Senior Programmes Manager- English and School Education

British Council
Pay Band 7

Department:
Cultural Engagement

Location:
Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Pakistan

Contract:
Indefinite Contract (permanent role)

Apply by:
Tuesday, 26 Aug :59 Local time
Interview window:
02nd or 03rd week of September

The
starting salary
for this role is PKR 4,007,412 per annum; however, it is negotiable based on the candidate's skills and experience. The role also offers additional benefits, including a 13th-month salary, annual leave, and medical coverage.

This role is open to applicants who already have the legal right to work in Pakistan at the time of application, as no relocation or visa sponsorship will be provided.

The British Council supports flexible ways of working, including hybrid arrangements, subject to line management approval and our ability to maintain the required level of service.

Role Context

This leadership role within the English and School Systems team combines academic and management responsibilities to ensure the effective delivery, evaluation, and development of education and English language initiatives. Positioned in the Cultural Engagement Strategic Business Unit, the role contributes to programmatic impact and business targets across globally led programmes in arts, education, English, and research. Activities are delivered through British Council grant funding, partnerships, and external clients, aligned with a contextualised programme management framework that adheres to standards set by the CE Centre of Excellence, the Cabinet Office, FCDO Operating Framework, and the Association for Project Management Body of Knowledge.

Main responsibilities

This role involves leading specific components of larger projects or programmes, managing delivery and project teams, and ensuring the integration of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles through internal tools and action plans. It provides academic leadership in English language teaching and school systems, ensuring pedagogical integrity and alignment with British Council standards. Responsibilities include developing curricula and teaching materials, supporting academic teams, monitoring programme quality, and representing the British Council in academic forums. The role also manages stakeholder relationships, holds delivery partners accountable, and communicates project outcomes and lessons learned.

Commercially, the role oversees budgets, financial planning, and risk reporting, ensuring sound financial management through regular reviews. It ensures programme compliance with internal policies, contributes to and delivers programme management plans, and develops mitigation strategies for identified risks. The role is responsible for data management, including collection, analysis, and reporting, and supports the design of results-based programmes with monitoring and evaluation frameworks. It also manages procurement, compliance, and reporting, and collaborates with digital experts to ensure high-quality digital inputs across projects.

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• Experience of managing multi country or large in-country programmes that have met project closure and audit standards.
• Knowledge/ experience of working with at least two types of funding sources within a structured compliance regime.
• Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management.
• Experience of managing a wide range of stakeholders.
• More than 3 years' experience managing projects or managing aspects of programmes.
• Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with SRO
• Understanding of MEL principles
• Experience of managing teams.
• Experience of conducting lessons learned reviews/After action reviews to inform future programme design and management.

Desirable

• More than 5 years' experience managing projects/programmes
• Experience of managing dispersed teams.

Education and Professional Qualification

• Foundation level Project Management qualification (in-house training or evidence of CPD in this area could be considered)

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. (C1 level)

Additional job requirements

• Role could require some domestic and international travel as required by the programme and some out of hours and evening work responding to or driven by programme/portfolio needs