Head of Education - Sri Lanka

About the role

The British Council is looking for a Head of Education to lead its Education, Tertiary Education and Non-Formal Education (NFE) portfolio in Sri Lanka. As the most senior Cultural Engagement representative in the country, you will set strategy, drive business development and income generation, and provide line management to the team, deputising for the Country Director when required.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the country's Education, Tertiary Education and NFE strategy and annual plan, aligned with British Council's global priorities and the Cultural Engagement strategy.
• Oversee programme and project management, including design, delivery, quality assurance, risk management, digital innovation, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership to programme teams, ensuring compliance with standards, policies and contracts.
• Drive business development and income generation: identify funding opportunities, develop commercial proposals, manage partner networks and support contract negotiations.
• Build relationships with government bodies, clients, funders, education institutions and sector experts, and strengthen market positioning through research and thought leadership.
• Manage budgets, income and expenditure, performance reporting and country and global income targets.
• Embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across all activities and foster an inclusive culture.

Required profile

• In-depth understanding of the Education sectors of Sri Lanka and the UK, and of bilateral priorities.
• Experience delivering externally funded projects or programmes, and direct experience of client-funded contract pursuit and delivery.
• Experience developing and overseeing monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) within projects.
• Experience building relationships with multilateral agencies, donors, government officials, education leaders, academics, researchers, civil society, alumni, students and young people.
• Experience embedding EDI in programmes; desirable: knowledge of international mobility and transnational education trends in Sri Lanka, and of non-formal education approaches.
• Degree or equivalent experience, and a project management or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Written and verbal English proficiency; right to work in Sri Lanka at the time of application.

Required skills

• Strong reporting, writing and presentation skills, including at conferences and sector events.
• Effective communication and negotiation with senior stakeholders.
• Teamwork and inter-cultural skills, working globally.
• Able to lead digital events on basic platforms such as Microsoft Teams, meeting corporate standards for accessibility and safeguarding.