Programme Change Manager at the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Change Manager

Location: Lagos
Role Type: Advisory, Policy and Expertise
Pay Band: PB 8 - E
Duration: Fixed Term (Two Years)
Reports to: Director Operations Nigeria

Role Purpose      

• To provide professional leadership and coordination of the Nigeria Status change programme.

Details
In line with British Council Nigeria strategy and corporate requirements within the Status Programme, and in agreement with Country Director and Director Operations:

• To lead on the detailed planning, process/systems set-up, and implementation of all aspects of the change programme
• To manage the programme timelines and key milestones against the agreed project plan
• To liaise with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring coordination of inputs and outputs, and buy-in where required
• To liaise with internal teams and on the implications of change, to agree aims and coordinate planning to achieve those aims
• To ensure awareness internally of the  implications for status change on our operations; to coordinate particularly closely with Finance and HR teams, and with relevant business teams
• To ensure expected change programme support (from external advisors and lawyers, internal SAP partners, and British Council teams in Nigeria and UK) is clearly articulated and is provided to standard and on time
• To mitigate risk and to facilitate compliance in all aspects of the change programme

All to achieve change in status by September 2019.

Function Overview

• The Programme Change Manager will be accountable for the effective planning, management and delivery of the Nigeria project. The successful candidate will be able to support and work with a broad range of colleagues to provide the collaborative yet challenging professional partnership which is core to this type of position. 
• They need to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of key stakeholders and business leads, both within British Council Nigeria and beyond, to facilitate the effective, efficient and holistic delivery of the project and a ‘future proofed’ solution. 
• After project go-live, the post holder will ensure people, process and systems are embedded, evaluated and issues addressed ahead of programme closure.    

Main Accountabilities
The post-holder will (across operations in Nigeria):

• Develop and implement a detailed programme plan to ensure smooth transition for specified businesses to the new operating model
• Identify key stakeholders for each project/strand/work stream of the programme and ensure that detailed plans are developed and implemented; projects/strands will include Project Management (including identifying risks/challenges and developing mitigation plans to ensure a smooth and seamless transition), HR and Finance (in close consultation with HR and Finance colleagues), Premises (in close collaboration with outsourced consultants and relevant business teams), SAP, Tax, Governance and Legal, Branding, Communications
• Collaborate closely with relevant teams to balance the requirements of the various businesses which will operate under the new model
• Tensure that the entity’s operations are supported by robust systems and processes and that relevant, staff are trained as appropriate.  This will involve:
  • Enabling processes for incorporation of the company and liaising with legal and tax advisers to ensure compliance with local legal requirements, and internal British Council processes
  • Liaise with tax and legal advisors to set up the most efficient capital structure of the existing company
  • Identifying any changes to banking requirements that are required to comply with the new status, and liaise with Treasury team to ensure changes are put in place
  • Working with local SAP partners to deliver a gap analysis, an agreed blueprint and statement of requirements to meet the statutory requirements of India
  • Management of changes to systems (SAP), processes and people, as agreed with Finance stakeholders
  • Impact analysis on operational processes and revision of those processes as appropriate, as agreed with Finance stakeholders
  • Ensure development and delivery of communications plan covering the changes with particular focus on the HR strand
  • Management of cut-over and go-live (such as transfer of assets to subsidiary) plus stabilisation to the agreed position as per the implementation plan (including relevant knowledge transition)
  • Working with Corporate Services Training team to identify relevant process and systems training, as agreed with Global Finance Change Programme
  • Set up new systems and compliance frameworks as required under the new entity
  • Review of entity resource requirements for post go-live
• Liaise closely with relevant business to ensure the selection and set up of appropriate premises, resource and facilities requirements for the new model and ensure accurate financial modelling is completed in line with agreed timescales
• Liaise with the country EDI team for impact assessments where appropriate
• Sign-off of stabilisation process (3 months after go-live)
• Hand-over of management of BAU requirements to deputed managers in the entity
• Monitor and complete project closure procedures, including approval of go-live report and due diligence file as agreed with Status and Finance stakeholders as appropriate
• Ensure smooth running of the new entity once set up is complete
• Ensure completion of the first set of accounts
• Identify and escalate key risks and issues to Country Director (SRO) and Status and Tax team in the UK
• Management of project budgets and project related procurement activities in line with corporate standards and policies
• Ensure a “lessons learnt” review is conducted with stakeholders and documented at the end of the process.

Regional and Functional Team Working:

• Contribute to ensuring the policies, procedures and systems are delivered with integrity.
• Work closely and effectively as part of the regional and global teams.
• Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

Key Relationships
Internal:

• Country Director Nigeria, Director Operations Nigeria, Deputy Director Operations Nigeria,
• Regional Finance Director and Decision Support team, Head Finance Nigeria, Head HR Nigeria, Compliance Manager Nigeria, Regional Head HR, Deputy Regional Director SSA
• Director Programmes Nigeria, Country Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Directors, Nigeria Donor Programme Portfolio Leads
• West Africa Cluster Country Directors
• Status and Tax team in UK (including Head Treasury, Legal Advisor, Tax Advisor, Status Programme Manager, Group Financial controller)
• Shared Services Centre India and SAP specialists
• Role equivalents across the British Council network

External:

• External tax consultants, legal advisors, SAP partners and other professional consultants as needed for the project
• British High Commission
• Nigerian national and state authorities   

Person Specification
Language Requirements:
  
Minimum / Essential:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Shortlisted candidates will need to demonstrate that they meet the required standard through the IELTS test which will be administered as part of the recruitment and selection exercise          

Qualifications
Minimum / Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in any numerate course of study.

Desirable:

• APM, PRINCE 2 or equivalent project management qualification
• Legal and finance specialism      

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience
Minimum / Essential:

• At least 7 years’ demonstrated project management experience
• At least 2 years’ experience in an organisational consultancy role
• Track record in managing projects with multiple stakeholders and drawing on external advice
• Experience in setting up an organisational entity in Nigeria or elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa

Desirable:

• Proven record of liaising with external tax advisors, accountants and legal advisors
• Experience working in an international environment
• Excellent working knowledge of SAP (highly desirable)     

British Council Core Skills:

• Managing Projects (Level 5): Develops and ensures the implementation of high quality projects management disciplines across functions, teams and business areas.
• Managing Finance and Resources (Level 4): Negotiates and agrees the resources for a defined area as part of forward planning, monitoring progress and adjusting resources or priorities to meet goals.
• Managing risks (Level 3): Has track record of analysing potential risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their practices.
• Analysing data (Level 4): Able to apply or devise specialised concepts and methods of analysis – or commission them from others.  Understands the output and uses the results to make clear and / or solve complex business, market or policy problems.
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3): Able to use a range of non-standard and creative approaches to inform, and persuade others, extending beyond logical argument to influence decisions and actions in a way which is inclusive and engaging.

British Council Behaviours:

• Making it Happen (More Demanding): Achieving stretching results when faced by change, uncertainty or major obstacles.
• Creating Shared Purpose (More Demanding): Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together.
• Being Accountable (More Demanding): Showing real dedication to the long-term mission of the British Council or the team.
• Connecting With Others (More Demanding): Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others.
• Working Together (More Demanding): Ensuring that others benefit as well as me.
• Shaping the Future (More Demanding): Exploring ways in which we can add more value.

Starting Salary
NGN 13,461,115 (Negotiable)

Application Closing Date
2nd February, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here for more Job Description (Ms Word)

Click here to download BC Behaviour (pdf)

Click here to download BC Core skills (MS Word)

Note: That you should only fill out the application after thoroughly reading through the Role Profile & Guidance. There’s some important information you don’t want to miss.