Role Purpose

The Project Manager will provide project management and operational support for the development, delivery and evaluation of the British Council’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) portfolio in Uganda, under the Going Global Partnerships Programme.

The role will lead projects from start to finish, managing project plans, contracts, internal and external stakeholders, reporting and compliance requirements.

The post holder will build and manage relationships across Uganda’s TVET sector, supporting sustainable and impactful programmes aligned with UK sector strengths and expertise.

The role will also support institution-to-institution and government-to-government partnerships.

Role Context

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, working across arts and culture, English language, education and civil society.

Cultural Engagement (CE) brings together the British Council’s work in Arts, Education, English & School Education and research, delivering impact through research, sector engagement, policy dialogue and a portfolio of commercial, grant and partnership-funded work globally.

The British Council’s Education portfolio is organised into three key strands: Student Mobility and Internationalisation, Tertiary Education Partnerships, and Non-formal Education.

Through Tertiary Education Partnerships, the British Council facilitates Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Science Partnerships between the UK and other countries.

These partnerships aim to develop high-quality, inclusive and globally connected education systems while sharing UK expertise internationally.

The role contributes to the successful delivery of the Education portfolio and strategy by ensuring high-quality project and programme delivery and supporting income generation opportunities in Uganda.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded across the British Council’s education work to promote respect, inclusion and diversity and ensure mutual benefit for people and partners.

Main Accountabilities

Relationship and Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with external stakeholders, including the UK tertiary education sector, in-country partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Procure services and manage contract delivery partners.
• Monitor supplier performance and hold suppliers accountable for delivering against contractual requirements.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships and networks.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Ensure sound financial planning, working closely with finance teams and global programmes to maintain up-to-date British Council and client financial plans.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly forecasting by reviewing SAP financial reports, actual expenditure, outstanding purchase orders and commitments.
• Analyse financial variances against plans and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor monthly finances, ensuring expenditure is correctly recorded and the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process is followed.
• Lead British Council, partner and client reporting, including financial reporting in collaboration with the Finance Manager.
• Ensure all financial reporting is delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard.
• Ensure compliance with British Council financial policies and procedures.

Project Management

• Contribute to the development and delivery of the Project Management Plan.
• Identify project and programme risks and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).
• Manage internal and client requirements relating to procurement, contracting, compliance and reporting.
• Ensure reports submitted by grant recipients, consultants and external providers are complete, comprehensive and of high quality.
• Manage project and programme procurement in line with required standards and processes.
• Oversee data management, including timely data entry, quality assurance, basic analysis of monitoring data and progress reporting to meet funding requirements.
• Coordinate programme-specific data collection, working with colleagues to identify appropriate indicators and tools and ensuring data quality.

Business Development

• Support the development of commercial proposals, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and gender-sensitive programming are integrated.
• Work with relevant business support teams to ensure proposals are appropriately costed and priced.
• Ensure timely reporting and communication on externally funded contracts, grant-funded initiatives and internal monthly reporting.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

• Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, recognising personal biases and taking action to address them.
• Promote an environment where people feel valued and are treated equitably, supporting well-being and mental health.
• Apply the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in day-to-day work.
• Embed good EDI practices across Education projects and programmes, ensuring design and delivery contribute positively to gender equality, disability and social inclusion.

Role Specific Knowledge And Experience

Minimum / Essential Requirements

• Experience of managing projects from start to finish and familiarity with project life cycles.
• Understanding of project procurement, evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Proven experience of managing project finances.
• Experience of managing stakeholders.
• More than two years’ experience in project or programme management.
• Experience of using technology in project delivery.
• Good understanding of and experience in supporting monitoring and evaluation.
• Degree or equivalent experience.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience and understanding of the tertiary education sector.
• Project management qualification or equivalent relevant experience.

Language Requirements

Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Additional Job Requirements

Candidates are expected to have researched their legal right to live and work in Uganda. Any visa support will be considered at the British Council’s discretion.

Initial and continuing employment with the British Council is subject to an annual background check.

Candidates should demonstrate alignment with British Council values: Open and Committed; Expert and Inclusive; Optimistic and Bold.

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

• Manage relationships with external stakeholders, including the UK tertiary education sector, in-country partners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Procure services and manage contract delivery partners.
• Monitor supplier performance and hold suppliers accountable for delivering against contractual requirements.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external relationships and networks.
• Ensure sound financial planning, working closely with finance teams and global programmes to maintain up-to-date British Council and client financial plans.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly forecasting by reviewing SAP financial reports, actual expenditure, outstanding purchase orders and commitments.
• Analyse financial variances against plans and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor monthly finances, ensuring expenditure is correctly recorded and the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process is followed.
• Lead British Council, partner and client reporting, including financial reporting in collaboration with the Finance Manager.
• Ensure all financial reporting is delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard.
• Ensure compliance with British Council financial policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the Project Management Plan.
• Identify project and programme risks and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO).
• Manage internal and client requirements relating to procurement, contracting, compliance and reporting.
• Ensure reports submitted by grant recipients, consultants and external providers are complete, comprehensive and of high quality.
• Manage project and programme procurement in line with required standards and processes.
• Oversee data management, including timely data entry, quality assurance, basic analysis of monitoring data and progress reporting to meet funding requirements.
• Coordinate programme-specific data collection, working with colleagues to identify appropriate indicators and tools and ensuring data quality.
• Support the development of commercial proposals, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and gender-sensitive programming are integrated.
• Work with relevant business support teams to ensure proposals are appropriately costed and priced.
• Ensure timely reporting and communication on externally funded contracts, grant-funded initiatives and internal monthly reporting.
• Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, recognising personal biases and taking action to address them.
• Promote an environment where people feel valued and are treated equitably, supporting well-being and mental health.
• Apply the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion in day-to-day work.
• Embed good EDI practices across Education projects and programmes, ensuring design and delivery contribute positively to gender equality, disability and social inclusion.

• Project management
• Stakeholder management
• Financial management
• Procurement
• Reporting
• Compliance
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Data management
• Business development
• Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

• Experience of managing projects from start to finish and familiarity with project life cycles.
• Understanding of project procurement, evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Proven experience of managing project finances.
• Experience of managing stakeholders.
• More than two years’ experience in project or programme management.
• Experience of using technology in project delivery.
• Good understanding of and experience in supporting monitoring and evaluation.
• Degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience and understanding of the tertiary education sector (Desirable).
• Project management qualification or equivalent relevant experience (Desirable).
• Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.