Arts Project Manager, Nigeria (Maternity Cover) at the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.
 
We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Arts Project Manager, Nigeria (Maternity Cover)

Location: Nigeria

Introduction

• This Call for Proposals is to identify an associate consultant that will be contracted as Arts Project Manager, Nigeria. The consultancy will be for 8 months to cover maternity leave and a handover period either side of the leave.
• The role will support British Council West Africa Arts Programme to respond to programme delivery and emerging opportunities in its arts in line with country, regional and corporate priorities.  
• Working within the West Africa Arts cluster and the wider British Council team to deliver programmes, audiences and partnerships which contribute to the British Council’s SSA Arts programme.
• The projects will be delivered through close liaison with Programme Manager Arts – Ghana and West Africa, the Arts team in Nigeria, the West Africa cluster and supported by one Intern and one Project Officer.

Background

• British Council is a leader in education, arts and social issues around the world and focuses many of its activities on providing access to improved services, facilities and opportunities in these areas across the globe.
• British Council Sub-Saharan Africa Arts strategy will focus on supporting our regional vision through working to develop stronger creative sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that are better connected to the UK. This work will enable the UK to hear clearly the voices of young Africans.
• We work through our partners in the creative sectors of the UK and SSA to stimulate new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through the Arts.
• The strategy delivers programmes in thematic strands which include Creative Enterprise (supporting livelihoods in the creative industries) and Connecting (connecting artists and other cultural professionals often to make new work and show to new audiences).

Approach and Activities

• The selected consultant will be contracted for a maximum of 8 months from 1 June 2021 to provide the services and deliverables as articulated at the start of the consultancy with reasonable skill, care and ability in accordance with the standards set by British Council in any contractual agreement associated with these Terms of Reference.
• The approach for delivery of the consultancy will be working five days per week, remotely and on occasion at the British Council office in Lagos as safety precautions permit.

Deliverables
The key deliverables for the consultant will be finalised on contracting and include (but not be limited to):

• To implement a portfolio of projects within the West Africa Arts programme with the support of internal project officers, UK project managers and/or external delivery partners to meet agreed project targets.
• To be the dedicated point of contact for assigned projects managed in Nigeria and digital / social media activity for West Africa.
• To manage relationships with project partners, and representing the project to other external stakeholders
• To ensure that all project activity reflects key equal opportunities and diversity issues
• Project planning, using tools including project plans and initiation documents, Project logic models, Gantt charts and scorecard instruments (audience forecasts and actuals, quality of service questionnaires)
• Prepare and manage detailed expenditure budgets for projects to British Council standards
• Manage cash flow, profiling and monthly, quarterly and annual reporting of budgets managed Manage procurement in accordance with corporate procurement policy and processes
• Support Programme Manager with information for monthly budget management reports and quarterly reforecasting returns.
• Work with the Marcomms colleagues to develop and manage digital marketing and audience development campaigns including but not limited to social media platforms
• Provide content to the Marcomms team for communications materials for distribution internally and externally in Nigeria, the region and UK
• Ensure the evaluation strategy for each project is implemented in accordance with Corporate Scorecard standards and to report likely variations from target.

Working with other members of arts team, the post holder will:

• Monitor and identify trends in Nigeria social media, market intelligence and insight to support effective strategies, plans and audience reach
• Identify, build relationships and pro-actively engage with influential bloggers, journalists and on-line commentators and media agencies relevant to our work
• Working with local and regional digital team to edit and create new content for the relevant British Council’s country pages on the country website with the aim of increasing interactive engagement and audience reach.
• Compile monthly reports detailing broadcast, tracking mentions, trends/engagement levels with analysis of data to inform future online presence and approach
• Provide corporate returns as required on our social media / digital reach, channels, audiences and digital engagement figures
• Ensure that planning, delivery and implementation of managed projects are executed in line with British Council EDI standards
• Engage in professional networks and continuous professional development to ensure that knowledge and expertise are kept updated.
• Maintain and expand knowledge of the Nigerian arts sector
• Develop and sustain relationships with key practitioners and organisations, both established and emerging talent;
• Represent our work in arts to external partners and stakeholders
• Proactively identify and pursue opportunities for developing new physical and digital audiences for delivery of British Council arts projects in Nigeria
• Provide advice to UK organisations, artists and professional networks on the international development of their work
• Working with all teams, to develop, implement and maintain an imaginative and comprehensive social media presence
• Actively contribute to developing and delivering British Council Nigeria’s ‘overarching’ online presence, enhancing our external profile.

Cross-cutting Issues:
In the delivery of the assignment, the consultant will be required to ensure to be guided by British Council requirements as follows:

• Diversity: All case studies and materials used for the programme will be in line with British Council equality and diversity approach as outlined at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/how-we-work/equality-diversity-inclusion
• Safeguarding: All case studies and materials used for the programme will be in line with British Council Safeguarding policy as found at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/about-us/how-we-work/policies/safeguarding
• Information management: All data that the consultants gain access to in the course of their delivery of the assignment will be handled in line with British Council Information and Security policy as outlined at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/transparency/policies/child-protection
• Further requirements will be outlined in the contract to be signed

 Linkages With Other Interventions:

• This assignment links to British Council’s work in arts, education and society as outlined at: https://www.britishcouncil.org.ng

Risks:

• Consultant will be required to work remotely primarily or from the Lagos office in line with general office safety guidance in response to Covid-19 Pandemic.
• During handover period, meetings with the current Project Manager will take place at the British Council office in Lagos.

Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Where there are no Monitoring & Evaluation responsibilities connected to the assignment, the consultants will still need to participate in M and E activity as outlined by the M and E consultants as well as monitor delivery of the M and E consultancy by the selected supplier and report to British Council on this.  

Timing and Resources

• The assignment durations is 8 Months from 1st June, 2021.

Management Arrangements

• The consultant will report to a named individual within the West Africa arts team and this to be communicated at contracting.

Person Specification
The successful candidate will have:

• Project Management skills
• Strong Communication skills
• Planning and organising skills
• Finance and resource Management skills
• Knowledge of the arts sector in Nigeria
• At least two years’ experience in similar role (covering key elements of this job)
• Proven success in application of social media for business use
• Knowledge of digital media tools.

Remuneration
Remuneration will be pegged as follows:

• Maximum Chargeable Days per month - 20 Days
• Daily Rate  N29,767.55 per day
•  All remuneration is all inclusive (with the exception of out of state travel) and subject to 5% withholding Tax.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Cover Letter in one PDF attachment to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

Note: We will receive applications until the position is filled.