Senior Operations Manager, CEO and Chair’s Office

Pay band: 8/E (£33,904 - £48,714 gross salary + £3,300 London Weighting)

Location: London – Stratford

Contract type: Indefinite (permanent) contract.

Closing date: 15^th February 2023 at 23:59 UK Time.

Interview dates: w/c 20^th February 2023

Responsible for enabling the seamless day-to-day functioning/operations of the Chief Executive and Chair’s Office (CCO), this role ensures that the most senior leaders in the organisation have the high-quality support they need to lead and represent the organisation. The role leads on a wide range of CCO operations including reviewing and improving services and processes, commissioning, and quality assurance of briefings; quality assurance of board papers; financial and risk management, and managing corporate global projects led by the CCO’s office.

The Chief Executive and Chair’s Office is at the heart of the British Council and is critical in supporting leadership to lead the organisation and achieve its purpose. The role is predominantly office-based at the British Council’s Headquarters in Stratford, London to support the senior leaders who are also based at that office. It is a pressured, interesting, and varied environment to work in, driving and responding to external and internal situations, and requires the postholder to be able to work flexibly, manage a high volume of work, be comfortable with ambiguity, and hold the highest degree of confidentiality and integrity. It is an extremely busy office which engages with our work and our people at every level. Working in it offers the opportunity to get close to key strategic development and decision-making processes, and to be part of a team which is helping, through supporting our CEO, Deputy CEO, Chair, and the Board, to build the wider profile and reputation of the organisation.

Role specific knowledge and experience

• Demonstrable experience of excellent judgement and ability to understand and navigate complex and nuanced issues, and ability to respond flexibly in often ambiguous environments.
• Proven ability to think analytically and solve problems quickly, e.g., interpret large volumes of rapidly changing information across multiple complex issues at any one time, to make sound decisions quickly.
• Ability to evaluate existing processes and practice and propose more efficient solutions with positive impact on areas of strategic importance/sensitivity.
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills: the ability to work well with and influence senior colleagues and others at all levels both internally and externally.
• Proven capacity as a strong team player willing to jump in to support and stand in for immediate team members, a ‘can do’ solutions-focused attitude, and ability to flex to ensure that together it delivers to a high standard.
• Demonstrable ability to work under considerable pressure and at pace and deliver against tight deadlines.
• Experience of editing
• Experience of policy and process improvement
• Knowledge of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion tools, processes, and approaches.
• Experience of working with senior leaders of a large organisation
• Excellent communication skills (as per British Council key skills, see below); excellent written and digital presentation skills.

For detailed role profile or if you have any questions, please contact Oleksandra.gorbachova@britishcouncil.org

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