Business Director English

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.

 

Pay Band: 9 / Grade D
Location: Singapore or Malaysia

Department : Regional F2F Commercial

Contract Type: Fixed term contract, 2 years

Note : The internal title for this role is 'Cluster / Country Lead - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand'

 

Role Purpose: 

The purpose of this role is to set the three year English strategy and deliver income and surplus for the country/cluster of designated countries aligning with Global and Regional strategy.  The lead is ultimately responsible for overall performance, customer experience and reputation with a primary focus on leading business development to maximise market opportunities and create value, working collaboratively with other BC colleagues on shared interests/ mutual opportunities.  Ensure compliance with British Council and awarding body standards, and add value to customer and partner relationships.

 

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following: 

 

Strategy

• Sets Vision and goals aligned with Global and Region, signed off by Regional English Director and Cluster/Country Leadership for the 3-year Business strategy.                                                                                                   
• Leading the implementation of the overall cluster market strategy primarily working through other cluster functional leads (e.g. Cluster Business Managers, Teaching Operations and Academic Leads, Marketing, Customer Management).
• Leading the implementation and development of the teaching operating model for the cluster, aligning with the emerging regional and global model and local performance.
• Draws on insights from Operations and Commercial leadership (e.g. market, supply chain developments, business improvements) to drive business growth.                                                                                                               
• Securing and allocating resources to deliver the cluster strategy and plans (lifestage / product focus, investment allocation, staffing for growth etc.). 
• Holding Cluster Business Managers and Functional Leads accountable for the collective implementation, reporting and follow-up of business and market development activities.

 

Commercial and/or financial management

• Agrees on plans and targets for products/services relative to Market need with Cluster Business Managers and other functional leads. 
• Assures effective cross-functional business planning and forecasting, signing off on KPI targets for the cluster that deliver to regional and global plans. 
• Ultimately accountable for overall P&L delivery for the cluster including monitoring performance and coordinating tactical adjustments. 
• Ultimate accountability for compliance with global standards, delivery performance, customer experience and business assurance.                

 

Analysis and reporting

• Oversees, reports on demand/supply performance across the cluster.    
• Commissions complex, comparative analyses of historic, current and projected commercial data and uses this to identify and recommend improved ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources.                                                                                 

Market & customer intelligence

• Assesses size and shape of market and agree 1-3 year commercial strategy  (channel/audience/ geography) based on market and customer intelligence.   
• Maintains overview of marketing plan for cluster to ensure it is relevant to market needs. 
• Liaises closely with relevant colleagues to identify and make the business case for investment in new research and development projects.

 

Relationship and Stakeholder management

• Partner with key internal stakeholders (English Online, Exams, Corporate Solutions, Cultural Engagement) to leverage a coordinated approach to the market.
• Establishes and cascades Cluster Account and stakeholder strategies and frameworks and standards ensuring alignment with regional / global account strategy.
• Formal account manager for key or politically sensitive customer/institution/agency/sponsor, as required by regional/SBU business development and partnership plans.

 

Risk and compliance

• Acts as legal commercial representative for the country or cluster in relation to contracts, case management, licensing and regulatory challenges.
• Leads on Tax and Status changes including establish new business entities.

 

Leadership & management

• Ensure right capability in place through leadership development, succession planning and career coaching.
• Identifies requirements and provides platforms for upskilling and knowledge /skills exchange between within cluster.
• Acts as figurehead for the Cluster, managing relationships with external stakeholders. 
• Lead and embed compliance through line management, setting a positive culture of reporting and transparency of performance/issues for business/continual improvement.                                                       
• Modelling leadership of values, behaviours and differentiators (brand, academic quality, SEND, EDI etc.).

 

Role specific knowledge and experience

 

Essential 

• Successfully leading and delivering transformational change.  
• Operating in international and multi-cultural organisations.
• Managing legal, commercial, risk and security issues. 
• Comfortable operating in a rapidly changing environment.
• Experience of business management including understanding of the drivers of growth, profitability and cash flow and interpretation of financial and resource data to forge business action.
• Experience of maximising the acquisition funnel through management of data, dashboards, and action on interpretation of customer insight.

 

Requirements

• Minimum with a bachelor degree in relevant field or with professional qualification. Having Masters in Business Administration or equivalent qualification is desirable.

International Transfer

• This role is open to all applicants including those who need to relocate to undertake the role. Candidates who do not have a natural right to work in the country will be provided with immigration clearance and visa support. Please note visa approvals are beyond the British Council’s control so any job offer will be subject to securing the required right to work. Relocation support as set out in the British Council international relocation policy is available.

 
Closing Date: Thursday, 18th April 2024 - 23:59 Singapore Time (GMT +8)

 

 

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

 

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

 

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

 

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

 

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

 

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

 

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

 

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.

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