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:

The Head of English and School Education will support the development and delivery of a strategic portfolio of partnerships, programmes, and contracts across mixed funding streams and business models. They will ensure an overall balance of impact and financial sustainability, deliver country outcomes, and support the Country Director to ensure that benefit is achieved in country and for the UK and is suitably communicated.

The role holder with lead the English and School Education (ESE) portfolio of School Systems, Empowerment, and English Connects. They will lead contracts and programmes in-country, providing technical sector expertise, overseeing business development, and delivering quality, compliant implementation of programmes and contracts.

The role holder will share knowledge, expertise, and best practice from the country with the 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 1000 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 in country 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.

Indonesia is of significant importance to the UK. As the world’s third largest democracy, largest Muslim majority nation and with a young population of 280 million and an economy projected to be one of the world’s top ten within a decade – its scale, demographic momentum, and geopolitical influence in the Indo Pacific make it a critical partner for the UK. Indonesia’s national priorities—human capital development, digital transformation, inclusive economic growth, and long-term educational reform—create strong alignment with UK expertise in education, English, science, culture, and skills. The newly launched UK-Indonesia Strategic Partnership formalises this and our planned portfolio addresses Indonesia and the UK’s shared goals, including on English teachers’ CPD, system reforms in English language teaching, and skills development in the schools sector.

In Indonesia, we deliver School Systems and Empowerment global programmes. We Governments of Indonesia at the national and sub-national level to improve teaching quality, English in education, life skills for young people, and girls’ education. The focus of our work under School Systems is to support the implementation of reintroduction of English in primary school starting grade 3 in 2027. Under the Empowerment programme, we support marginalised young people including those with disabilities to enhance the English‑language abilities and life skills of marginalised youth and persons with disabilities to support their aspirations and improve future opportunities.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

Strategy and planning

• Liaise closely with leaders in the global team and in country to translate overarching corporate strategies into a high impact and profitable programme of activity, ensuring the plan is fully aligned to wider organisational objectives and responds appropriately to local market conditions/opportunities.
• Conduct or commission complex, comparative analyses of historic, current and projected commercial performance data across multiple markets and use this to set a profitable local, annual business plan for English and School Education.
• Translate global programme ambitions and the local business development plan into a set of targets for the English and School Education team. Closely monitor achievement against the plan and intervene to take remedial actions where necessary, liaising with leaders in the global team as appropriate to determine the most appropriate solution to protect both short and medium-term performance.
• Ensure that English and School Education projects bring demonstrable benefit to the UK through partnerships with the UK sector, leveraging grant through partnership funding.

Leadership and management

• Provide inspiring and motivational leadership that role-models the British Council’s values and behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence, whilst promoting equity, diversity and inclusion.
• In close conjunction with other leaders in English and School Education set the vision, direction and annual business development plan for English and School Education in country, to ensure defined business objectives are realised in accordance with the overarching British Council strategy.
• Lead the development/commissioning and implementation of high-quality programmes to build long-term business development/commercial capability and skills.
• Have a formal role in supporting the development of wider strategy within the global English and School Education sector and where appropriate for Cultural Engagement more broadly.
• Provide formal line management to members of the English and School Education team in country involved in achieving business development targets for the relevant areas of the global programme framework.
• Develop, motivate and manage the performance of the English and School Education team, to ensure it creates the right climate to achieve its objectives.

Brand and market positioning

• Build professional and personal networks with relevant opinion-formers, stakeholders and key partners and clients (including from the relevant government ministries and departments) to ensure a clear understanding of their needs. Use those insights to understand current and prospective business development opportunities for the British Council and inform planning/resourcing/investment decisions.

• Track and monitor a range of market and competitor data, to inform the development of new products, services, client groups and ways of working that will maintain the British Council’s competitive edge in the medium-term.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to define the marketing and communications strategy for the English and School Education operation in country, and ensure its effective implementation, to build brand consistency, quality and visibility across the country, the wider region and globally where relevant.

Business development

• Quality assure and sign-off bids/tenders/proposals appeals, within agreed corporate schedules of delegation.
• Within agreed schedules of delegation, take pursuit and contracting decisions based on robust analysis of potential costs/benefits/risks and personal business experience, in consultation with English and School Education global leadership and within country structures.
• Commission expert advice from internal and external specialists as required to enable informed decision-making.
• Lead complex or strategically/commercially important bid presentations/contract or partnership negotiations, as required, ensuring a high-quality approach is taken and an appropriate wider team is in play to support such activity, thereby maximising the chances of success.
• Ensure alignment of opportunities with global English and School Education strategy.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Lead key account/partner relationships to support the achievement of agreed commercial and impact targets over both the short- to medium-term.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of account management strategies over time and adapt approaches as necessary to achieve required targets. Proactively share experience and insights (e.g. case studies, R.O.I analyses etc) to build the British Council’s corporate account management and business development capability and skill.
• Coach and mentor more junior colleagues to build their account management effectiveness.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with internal partners and stakeholders within and across the English and School Education sector, to ensure effective, integrated and joined-up delivery of agreed business objectives as well as pursuit of new opportunities.
• Proactively build and maintain relationships with specific external stakeholders in the UK and in-country English language teaching and education sectors, and develop professional networks.

Professional services / sector expertise

• Oversee the development of a bank of English and School Education data for the country, 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.
• Oversee the collection and learning from monitoring and evaluation data in line with the theories of change and frameworks set out for each global programme that is active in country.

• Use sector expertise to represent the British Council’s perspective and demonstrate the UK’s capabilities and thought leadership in relevant external forums such as government, NGO and funder led technical working groups and task forces.

Consultancy, analysis and problem solving

• Apply advanced knowledge and technical specialism to solve a range of complex issues across English and School Education.
• Deploy a range of specialist methodologies, approaches and technologies to support the provision of high-quality services and advice.
• Distil complex concepts and analysis into cogent and persuasive business case presentations, which convincingly influence decision-makers about the need for significant changes to policy or practice.

Commercial and/or financial management

• Produce and communicate business performance reports, including income, cost management, results and impact of portfolio against KPIs and mitigate identified variances by working with the English and School Education team and relevant business support functions.

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
  • Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in English language / education-related subject area
  • English teaching qualification
• Desirable:

• • Masters in ELT, Educational Technology, Education and International Development or similar subject area
  • Project management qualification

Work Experience

Minimum / Essential Requirements

• Experience in a leadership role which involves oversight and accountability for leading and/or developing and delivering capacity building education programmes
• Proven track record and strong experience in designing and managing English language-focused education programmes in the country where this role is based which deliver outcomes for all boys and girls
• Experience of leading proposals/bids for international development education programmes which deliver results in partnership with national / federal Ministries of Education.
• Good evidence of designing and implementing stakeholder engagement strategies and stakeholder management of diverse groups of stakeholders (including multilateral agencies, donors, government officials, partners, academics)
• Established credibility in the field of English language education including evidence of thought leadership within the sector

Desirable Requirements

• Experience and understanding of tertiary education sector
• Demonstrable understanding of broader education policies and issues as relevant to the country context
• Able to plan and manage dissemination of global thought leadership outputs, such as publications
• Experience of designing and leading teacher education projects, including online

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: 8/E
• Department: Cultural Engagement
• Contract type: 1-year Fixed-Term Contract, with the possibility of renewal.
• Working location: Jakarta, Indonesia
• 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 (22:59 WIB)

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