Country Examination Manager Vacancy in Lagos at The British Council
The British Council
is the world's leading cultural relations organization and creates
opportunities for people in the UK and worldwide to understand each
other, to work together and learn from one another.
We see this as
crucial to building secure, more prosperous and sustainable futures
for us all. We build trust and understanding between different
countries and cultures and develop strong international links that are
of benefit to people in Britain and the rest of the world.
We are recruiting to fill the below position:
Job Title: Country Examination Manager
Location: Lagos
Duration: 2 + 1 years
Reports to: Country Director
Contract: 2 year posting with possibility of extension Indefinite contract
Main Opportunities/challenges for this role
- Maintain and develop relationships with key local and
international stakeholders, including ministries, awarding bodies,
schools agreements and continued development of the school exams
business.
- Work in collaboration with Arts and Education SBUs to develop a
strategy for access to qualifications aligned with the major programmes
under development in Arts and Skills.
- Ensure the team structure, culture, leadership and people
management processes are in place to support a fit-for-purpose team able
to manage and develop a fast-growing business.
- Develop relationships with key HE and vocational sector
stakeholders to ensure strategies for BC Tests and qualifications for
employability are implemented.
- Implement market research, market development, and customer
service strategies to ensure development of the IELTS business.
Contribute to the review of the English strategy for Nigeria ensuring a
strong connection between the development of the English offer and
access to relevant qualifications.
Job Purpose
- To set the strategic direction and leadthe development and delivery of the Nigeria examinations business.
- Build relationships with key national and international
stakeholders and contribute to the leadership of the British Council
Nigeria operation.
Main Accountabilities
Product/Programme/Service delivery:
- Translates regional and SBU strategies into annual work plans
and deploys resources efficiently and cost effectively to deliver
required income, impact and profitability targets for a small/lower
priority country operation or a substantial proportion of defined
service/product/programme delivery within in a country or market segment
- Liaises closely with regional and SBU colleagues (and/or the
external customer as necessary) to clarify and agree local targets in
terms of quality/revenue/margin/volume/impact/time/cost
- Implements and adapts team work plan(s) in the light of revised
corporate requirements, operational changes and local social/economic or
political events
Customers & Stakeholders:
- Develops and maintains excellent relationships and communication
with internal and/or external customers to build a clear understanding
of their needs and experiences, to inform and enable continuous
improvement in the quality of service/programme/product delivery.
- In accordance with agreed regional and SBU strategies, acts as a
figurehead for the team/unit in local cultural
relations/commercial/collaborative activities, managing a range of
relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. government, sponsors,
customers, partner agencies) to achieve positive outcomes for the BC and
facilitate effective operational delivery
- May be formal account manager for a nominated
customer/institution/agency/sponsor, as required by regional/SBU
business development and partnership plans
Risk & Compliance:
- Uses standard corporate protocols, combined with previous
experience and detailed knowledge of the local social/political/security
context, to assess a range of risks in to service/product/programme
delivery. Ensures appropriate contingency plans are in place and
implemented promptly to manage delivery safely and effectively in
challenging or high-risk circumstances.
- Investigates any reported instances of non-compliance with
agreed corporate risk management policies (e.g. child protection,
security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures), and takes
appropriate remedial action, including escalation to more senior
colleagues as required
Analysis & Reporting:
- Uses management information, analysis and personal operating
experience to identify and make recommendations on improvements to unit
or country-wide ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources
that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Implements a range of corporately/regionally agreed BC reporting
procedures and holds staff to account for maintaining them, to ensure
that results are accurately recorded, thereby enabling timely and
effective operational decision-making
Commercial & Resource Management:
- Proposes annual budgets and undertakes detailed resource
planning to enable cost effective, high quality in-year delivery of
operational activities in the country/team/unit
- Leads the negotiation/structuring of local deals to achieve
required operational goals, drawing appropriately on the input and
expertise of other colleagues/external advisors as required to protect
the BC’s interests effectively
- Within agreed corporate procedures and schedules of delegated
authority, manages and reports on variances to plan, controlling
principal local levers impacting on cost and service provided (e.g.
people, processes, resources, suppliers)
Leadership & Management:
- Leads and controls a large team of people and/or range of
resources in a single location, ensuring clear communication of goals
and expectations. Time horizons are likely to be quarterly to annual.
- As an experienced operations professional, actively contributes
to the development of wider regional and SBU strategies and plans.
- Contributes to the leadership of the wider operation, leading
cross-SBU initiatives and representing the operation with senior
stakeholders.
- Identifies requirements and recommends training and development
provision to build improved operational capability within the
unit/team/area
- Puts in place processes, resources and support to ensure all
staff with line management responsibilities in their area/unit deploy
appropriate coaching, performance feedback and sickness/absence
management techniques to maximise staff productivity and motivation in a
high volume/pressurised delivery environment.
Language Requirement
- English: CEFR level C2 / IELTS band 9 / or equivalent
Qualifications
- Minimum degree-level qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Minimum / Essential:
- Evidence of leading and developing a dispersed team
- Evidence of success in developing and implementing large-scale sales and marketing development strategies
Desirable:
- Management of exams / education-related business
- Leading role in developing customer service systems
BC Skills & Behaviours
Skills
Managing People:
- Leads a large and varied team - Experience of managing a
substantial group to deliver annual business objectives. The team
includes different professions and/or areas of business, and may cover
multiple locations.
Communicating & Influencing:
- Uses influencing techniques - Able to employ formal and informal
negotiating and motivation techniques to influenceothers’ behaviour and
persuade them to think and act differently.
Finance & Resource Management:
- Plans and deploys resources - Experience of negotiating and
agreeing the resources for a defined area as part of forward planning,
monitoring progress and adjusting resources or priorities to meet goals.
Managing Risk:
- Develops the culture - Track record of analysing potential
risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their
practices
Commercial & Business Development:
- Leads business development - Able to plan and deliver business
development activities for a major and/or new market category which is
significant for the Council
Behaviours
- Creating Shared Purpose (MOST DEMANDING): creating clarity
internally and externally about strategy and direction and inspiring
others to play their part in it.
- Connecting with Others (MOST DEMANDING): showing a drive to
understand and build connections with people beyond immediate need or
task.
- Being Accountable (MOST DEMANDING): Aligning oneself and others to the mission and needs of the organisation.
- Making it Happen (MOST DEMANDING): achieving stretching results for the organisation.
Salary
Pay band 8 £31,815 -£45,900 per annum plus Core International Mobility Package.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online
Click here to download job details (MS Word)
Application Closing Date 26th April 2015 at 23:59 UK time.