Job Description

As a valued employee of the British Council, you already help us deliver our mission to support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For over 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

You are part of our organisation in over 200 countries and territories and where we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

Role Purpose:

Lead the development and embedding of a unified Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) approach across the International Student Mobility (ISM) Global Programme, strengthening consistent practice, integrated systems and a culture of evidence-based delivery and learning.

Working closely with programme and country teams, you will improve the quality, efficiency and use of monitoring data through aligned processes, digital solutions and a clear programme-level data strategy. You will ensure monitoring systems are effectively implemented, quality-assured and consistently used to provide reliable, decision-ready evidence for programme performance, accountability and continuous improvement.

Role Accountabilities:

Sector/Subject Expertise – MEL

• Lead the development and embedding of a single, coherent MEL practice across the ISM Global Programme.
• Establish shared standards, expectations and ways of working for monitoring, reporting and learning.
• Promote a strong culture of learning, reflection and continuous improvement beyond compliance-driven reporting.
• Support programme and country teams to adopt consistent MEL practice while remaining responsive to local delivery contexts.
• With support from the central MEL team, support proportionate monitoring and evaluation plans, provide recommendations on evaluation scope, methods and timing, and lead or support high-quality evaluations where appropriate.
• Contribute MEL input to funding, partnership and programme proposals.

Consultancy, Analysis and Problem Solving

• Work with programme teams, digital colleagues and central data functions to support coherent and integrated MEL systems.
• Ensure programme MEL requirements align with organisational data architectures, platforms and digital products.
• Provide MEL input into the design, testing and refinement of user-centred monitoring and reporting tools.
• Support teams to understand how different data sources connect, enabling aggregation, analysis and meaningful use.
• Act as a practical interface between delivery needs and system development.

Strategy and/or Planning

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of a programme-level data and evidence strategy for ISM.
• Ensure clarity and discipline around data priorities, avoiding unnecessary or duplicative data collection.
• Strengthen the link between monitoring data, programme decision-making, performance management and learning.
• Support programme leadership to make strategic, evidence-informed choices about evaluation and learning activity.

Leadership and Management

• Provide active oversight of programme-wide monitoring data systems that are implemented.
• Establish and maintain quality assurance processes to regularly check data completeness, consistency and reliability.
• Identify data issues early and work collaboratively with country and programme teams to address them.
• Ensure data standards, definitions and guidance are clear and consistently applied.
• Embed robust monitoring routines, returns and checks as part of everyday programme delivery.
• Act as the programme lead for the coordination of Scale and other corporate data, working with teams to ensure robust monitoring routines, interpretation, validation and data quality.
• Lead training, coaching and hands-on support to embed shared MEL practice across teams.
• Build confidence among non-specialists to collect, interpret and use monitoring data effectively.
• Provide pragmatic, delivery-focused advice that balances rigour with operational realities.
• Support sustainable capability so practice is maintained beyond the life of the role.

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with central MEL teams to ensure alignment with organisational standards and approaches.
• Collaborate with Data, Evidence and Performance (DEP) to ensure consistency with corporate performance frameworks and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate across programme teams to realise opportunities for cross-programme alignment and reduce operating silos in MEL and data reporting requirements for country teams.
• Act as a trusted partner to programme leadership, country teams and central colleagues.
• Share learning and insight from ISM to contribute to wider organisational improvement.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Recognise and act to reduce bias, including unconscious bias.
• Work interculturally and include and value diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Take actions and make decisions based on an evidenced understanding of experiences and barriers for people from diverse equality backgrounds.
• Actively listen and communicate with empathy and openness.

Experience:

Essential

• Significant experience leading MEL for complex international programmes.
• Strong understanding of outcomes-based programme design and delivery.
• Experience working with diverse delivery partners and country teams.
• Proven ability to embed consistent practice and improve data quality at scale.
• Experience contributing to digital monitoring or data integration initiatives.
• Experience developing MEL tools, systems and data processes.
• Experience of delivering creative, participatory or people-centred MEL approaches.
• Strong coaching, training and capability-building skills.

Desirable

• Experience with education, youth or mobility programmes.
• Experience of ODA or grant-funded programmes.

Language:

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

Important Information

Location: UK (Open to employees in all UK offices including employees already on homeworking contracts)

Contract type: Indefinite Contract

Contract Hours: Full time - 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Pay band: PB8

Starting Annual Gross Salary: £40,179

Benefits for the UK include, but are not limited to:

• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
• 3 days volunteering leave
• Career average defined benefit pension scheme

Background Checks- Employment with the British Council is subject to satisfactory background checks, both before appointment and periodically during employment, as required. The nature and level of checks will depend on the role and applicable local laws.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work- Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Visa sponsorship, immigration support and relocation assistance are not provided for this role. Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in the recruiting country and other British Council country offices, provided they meet the right-to-work requirement.

Closing Date & Time for Applications –

1 October 2026 11:59 IST (Indian Standard Time)

1 October 2026 11:59 BST(British Summer Time)

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