Job Description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+.

In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 billion to UK organisations.

Job Title: E+ Accreditation Manager

Pay Band: 7
Salary: £30,839 per annum
Contract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension
Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Right to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.
Closing Date: Applications will close on Wednesday 26 July at 22:59 UK Time

We are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds.

Role Purpose

Deliver Erasmus+ accreditation processes and lifecycle activities, ensuring applications are managed, assessed, and progressed in a fair, consistent, and timely mannerin accordance with Programme rules, UK National Agency procedures and agreed quality standards.

The role is responsible for the operational delivery of accreditation, including managing application processes, coordinating assessments, and administering lifecycle stages such as renewal and exit.

Working under the direction of the Senior Accreditation Manager, the postholder coordinates accreditation delivery, supports robust evidence-based decision making and ensures that accreditation activities are delivered consistently, transparently and in accordance with UK National Agency governance requirements with clear audit trails

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Accreditation Process Delivery

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of accreditation calls, ensuring compliance with Programme rules, operational procedures and published timelines.
• Coordinate application receipt, eligibility checks, and applicant communications

Assessment Coordination & Quality

• Coordinate assessment processes, including:

• Allocating and supporting assessors (including external experts)
• Organising moderation and calibration activities
• Ensuring completion of assessments within timelines

• Produce high-quality, evidence-based recommendations to support accreditation decision-making

Decision Support & Implementation

• Prepare and present assessment outcomes to support decision-making by senior colleagues
• Implement accreditation decisions (approval, rejection, renewal, suspension, revocation) accurately and efficiently

Accreditation Lifecycle Administration

• Administer accreditation lifecycle processes, including:

• Renewal and continuation workflows
• Changes to accreditation status
• Exit and closure processes

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date accreditation records and systems

Portfolio Insight & Reporting

• Provide data, analysis, and insight to support portfolio management, including:

• Application volumes and success rates
• Participation trends
• Sector representation

• Identify operational issues or emerging trends and escalate where appropriate

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as a key contact for applicants and accredited organisations on accreditation processes
• Communicate requirements, processes, and outcomes clearly and professionally

Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve application processes, guidance, and user experience
• Contribute to the development of tools, templates, and internal guidance

Governance & Risk

• Ensure accreditation processes are delivered in line with defined controls and procedures
• Maintain accurate records, ensuring transparency and auditability

Team Contribution

• Work collaboratively within the accreditation team to ensure consistent delivery
• Share knowledge and support team capability development

Requirements of the role

Role Specific Skills:

• Ability to manage structured, multi-stage processes, ensuring timely and accurate delivery
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and produce evidence-based recommendations
• Sound judgement in assessing organisational information against defined criteria
• Ability to apply processes consistently while recognising context and nuance
• Strong organisational skills, managing competing priorities and deadlines
• Effective stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including handling sensitive or negative outcomes
• Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness
• Ability to work within a defined decision-making framework, supporting but not owning final decisions
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain consistent quality standards across complex assessment and accreditation processes.

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience:

Minimum/essential

• Understanding of application, assessment, or selection processes
• Awareness of fairness, transparency, and proportionality principles
• Understanding of organisational capacity and readiness
• Experience managing or supporting application or accreditation processes
• Experience coordinating assessments or working with structured evaluation frameworks
• Experience using data to inform decision-making or improve delivery
• Experience engaging with stakeholders and communicating structured outcomes
• Experience working in an operational, delivery, or programme environment

Desirable

• Knowledge of Erasmus+ or similar funding programmes
• Experience working with accreditation, grants, or competitive selection processes
• Experience interpreting regulatory or programme guidance and translating this into operational delivery.
• Experience coordinating external assessors or expert panels
• Understanding of participation and inclusion challenges in funding programmes
• Experience contributing to process or service improvement
  
  

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal fluency in English is required.

Education

• Degree or equivalent work experience.

Requirements:

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the listed locations at the time of application.

This is a hybrid role – primarily working from the office (3 days a week) with home working flexibility.

Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

#LI-Hybrid

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

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org