuing Professional Development to maintain and deepen their professional expertise.

Commercial & financial management

• Using agreed corporate systems and processes, plans and manages the budget for certain communications projects and initiatives.
• Where required, conducts monthly and year-end reporting on progress against plan and deliverables, budget, and management of issues and risks.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Ensures solid and beneficial relationships with marketing and communications professionals globally.
• Actively participates within the Marketing Community of Practice and communications networks.
• Develops peer/personal networks within and outside Marketing to enhance own knowledge and expertise.
• Proactively builds and maintains excellent relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership and management

• Plans and prioritises own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and deliverables over a quarterly to annual time horizon.

Determines work plans and coordinates input from others (who may be outside the direct management line) to meet specific objectives.

Minimum/Essential Requirement

• Significant experience in managing communications within a large and complex organisation or agency
• Demonstrable experience in providing expert advice and guidance on internal and external communications
• Experience in managing and mitigating communications risks and issues
• Proven record of editorial experience (i.e. proofreading, translation, knowledge of different content types, etc.)
• Demonstrable creative approach to developing, implementing and evaluating communication activities

Practical experience of using social media to extend reach of an organisation including through campaigns

Desirable Requirement

• Experience in a global organisation
• Project management skills

Further Information

• Role: Regional Senior Communications Manager (40928)
• Number of positions: 1
• Pay Band: 7 /F
• Location: MENA
• Contract type: Indefinite
• Closing date: 9th February 2024 (11:59 GST)
• Other: This role is open to candidates who have the right to work and are located in MENA

*Please note that all applications should be submitted only in English.

*It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment.

• Please make sure to include supporting statement on how your experience matches to the job requirement.

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

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.

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