Project Coordinator Arts and Education (47063) presso British Council | The UK’s international culture and education organisation

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

British Council Payband 6

Contract Type: Indefinite Contract

Location: Edinburgh

Contract Hours: Full time - 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

Closing Date: 12th October 2025

Salary: This role offers a starting salary of £25,520, with the potential for progression up to £26,995, subject to skills and expertise. In addition, there will be an annual LMA of £3,300 for London based candidates.

Benefits for the UK include, but are not limited to:

• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
• 3 days volunteering leave
• Career average defined benefit pension scheme 

There is a requirement to work from the office three days per week, subject to discussion with the line manager.

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.
There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

Role Purpose:

• The Project Coordinator provides integral operational support to both the education and arts programmes; ensuring quality and compliance with published standards by utilising and supporting a single, common, approach across all our products and services.

Accountabilities/Responsibilities: 

Product/programme/service delivery

• Uses a range of standardised systems and processes to plan and coordinate effective, timely and cost-effective logistical support to enable the delivery of high quality services to a range of customers
• Receives instructions and requests from senior managers and/or customers (internal or external), and plans and organises given resources accordingly (often at short notice) to ensure that work is carried out efficiently and effectively
• Provides timely feedback on operational issues and events to more senior managers, enabling the adaptation of work plans where necessary and supporting continuous improvement in the efficiency/cost effectiveness/quality of service delivery/systems in the unit or department

Customer service

• Takes end-to-end accountability for researching and obtaining satisfactory and timely resolution of complex/escalated customer (internal or external) operational complaints and issues, coordinating input from other colleagues/departments/managers as required, to do so. Ensures the customer is kept informed throughout the process.

Relationship & stakeholder management

• Develops good working relationships with appropriate colleagues throughout the British Council to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery.
• As required, supports senior colleagues in hosting/attending external events or meetings, ensuring these run efficiently and effectively and that a positive, professional image of the British Council is projected. These events may be face to face, delivered digitally or in a blended model.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with project partners, end user(s), suppliers and contractors, to facilitate the smooth running of the project and ensure ongoing alignment of interests.

Risk & compliance

• Follows agreed corporate risk management processes and procedures when delivering services (e.g. safeguarding, EDI, anti-racism, security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures, cyber security) to protect the interests of the British Council and its customers at all times.
• Contributes actively to monthly control checks (MCC) and annual compliance check (ACC) process to ensure risks & issues are captured across the entirety of the project/programme

Analysis & reporting

• Using standard procedures and templates, regularly records, analyses and reports on operational activity levels and performance data, to support senior managers in making timely and effective business decisions that respond to operational needs.
• Contributes to establishment and implementation of an effective M&E process for a particular project/programme, for instance through capturing audience participation or feedback through a recognised M&E process.

Commercial & resource management

• Operates and runs regular reports on range of standard, corporate financial processes and procedures to enable effective budget and resource management for the team, unit or project(s) – e.g. purchase order system, vendor creation, SAP reporting, procurement processes.
• Actively seeks to maximise value for money when acquiring resources, goods or services for the team, unit or project by adopting current best practice in procurement and advising managers on the use of tenders etc.

Leadership & management

• Plans and prioritises own work activities, which span across a range of different work streams, responding to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a weekly/monthly time horizon.
• Tasks, coordinates or assists/motivates others (e.g. third-party suppliers, external partners and internal colleagues) to complete activities in accordance with agreed service delivery/ contractual/ project milestones or requirements (e.g. cost schedules, time deadlines etc)
• Provides on-the-job coaching and mentoring to less experienced colleagues, as required.

Role specific knowledge and experience: 

Minimum / Essential Requirements

• Knowledge of either the education or arts sectors in Scotland
• Experience of using technology effectively in the workplace
• Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience of project delivery, particularly client-funded and/or partnership projects
• Experience of maintaining project standards in delivery, in line with Centre of Excellence Project Management Standards.
• Experience of working across different cultures
• Experience of promoting equality, diversity and inclusion within projects
• Understands and promotes ethical conduct, and able to ensure that own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and values of the British Council.
• Well-organised, able to develop and follow prioritised work plans, to track progress towards goals and use data and evidence to assess achievement

Desirable Requirements

• Association of Project Management (or equivalent) certification
• Knowledge and experience of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
• Knowledge of and passion for the Education and/or Arts sector

Language Requirement: 

• English at Proficiency Level CEFR C2

Additional Job Requirements

• Occasional domestic and/or international travel

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

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email [email protected]