Marketing, Communications & Engagement 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.

Marketing, Communications and Engagement Manager

British Council Pay band: 7

Location: United Kingdom
Department: Cultural Engagement Marketing Global
Contract type: Fixed term Contract 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026

Salary: £30,839 plus London Market Allowance if London based
Closing Date: 16th February, 11.59pm UK time

You must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of application.
There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Role purpose

Supporting the Director and Senior Grants Manager of the Cultural Protection Fund, this role will lead on all aspects of marketing, communications and engagement across the Cultural Protection Fund's priority audiences.

Developing and delivering an engagement plan that ensures the smooth translation of the Fund's internally generated data and project information into an innovative programme of events, campaigns, briefings and publications. Through this, the role will help to drive the growth, reach, impact and reputation of the Cultural Protection Fund.

The Role

This role sits within the Cultural Engagement (CE) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). CE brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our portfolio is delivered through a set of globally led programmes that locates our work and impact within our strategic framework. These programmes deliver our key performance indicators and impact ambitions.

Our work in Arts is through four global programmes: Culture Connects addresses the need for artistic and cultural exchange between the UK and countries internationally to be supported and expanded; Spotlights on Culture leverages the cultural assets of the whole of the UK to engage and represent the UK's cultural diversity and creativity at high-profile cultural events; Creative Economy analyses creative ecosystems and highlights emerging trends and areas of convergence and difference between creative economies around the world; Culture Responds to Global Challenges celebrates the transformative power of arts and culture to change attitudes, support more equal societies and the protection and promotion of cultural expression, diversity and heritage at risk.

The Cultural Protection Fund (CPF) is led by British Council in partnership with DCMS (UK government Department for Culture, Media and Sport). It was launched in 2016 to protect important cultural heritage at risk and is active in 16 countries across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia. The fund supports efforts to keep cultural heritage sites and objects safe, as well as the recording, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. CPF also provides opportunities to local communities for training and education, enabling and empowering them in the long-term to value, care for and benefit from their cultural heritage.

The CPF is about to enter a new Operational Alliance Agreement with DCMS with funding from the UK Government from 2025 onwards. The programme will launch new open funding rounds for multi-year projects starting in Summer 2025. Alongside new funding rounds the priority for the programme is to increase visibility and positioning with stakeholders and to build the alumni network of funded projects.

You will be line managed by the Head of Arts Marketing; they will be your professional point of contact and work with you to ensure your continuous professional development.

On a day-to-day basis you will be embedded into the British Council's CPF team, working closely with the Director of the Cultural Protection Fund, and enabling the outcomes the CPF is seeking.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

Marketing, communications and engagement

• The postholder will develop and deliver a programme of marketing, communications and engagement activity to support the Cultural Protection Fund to achieve its stated aims.
• This will include some or all of the following:
• A programme of events e.g. exhibitions and grantee gatherings
• Support to Ministerial / senior DCMS staff visits
• Creating briefing material, including regular updates for government departments and ministers, and internal colleagues/stakeholders.
• Creating content that showcases the work of the CPF such as newsletters, case studies, slide decks etc
• Responding to ad hoc requests for information, from with the British Council as well as from government departments and key stakeholders
• Project managing the fund's Annual Report and other key publications
• Managing the day to day running of the Fund's digital channels
• Managing the Fund's communications assets such as images, videos and other content

To do the above you will:

• Work closely with the Director of the Cultural Protection Fund, the British Council's corporate communications team, the wider arts marketing team and internationally with regional marketing colleagues. You will also work closely with the CPF operations manager to access and distil information from grantees
• Be comfortable analysing data and synthesising reports, turning this into compelling content
• Proactively build and maintain excellent relationships with internal partners and stakeholders to ensure integrated, joined up and future-proofed approaches and solutions.
• Measure and evaluate the outcomes of your work, making recommendations for improvement
• Work with the Head of Marketing Arts to ensure effective scoping, costing, delivery, ROI and evaluation of all marketing and communication campaigns.
• Ensure the Cultural Protection Fund's visual identity and reputation are preserved and improved, particularly on partner platforms and channels.
• Keep abreast of the latest developments and trends in the heritage sector, especially related to marketing and communications.
• Proactively pursue an annual cycle of formally recognised Continuing Professional Development to maintain and deepen professional expertise.
• Make appropriate links to issues across the broader organisation, to ensure that the development of communications and engagement activity is based on informed business insight and joined-up thinking.

Leadership & management

• Plan and prioritise own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and internal deliverables over a monthly to quarterly time horizon.
• Determine work plans and coordinate input from others (who may be outside the direct management line) to meet specific objectives.
• Provide support to members of the team and is aware of individual differences. Help colleagues perform tasks and use systems and processes.

Financial management

• Using agreed corporate systems and processes, work with the CPF Operations Manager to plan and track marketing, communications and engagement budget, and lead on procurement and financial tasks relating to marketing, communications and engagement costs
• Conduct monthly and year-end reporting on progress against plan and deliverables, budget, and management of issues and risks.
• Actively apply learning from this process to improve financial planning, management and performance for the Fund.

Requirements of the role:

Essential

• A degree in marketing, communications or relevant discipline, or demonstrable equivalent level of experience
• Experienced in the design and delivery of marketing and communications strategies and plans to support programmes/products
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present data and information clearly and effectively in a range of contexts
• Strong organisational, administration and project management skills
• Experience of engaging audiences across a variety of channels, platforms, publications and events
• Experience of effective evaluation of marketing, communications and engagement activities
• Experience of working in complex environments and managing a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with MS Office packages particularly Word and Excel

Desirable

• Postgraduate or Masters level marketing or business qualification.
• Experience of working internationally or across cultures.
• Experience in the cultural, education or charitable sectors
• Experience in content commissioning
• Experience in managing events for a range of audiences
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural heritage protection

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

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