Director Digital Innovation Arts (47392) na British Council

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.

Director Digital Innovation
 

The Team:

We have a vacancy for a Director Digital Innovation role, which sits within the Arts department of Cultural Engagment. 

Cultural Engagement brings together our portfolio of work in arts, education, English, and research. Our UK arts team works with the arts and culture sector in the UK, and our global network of offices, to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting and seeing each other through the arts. 

The Role

 We’re looking for you to join us from the end of January 2026, for two years on a fixed term contract that’s based in the UK. 
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead the development and implementation of the Digital Innovation (Arts) strategy, integrating digital innovation across teams, embedding digital innovation in Global Programme objectives and positioning the British Council as a valuable cultural relations partner in the development of joint innovation between the UK and overseas. 

The Accountabilities are, but not limited to the following:

Leadership & Management
•    Sets the vision, direction and annual business plan for digital innovation activity within the Arts portfolio of Global programmes
•    Ensure defined business objectives including key performance indicator (KPI) target of 70:30 digital delivery by 2025 are realised in accordance with the overarching British Council vision, strategic priorities and the Global Arts Framework.
•    Supports the development of the wider digital innovation strategy within the Cultural Engagement Directorate.

Strategy & Planning

•    As a member of the Global Arts Leadership Team, contributes to developing overall Arts strategy, ensuring that it achieves value for the UK and partners, and delivers optimal cultural relations impact in a financially sustainable way.
•    Defines and leads the digital innovation roadmap for the Arts portfolio of Global Programmes over a 3-5 year horizon, managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to evaluate and prioritise ideas, and conceptualise programmes and projects.

Sector/subject expertise

•    Is the key advisor on digital Arts activity to the Director Arts and senior leaders within the British Council network, aligning to the British Council vision, strategic priorities and the Global Arts Framework. 
•    Identifies potential tech partners to support Arts digital vision and manages the relationship.
•    Represents British Council as an authority in digital cultural relations to external stakeholders and audiences. 
•    Applies detailed knowledge of corporate and wider industry standards, policies, risks and testing processes for acccessibility, security, and analytics through consultancy and leads on production of new policies and standards. Inputs into current process and improves implementation of standards and policy.

Relationship & Stakeholder Management 

•    Proactively builds and maintains network of sector bodies, external communities of practice and tech SMEs and multinationals to access, absorb and apply technical/professional best practice back into own area of responsibility. 
•    Builds a network of senior stakeholders in enabling or corporate teams including Digital, GIS and Marketing to plan and prioritise specialist resource in business analysis, market insight and digital development. 
•    Working across Cultural Engagement Directorate develops a framework of principles for partnerships with tech SMEs and multinationals and leads/supports partnership discussions.

Business Development and Delivery

•    Builds networks and relationships with strategic clients/partners within their area of influence. 
•    Uses insights to understand current and prospective business development opportunities for the British Council and inform planning/resourcing/investment decisions.
•    Leads and account-manages specific strategic client/partner relationships within area of influence and identifies and secures new strategic, income-generating opportunities which contribute to the achievement of agreed financial and impact targets. 
Project/programme management
•    Develops a structure for managing a coherent portfolio of Arts digital activity across all the Global Programmes including a mechanism for oversight of the total Arts portfolio of digital programming. 
•    Identifies requirement for specific digital skills and expertise across global arts and commissions suitable digital support for programme and project inputs.
•    Advises Arts Global Programme operational teams on commissioning digital content packages and works with Marketing to ensure effective dissemination. 

Commercial and/or financial management

•    Using agreed corporate systems and processes, plans and manages the core budget for their area of activity, and for any special initiatives or change projects for which they are responsible.

Requirements of the role: 

The main essential knowledge and experience points that we are looking for you to evidence are:

•    Detailed knowledge of corporate and wider industry standards, policies, risks and testing processes for accessibility, security, and analytics. Able to apply this through consultancy and lead on production of new policies and standards. Able to input into current process and improve implementation of standards and policy.
•    Knowledge of end-to-end virtual event design and production, including selection of virtual event platform, integration of multiple digital channels, virtual event management, evaluation and live optimisation
•    Ability to write technical proposals or contribute sections of technical proposals based on detailed knowledge of digital and tech in the arts and culture sector
•    Deep knowledge and experience of arts and culture sector
•    Experience of
•    co-ordination with digital/technology and marketing teams
•    stakeholder engagement and influencing at a senior level
•    developing partnerships with innovative tech companies
•    developing internal capability in application of digital platforms

Important Information:

Pay band: SMP-s
Salary: £55,699 - £68,649 per annum.  For those in the London area and assigned to the Stratford office, an additional £3,300 London Market Allowance will be an addition to your salary.
Location: UK – London, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast.  
Department: Arts, Cultural Engagement. 
Contract type: 2 year Fixed Term Contract 
Closing Date: 30th November 2025 at 23:59 UK Time. 

 
This role is based in the UK and therefore you must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. 
 
We are unable to support with mobility, relocation or sponsorship. 
 
Interviews are planned for the week commencing 8th December 2025.  
 

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]