English & School Education Senior Project Manager at British Council in Nairobi, Kenya

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    English & School Education Senior Project Manager

    British CouncilNairobi, Kenya

    Posted

    3 days ago

    Apply by

    2 Sept

    Full Time
    On Site
    Senior
    Education & Training
    Management & Business Development

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    Job Description

    This role provides project management expertise to the English and School Education portfolio of contracts and programmes. The postholder contributes to business development and quality, compliant delivery of programmes and contracts across the portfolio. They also actively share knowledge, expertise and best practice from their country's operation with the global English and School Education team and externally.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Drive business planning and performance discussions through insightful analysis, progress tracking, and continuous improvement.
    • Contribute to compelling impact narratives that showcase outcomes and align programme delivery with organisational priorities and strategic goals.
    • Provide direction for the effective delivery of projects and programmes, fostering collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
    • Champion the integration of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion EDI principles, ensuring inclusive approaches are embedded throughout programme design and delivery.
    • Develop and maintain strong relationships with partners, clients, stakeholders, and delivery organisations to support successful collaboration and programme outcomes.
    • Strengthen networks across local and global communities, encouraging knowledge sharing, innovation, and collective impact.
    • Oversee budgets, expenditure, forecasting, and reporting to ensure effective use of resources and strong financial performance.
    • Support informed decision-making through robust financial analysis, risk management, and continuous monitoring of opportunities and challenges.
    • Lead the planning, implementation, and oversight of programmes, ensuring compliance, quality, and effective risk management.
    • Strengthen programme performance through data-driven decision-making, monitoring and evaluation, learning, reporting, procurement, and stakeholder engagement.
    • Foster continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and applying insights to future programme design and delivery.
    • Promote equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in every aspect of programme delivery and team engagement.
    • Create environments where individuals feel valued, respected, and supported, while actively advancing wellbeing, belonging, and continuous learning across the organisation.

    Required Qualifications

    • First degree in related field
    • Foundational level Project Management qualification (in-house training or evidence of CPD in this area could be considered)
    • Experience of managing multi country or large in-country programmes that have met project closure and audit standards.
    • Knowledge and/or experience of working with at least two types of funding sources within a structured compliance regime.
    • Experience of client management, partner management and/or contract management.
    • Experience of managing a wide range of stakeholders.
    • Experience in spotting risk in a project or programme and putting together successful risk mitigation with SRO.
    • Understanding of MEL principles.
    • Experience of conducting lessons learned reviews/After action reviews to inform future programme design and management.
    • Experience of managing dispersed teams

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Management & Business Development

    Education Level

    Bachelor’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Business

    Field of Study

    Project Management

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Interested and qualified? Go to British Council on britishcouncil.eightfold.ai to apply.

    Show How You've Delivered Multi-Country Programmes

    This role sits at the heart of the British Council's education portfolio, so hiring managers will be looking for evidence that you can steer complex programmes across borders, manage diverse stakeholders, and keep finances and risks in check. Bring your sharpest examples of turning strategy into action.

    1. Map your experience to the portfolio: Before you apply, review the British Council's English and School Education work in Kenya and globally. Tailor your CV to highlight any teaching, education, or capacity-building projects you've managed, even if they weren't in the education sector.

    2. Prove your stakeholder muscle: This role demands managing partners, clients, and delivery organisations. Prepare a story that shows how you've built trust with a difficult stakeholder and turned a relationship around.

    3. Show your financial grip: You'll oversee budgets and forecasting. Be ready to talk about a time you spotted a budget overrun early and what you did to correct course.

    4. Bring your risk radar: The posting specifically mentions spotting risk and mitigating with an SRO. Have an example where you identified a major risk and successfully convinced leadership to act.

    5. Demonstrate MEL fluency: Monitoring, evaluation, and learning are core. If you've used specific frameworks or tools, name them. Show how you've used data to improve programme delivery.

    6. Highlight your EDI commitment: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion is woven into every responsibility. Share a concrete example of how you've embedded inclusive practices in a programme or team.

    7. Prepare for competency-based questions: Expect questions like 'Tell me about a time you managed a dispersed team' or 'How have you handled a contract negotiation?' Practise the STAR method with your most relevant achievements.

    8. Research the British Council's ways of working: Understand their global mission and how they measure success. Align your answers to their values and priorities to show you're not just a project manager, but a cultural fit.

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    Tags

    project management
    education
    stakeholder management
    risk management
    MEL