Global Change and Implementation Manager

Press Tab to Move to Skip to Content Link Global Change and Implementation Manager We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people. Purpose of Role: To actively implement a pipeline of Business Improvement change initiatives in the global Examinations Services business to enable realisation of agreed benefits. The role will work as part of a flexible implementation resource pool that provides leadership and change support, and will work very closely with the rest of the Business Improvement team to build engagement, trust and ‘pull’ for change across a varied network of 100 countries. Main Accountabilities: Ensures major change and implementation plans are properly specified, designed, documented and evaluated so they deliver maximum contribution to the British Council’s overall objectives. Actively manage the business transition to embed Business Improvement changes within the business by ensuring teams are informed and supported to achieve business readiness, implement, stabilise and realise benefits. Provides formal quality assurance to proposed Change and implementation plans for Business Improvement initiatives, to ensure these are appropriate, high quality and aligned to the BC’s strategic priorities within Exams and other wider ongoing Change initiatives Develops a full understanding of all the British Council’s wider suite of programmes, exams products and businesses needs to identify and communicate how and where the effective implementation of business improvement initiatives could make an additional, useful contribution in terms of commercial performance and/or cultural relations impact Takes lead accountability for ensuring the Exams knowledge management systems, websites and other documentation are relevant, useful, up to date and comprehensive Undertakes targeted, bespoke research and analysis to identify current and future customer/market trends and business needs to support the development of high quality, commercially viable approaches to change and implementation which meet external demand. Builds an in-depth understanding of the wider organisational context in Examinations Services and the British Council to understand change benefit, readiness and impact and ensure the concerns and issues facing Exams business area are fully understood and their needs factored appropriately into change design, plans and resources. Recognised internally as a go-to advisor on issues related to the management of process, systems, and people aspects of realising business change. Contributes to a professional community of practice in change management and implementation across the British Council and particularly in Examinations Services. Maintains an authoritative knowledge of the UK’s strengths, reputation and capacity within business improvement and global change management, in order to work with colleagues and practitioners to maximize its cultural relations impact As appropriate, represents the British Council externally to enhance its reputation as a credible authority in effective, efficient and innovative global operational change implementation and to promote intercultural understanding and new collaborative opportunities Contributes to the development and delivery of training, support and knowledge-sharing activities to build skills and capability in Exams business across the BC (in the UK and overseas) Relationship & stakeholder management Actively manage the interface between various stakeholders including global change initiatives, external partners, and the Exams business in regions and countries to ensure that the needs of the customer and the business remain central to decisions. Develops trust-based relationships with a range of key practitioners, partners, organisations, opinion formers and stakeholders (in the UK and overseas) to promote the Exams Business Improvement strategy, secure practical and financial support for them. Liaise with subject matter experts e.g. HR, Finance, Legal, Estates, Tax and Status to analyse risks associated with proposed changes and develop ways to mitigate the impacts. Commercial & resource management Using agreed corporate systems and processes, plans and manages the core budget for Implementation strand and for a number of medium- to large sized Continuous improvement initiatives Conducts monthly and year-end reporting on spend, benefits realisation of implemented initiatives, profitability and risk, and actively applies learning from this process to improve financial planning, management and performance Monitor and report on progress with implementation and stabilisation of business changes. Take action as required to achieve full utilisation and benefit realisation. Leadership & management Sets and oversees the work plan for major programmes and initiatives within the subject/sector discipline, managing a range of internal and external staff across the globe to ensure high quality, timely delivery. Time horizons are likely to be quarterly to annual. Manages risks and issues proactively, ensuring they are identified and appropriate resolution actions agreed with stakeholders and managed according to corporate governance polices. May provide formal line management to a small team, which may consist of staff both within the UK and overseas As an experienced professional in managing and implementing change, actively contributes to the development of the Business improvement team and strategy. Role specific knowledge and experience Demonstrable experience delivering operational change projects in a complex business environment Demonstrable experience rolling out both business process changes and technology led implementations Demonstrable experience of achieving business readiness for change across multiple countries Demonstrable experience delivering results by working with globally dispersed stakeholders in a matrix environment Demonstrable evidence of influencing and holding colleagues to account Demonstrable experience of successful implementation approaches throughout the project lifecycle (from early pilots to full-scale) Demonstrable experience organizing and facilitating implementation or business readiness workshops Working knowledge of change management approaches and tools. Further Information Pay Band – 8 / E Department – Exams Contract Type – Indefinite Location – Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Greece, Bulgaria or Canada Requirements – Candidates must have the legal right to work in Poland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Greece , Bulgaria or Canada (Toronto) Closing Date – 5th of October 2023 A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities. 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; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children. Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted. J-18808-Ljbffr