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.

Role Purpose:

• This role leads the English and School Education (ESE) portfolio of contracts and programmes in Kazakhstan, providing technical sector expertise, supporting the wider ESE portfolio of contracts and programmes as appropriate.
• The postholder oversees business development and quality, compliant delivery of programmes and contracts to improve standards of the teaching, learning and assessment of English.
• They share knowledge, expertise and best practice from the country with global ESE teams and externally.

Role Context:

Cultural Engagement (CE) is one of two global strategic departments within the British Council. It brings together our work in Arts, Education, English & School Education and research. With a workforce of approximately 1,000 globally and an income in 2024/25 of £200 million, CE delivers impact through research and insight, sector engagement, policy dialogue and a mixed portfolio of commercial and Grant and Partnership Funded (GPF) work globally. CE delivers much of its work through a suite of global programmes/ programmatic frameworks aligned to the British Council’s strategic outcomes.

The aim of the English and School Education portfolio of work is to support the improvement of teaching and learning in formal and non-formal basic education systems. English and School Education’s work is organised into three globally operating programmes, each of which has a range of projects all working towards common objectives and outcomes:

• English Connects – open and online professional development opportunities, communities, events and resources for school leaders, teacher educators, teachers and other education professionals

• School Systems – support to international basic education systems and governments, with particular focus on language policy and practice, foundational learning, professional development, equitable access to and utilisation of education technology, and supporting women and girls to access quality education

• Empowerment – building English language, digital and core skills where it empowers disadvantaged girls and young women, displaced people, economically and ethnically marginalised youth and disabled people.

The English and School Education team delivers these programmes through policy advice, research and insight, and the delivery of grant, co-funded and full cost recovery contracts and programmes in more than 50 countries in collaboration with UK and international partners, ministries of education, education and donor agencies.

In Kazakhstan, the British Council works in a strategically important and competitive soft-power environment, supporting national priorities in English, Education, Arts and Exams. Our country programme focuses on teacher professional development and school-based CPD, UK–Kazakhstan higher education partnerships and TNE quality assurance, widened access to UK qualifications, and inclusive arts and creative-sector collaboration. Through this work, we position the UK as a trusted source of expertise, strengthen people-to-people links, and support Kazakhstan’s ambitions for human capital development, internationalisation, inclusion and sustainable reform.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

Leadership and management

• Lead, mentor and manage the English and School Education (ESE) team in-country, familiarising them with ESE strategy, policy and practice working closely with Global ESE Leads and Country Director as appropriate.

• Directly line manage specific posts as appropriate and/or work through matrix management and influencing where postholder is the only ESE representative.

• Coordinate with wider leadership of ESE in neighbouring countries where appropriate and globally.

• Ensure British Council performance management, mandatory training, HR, and equality, diversity and inclusion standards and procedures are adhered to and applied consistently.

• Advise and support project teams on funder guidelines, policies, procedures and contractual obligations, particularly on reporting, procurement, matching funds, spending rate and visibility requirements to ensure compliance.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Proactively build and maintain relationships with specific stakeholders in the UK and local English language teaching (ELT) and education sectors and develop professional networks.

Business development

• Support the development and management of relationships with strategic clients and partners.
• Apply due diligence requirements to potential partners.
• Coordinate research in country context such as analysis of client and partner trends and opportunities.
• Manage network of associate advisors, consultants and partners.
• Embed effective processes, standards and tools to support pipeline and consultant/partner relationship management.
• Manage or support the development of high-quality bids/ proposals.
• Participate in contract negotiations with partners and clients, and prepare agreements such as non-disclosure, pre-bid, contract and partner and consultant agreements.
• Ensure timely reporting and communication on externally funded contracts/grant funded initiatives.
• Participate in programme and project reviews and closure activities, helping to ensure learning is embedded in the development of new business.

Brand and market positioning

• Design and manage the production of marketing / communications collateral with attention to brand standards.

Sector/subject expertise

• Ensure evidence-informed principles of ELT / teacher development are embedded into project design and development of project-related content and resources.

• Contribute to ESE priorities (including English language teacher education and other relevant areas) through involvement in relevant research projects, conference presentations and publications.

• Contribute to the development of a bank of ESE data, including trends in the field of English in education systems and data on competitor and partner landscapes. Participate in the insight analysis process associated with this and make recommendations from this which informs and supports discussion on country strategy.

• Use ELT / education sector expertise to represent the British Council’s perspective and demonstrate the UK’s thought leadership in relevant external forums.

Commercial and/or financial management

• Produce business performance reports, including income, cost management, results and impact of portfolio.

• Manage the Income and Expenditure accounts for programmes/individual projects and contribute to business planning exercises.

Programme management

• Design and support robust monitoring and evaluation plans for all projects in ESE, working in collaboration with internal and external evaluation advisors and drawing upon their expertise.

• Undertake monitoring reviews of contracts and programmes in the portfolio to check for delivery against targets. Escalate to senior management where delivery issues are arising. In partnership with delivery teams, develop strategic responses to any perceived or actual failings identified.

• Quality assure reporting and support dissemination of findings.

• Identify and contribute to the development of reusable intellectual assets and sector specific content arising from delivery.

• Ensure that lesson learning is captured and used to inform future programming.

• Assume role of Project Director / SRO as required for specific ESE activity

Product development

• Develop and implement strategy for teacher education content.

• Design teacher development programmes using our organisational approach and standards.

• Advise teams on ways to incorporate ESE content into appropriate models of delivery.

• Apply an evidence-based approach to the design and implementation of ESE activity, appropriate to the local context.

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

• Consistently create an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health particularly through periods of significant change.

• Have a deep understanding of and take accountability for putting the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism into practice. To make time for and visibly engage with learning and development related to EDI and anti-racism.

Qualifications and Work Experience:

Qualifications & Education

• Essentials
  • Postgraduate qualification in related field and / or Diploma ELT (TEFL-Q)
  • English teaching qualification
    
    
• Desirable:
  • Online teaching qualification
  • Project management qualification

Work experience:

Minimum / Essential Requirements

• Experience of managing teacher education projects for English language teachers
• Experience of delivering externally funded projects or programmes
• Experience of implementing monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) within projects and incorporating lessons learned from MEL into programmes and strategy
• Experience of engaging with diverse stakeholders including multilateral agencies, donors, government officials, academics

Desirable Requirements

• Direct experience of supporting client funded contract pursuit
• Experience of managing online teacher education projects
• Experience of contributing to research projects, conference presentations and publications in the field of English language teaching

Important Information

• Language requirements: The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required
• British Council Pay Band: 7/F
• Department: Cultural Engagement
• Contract type: Indefinite Contract
• Working location: Almaty. Kazakhstan
• Proof of Identity requirements/right to work in country: Candidates should ensure they have natural legal right to live and work in the country where the role is based. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not provided.  
• Closing Date: 12 August 2026

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