The primary objective of this position is to fulfill a specific organizational need by executing key responsibilities that drive operational excellence and contribute to the company’s strategic goals. The role demands a high level of expertise in the relevant field, along with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and adapt to evolving business challenges. Responsibilities include leading critical projects, optimizing processes, and ensuring alignment with industry best practices. Additionally, the candidate must meet the outlined qualifications, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and continuous improvement.
To assist the Head of Arts in executing the British Council Nigeria’s Arts and Culture portfolio, overseeing the implementation, governance, and adherence to global programs and the Arts Core Offer within the country.
To oversee delivery teams, partners, contracts, and budgets across a variety of concurrent programs, ensuring adherence to quality, impact, financial, and reporting standards in line with British Council policies and the 2026–2030 strategic horizon.
To serve as a deputy to the Head of Arts when necessary, assist in cultivating partnerships and generating revenue, and take a pivotal role in strategic operational planning for the UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028.
Main Accountabilities
Program planning and delivery involves designing, organizing, and executing initiatives to achieve specific objectives. This role requires meticulous attention to detail, strong project management skills, and the ability to coordinate resources efficiently. Responsibilities include developing strategic plans, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely completion while adhering to budget constraints. Effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders are essential to align goals and drive successful outcomes.
Oversee the execution and ongoing administration of several concurrent arts and culture initiatives across Nigeria, guaranteeing alignment with established scope, deadlines, financial allocations, quality benchmarks, and impact objectives.
Develop comprehensive operational plans, work schedules, and measurable milestones by translating the country arts strategy and global program frameworks into actionable directives for the portfolio.
Provide strategic leadership for key elements of larger initiatives, such as leading the operational ramp-up of the UK–Nigeria Season of Culture 2028.
Monitor progress to ensure alignment with established plans, proactively detecting any deviations and promptly implementing corrective measures in collaboration with the Head of Arts and the regional team.
Lead program closure efforts and ensure audit preparedness by finalizing lessons learned and conducting thorough after-action reviews, with findings actively shaping future program design.
Experienced leadership and a proven ability to effectively manage teams are essential for driving organizational success and fostering a collaborative work environment. This role requires the capacity to inspire and guide teams toward achieving strategic goals, ensuring alignment with company objectives while cultivating a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are crucial for resolving conflicts, motivating team members, and maintaining high morale. Additionally, the ability to delegate tasks appropriately, provide constructive feedback, and develop talent is vital to building high-performing teams that deliver measurable results.
Offer strategic guidance and inspire delivery teams and project staff through motivational leadership, embodying the British Council’s core values and behaviors while championing equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Formal line management responsibilities encompass guiding project managers, project officers, and interns within the Arts and Culture team, with duties including objective establishment, performance oversight, and fostering professional growth.
Oversee geographically distributed teams spanning Abu Dhabi, Lagos, and various other Nigerian sites, cultivating an environment of collaboration essential for portfolio-wide success.
Serves as the alternate representative for the Head of Arts in operational matters, governance forums, and external engagements, as needed.
Partner, stakeholder, and relationship management involves cultivating and sustaining strong connections with key individuals and groups, including clients, vendors, investors, and internal teams. This role requires excellent communication and negotiation skills to align interests, resolve conflicts, and drive collaborative outcomes. Responsibilities include identifying stakeholders, understanding their needs, and developing tailored strategies to engage and support them effectively. Additionally, the position entails maintaining transparent communication, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and fostering long-term partnerships built on trust and mutual benefit.
You will be responsible for fostering and overseeing relationships with key program stakeholders, including delivery partners, suppliers, grantees, and consortia, ensuring strict adherence to contractual obligations and alignment with shared outcomes.
Develop and nurture strong, collaborative relationships with internal partners and stakeholders throughout the British Council’s network, encompassing regional and global Arts teams as well as Cultural Engagement and operational departments.
Build and maintain strong, proactive relationships with key external stakeholders across Nigeria’s arts and culture sector—such as government ministries, cultural institutions, creative enterprises, civil society organizations, and counterparts from HMG entities including FCDO, DBT, and DCMS.
Act as an ambassador for the British Council at industry gatherings, collaborative forums, and stakeholder engagements, while advancing strategic insights on Nigeria’s creative sector.
Business development initiatives and revenue growth strategies will be your primary focus, with a strong emphasis on cultivating client relationships and identifying new opportunities. Your role will involve proactive outreach to potential partners, market analysis to evaluate trends and competitive landscapes, and the negotiation of agreements to secure mutually beneficial deals. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and implementing sales plans, monitoring performance metrics, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align business objectives with revenue targets. Strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking, and a results-driven mindset are essential for success in this position.
Actively engage in the identification, scoping, and securing of new partnerships, co-funding arrangements, and revenue-generating opportunities that align with the Nigeria arts strategy and global programs.
Provide assistance to the Head of Arts in managing intricate bid development, negotiating partnerships, and making contracting decisions, while ensuring alignment with overarching global program objectives.
Responsible for maintaining pipeline data, tracking opportunities, and gathering partner intelligence to support planning, resource allocation, and investment decision-making processes.
Ensures adherence to regulatory standards, mitigates potential risks, and upholds safeguarding protocols to protect organizational integrity and stakeholder interests. Develops and implements comprehensive compliance frameworks, monitors emerging regulatory changes, and assesses risk exposure across operations. Collaborates with leadership to integrate risk management strategies, conducts thorough safeguarding reviews, and ensures alignment with legal and ethical obligations. Maintains accurate documentation, reports on compliance status, and provides training to reinforce best practices across all departments.
Oversee the adherence of all programs and projects to British Council internal policies and processes, encompassing safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), supply chain management, social value, anti-fraud measures, data protection, and conflict sensitivity.
Oversee the supply chain operations for the portfolio where appropriate, encompassing thorough due diligence, strategic procurement, and seamless partner onboarding.
Assess potential risks across various programs and collaborate with the Senior Responsible Owner to create and execute effective risk mitigation strategies.
Maintain consistent safeguarding standards throughout all delivery processes, ensuring partners and suppliers comply with British Council requirements.
Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks to systematically track progress, assess outcomes, and extract actionable insights. Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting processes to ensure accuracy, relevance, and timely dissemination of findings. Collaborate with stakeholders across departments to align MEL strategies with organizational goals and enhance decision-making. Utilize advanced analytical tools and methodologies to measure impact, identify trends, and provide evidence-based recommendations for strategic adjustments. Foster a culture of learning by facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions and integrating lessons learned into programmatic improvements. Ensure compliance with data quality standards, ethical guidelines, and reporting requirements.
Support the creation of results-oriented programs by contributing to the development of Monitoring & Evaluation plans and results frameworks, ensuring alignment with global program theories of change.
Collect programmed-specific data, ensure its accuracy and integrity, and perform preliminary analysis to support informed decision-making and reporting.
Produce comprehensive internal and external reports, case studies, and impact narratives that effectively showcase the portfolio’s contributions to stakeholders across the UK, Nigeria, and globally.
Integrate monitoring, evaluation, and impact storytelling into the team’s operational framework from the outset of the program.
Financial management involves overseeing an organization’s financial resources to ensure efficient allocation, accurate reporting, and compliance with regulatory standards. This role requires strong analytical abilities, proficiency in financial software, and a deep understanding of accounting principles. Responsibilities include budget preparation, financial forecasting, risk assessment, and the development of strategic financial plans. Candidates must hold a degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, along with relevant certifications such as CPA or CFA. Prior experience in financial analysis or management is essential for success in this position.
Oversee the designated portfolio budget, expenditures, and revenue in alignment with established plans, maintaining precision in forecasts and reports.
Conduct monthly financial assessments and participate in quarterly business evaluations, collaborating with the Head of Arts and Finance colleagues.
Oversee meticulous financial administration for all grants, contracts, and partner agreements, guaranteeing the prompt disbursement of scheduled payments and accurate reconciliation of partner expenditures.
Minimum/essential
The ideal candidate must fulfill several key qualifications for this position. A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience is required, along with a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software and tools is essential, and strong communication skills are necessary to collaborate effectively in a team environment. Additionally, the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines is critical to success in this role.
A relevant undergraduate or postgraduate qualification in Arts, Culture, Humanities, Social Sciences, or a closely related field is required, or substantial professional experience in a comparable discipline.
With a minimum of three years of hands-on experience leading projects or programs within the arts and culture sector in Nigeria, the ideal candidate will bring proven expertise to the role.
Proven track record in overseeing international or large-scale domestic programs, ensuring successful completion and adherence to project closure and audit standards.
Proficiency in managing a minimum of two distinct funding sources within a regulated compliance framework is required, encompassing grant-in-aid arrangements, partner co-financing initiatives, contributions from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), grants from trusts and foundations, as well as corporate sponsorship agreements.
Proven expertise in managing client relationships, cultivating strategic partnerships, and overseeing contract negotiations and compliance is required.
Skilled in engaging and overseeing diverse stakeholders such as governmental entities, collaborative partners, industry organizations, and innovative creators.
Professional rewrite:
A proven track record in identifying program risks and collaborating with the Senior Responsible Owner to formulate and implement effective mitigation strategies.
Accomplished in leading teams, encompassing both co-located and remote groups.
A solid grasp of MEL principles, results frameworks, and theories of change is required.
Conducting lessons learned reviews and after-action reviews to gather insights that will enhance future program design is a key requirement.
Desirable
A Master’s degree in a field related to the creative industry, cultural policy, or international development is required.
A fundamental project management certification (or equivalent in-house training, along with documented evidence of ongoing professional development in this discipline, may also be accepted) is required.
With a minimum of five years of demonstrated expertise in project or program management within the arts and culture sector, you are well-prepared to take on this role.
Possesses a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics within the UK creative sector, including the key drivers of growth and the factors that facilitate successful partnerships.
Professional Rewriting:
Proven knowledge of the funding environment within Nigeria’s arts and culture sector.
Demonstrated a proven track record of expertise and influence within Nigeria’s arts and culture sector.
Candidates should possess experience in facilitating bilateral cultural seasons, festivals, or extensive showcase programs.
Seeking a candidate with expertise in specialized competencies pertinent to the position, including proficiency in relevant tools, methodologies, and industry standards. The ideal applicant must demonstrate a strong command of technical or functional skills directly aligned with the role’s demands, along with the ability to apply these capabilities effectively in a professional setting. Key requirements include a deep understanding of core principles, adherence to best practices, and the capacity to solve complex problems efficiently. Additionally, the role demands a commitment to continuous learning and adaptability to evolving technological or operational landscapes.
Capable of converting strategic direction into actionable operational plans spanning a diverse portfolio of arts and culture initiatives.
Accomplished in overseeing projects and programs with expertise in strategic planning, financial oversight, mitigation of potential risks, and systematic reporting.
Demonstrates exceptional proficiency in both written and spoken communication, adept at crafting concise reports, strategic briefings, and professional documents tailored for partner interactions.
Demonstrates exceptional financial acumen and proficiency in overseeing multiple budget streams.
Proficient in digital tools, with expertise in Microsoft 365, project management applications, and fundamental data analysis techniques.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
