Head of Education Wales

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.

Role Purpose:

Lead the strategy, growth and delivery of the British Council’s Education and Tertiary Education portfolio in Wales. You will shape programmes spanning student mobility and internationalisation, tertiary education and science partnerships, non-formal education and client-funded programmes, delivering meaningful impact while contributing to income and business development targets.

As a senior sector leader, you will build influential relationships across government, education, research and partner networks, representing the British Council and the UK with credibility and expertise. You will bring insight into the Welsh education landscape, identify new opportunities and strengthen connections between Wales and the wider international education community, with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion embedded throughout.

Role Accountabilities:

Strategy and Planning

- Lead the development and implementation of the Wales Education/Tertiary Education strategy and annual plan, aligned with global Education strategy and the Cultural Engagement plan for Wales.
- Ensure the strategy responds to the priorities of Welsh Government, HMG and local stakeholders and partners.
- Build strong internal relationships across Cultural Engagement and the wider British Council to ensure strategic alignment and delivery.
- Identify how digital products, services and channels can strengthen the impact, reach and sustainability of the portfolio.

Leadership and Management

- Lead the Wales Education/Tertiary Education portfolio, ensuring high-quality delivery in line with British Council programme standards, including planning, reporting, evaluation and EDI.
- Provide technical expertise to programme and contract design, ensuring quality, impact and effective management of risks and issues.
- Use digital platforms and technology to improve programme design and delivery.
- Lead effective financial, operational and portfolio management, delivering against budgets, profitability, timelines, quality and impact targets.
- Provide leadership and line management where applicable, including matrix management support to sector programme teams.
- Act as Senior Responsible Officer for smaller projects/programmes where required.
- Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), reporting and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
- Lead by example, demonstrating the British Council’s policies, values and behaviours in all interactions.

Business Development

- Lead business development and income generation for Education/Tertiary Education, working with the Country Director and global business development team.
- Build networks with potential funders, clients and partners and identify opportunities aligned with Wales and global business development priorities.
- Lead the development of evidence-based commercial proposals and contribute to high-quality bids, ensuring EDI and gender equality, disability and social inclusion are embedded.
- Work with global business support teams to ensure proposals are appropriately costed and priced.
- Manage a network of associate advisers, consultants and partners to support business development and contract delivery.
- Contribute to contract negotiations and ensure effective risk mitigation.
- Ensure timely reporting and communication across externally and grant-funded contracts and initiatives.

Stakeholder Management and Market Positioning

- Build and manage mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders to deepen understanding of the education landscape and identify partnership opportunities.
- Represent the British Council and the UK as a trusted sector expert through networking, events, speaking engagements and thought leadership.
- Position the British Council as a high-quality and valued partner, contributing to our mission of building trust between people in the UK and other countries.

Market Knowledge, Research and Insight

- Develop and share market intelligence and insight on the Welsh education context to support engagement between the UK education sector, Wales and international partners.
- Commission relevant research that contributes to the British Council’s Tertiary Education research strategy.
- Apply sector expertise to public consultations and external forums, providing evidence-based insight and demonstrating thought leadership.

Commercial and/or Financial Management

- Produce business performance reporting covering income, costs, results and portfolio impact.
- Manage income and expenditure accounts for programmes and projects and contribute to wider business planning.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

- Actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist culture, recognising and addressing bias and ensuring people feel valued and treated equitably.
- Embed EDI good practice across all projects and programmes, ensuring design and delivery contribute positively to gender equality, disability and social inclusion.
- Take responsibility for continued learning and development in EDI and anti-racism.

Qualifications:

Essential

- Degree and/or equivalent experience.

Desirable

- Project management or equivalent qualification or equivalent work experience.

Experience:

Essential

- In-depth understanding of the Education sectors in Wales and the UK, including bilateral priorities.
- Experience of delivering sizeable externally funded projects or programmes.
- Direct experience of client-funded contract pursuit and delivery.
- Experience of developing and overseeing monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), using lessons learned to inform programmes and strategy.
- Proven experience of building mutually beneficial relationships with diverse stakeholders, including multilateral agencies, donors, government officials, Education/Higher Education leaders, academics, researchers, alumni and students.
- Experience of embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in programmes.

Desirable

- Knowledge of international mobility trends involving Welsh students or students coming to Wales for tertiary education.
- Knowledge of transnational education trends in Wales, including academic and research partnerships with public and private education institutions.
- Ability to analyse relevant equality issues and identify opportunities to address these within the portfolio.
- Welsh language skills.

Language

- The British Council's systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required. Additionally Welsh language skills are desirable.

Important Information:

Location: Cardiff, UK

Contract type: IDC (Indefinite Contract)

Pay Band: 8

Starting Annual Gross Salary:  £40,179

Background check: Employment with the British Council is subject to satisfactory background checks, both before appointment and periodically during employment, as required. The nature and level of checks will depend on the role and applicable local laws.

Proof of Identity & Right to Work: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the country where the role is based at the time of application and for the duration of employment. Visa sponsorship, immigration support and relocation assistance are not provided for this role. Applications are welcome from candidates currently based in the recruiting country and other British Council country offices, provided they meet the right-to-work requirement.

Closing Date & Time for Applications:

18 October 2026 11:59 IST (Indian Standard Time)

18 October 2026 7:59 BST (British Summer Time)

Pwrpas y Rôl:

Bydd deiliad y rôl yn arwain strategaeth, datblygiad, a’r gwaith o gyflawni portffolio Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol y British Council yng Nghymru. Byddwch yn llunio rhaglenni sy’n cwmpasu symudeddau myfyrwyr a rhyngwladoli, addysg drydyddol a phartneriaethau gwyddoniaeth, addysg anffurfiol, a rhaglenni a ariennir gan gleientiaid. Byddwch yn gweithio i sicrhau ein bod yn cyrraedd targedi a chael effaith yn ogystal â chyfrannu at gyrraedd targedau datblygu incwm a busnes.

Fel arweinydd sector uwch, byddwch yn meithrin cysylltiadau dylanwadol ar draws y llywodraeth a meysydd addysg ac ymchwil, ac ar draws rhwydweithiau partneriaid gan gynrychioli'r British Council a'r DU gydag awdurdod ac arbenigedd. Byddwch yn cynnig mewnwelediad i faes addysg Cymru, nodi cyfleoedd newydd, a meithrin cysylltiadau cryfach rhwng Cymru a’r gymuned addysg ryngwladol. Bydd Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth, a Chynhwysiant yn greiddiol i’ch holl swyddogaethau, cyfrifoldebau, a gweithgareddau.

Prif Gyfrifoldebau:

Strategaeth a Chynllunio

- Arwain y gwaith o ddatblygu strategaeth a chynllun blynyddol Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol yng Nghymru, yn unol â’r strategaeth Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol fyd-eang a’r cynllun Ymgysylltu Diwylliannol ar gyfer Cymru.
- Sicrhau bod strategaeth Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol Cymru’n ateb gofynion rhanddeiliaid a phartneriaid lleol ac yn cydfynd â blaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Ei Fawrhydi a Llywodraeth Cymru.
- Meithrin cysylltiadau mewnol cadarn ar draws yr adran Ymgysylltu Diwylliannol genedlaethol ac ar draws y British Council yn gyffredinol i gysoni gwaith a sicrhau cyflawniad strategol .
- Nodi ffyrdd y gall adnoddau, gwasanaethau, a sianeli digidol gryfhau effaith, cyrhaeddiad, a chynaliadwyedd y portffolio

Arweinyddiaeth a Rheoli

- Arwain gwaith portffolio Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol Cymru gan sicrhau canlyniadau o ansawdd uchel yn unol â safonau rhaglenni’r British Council, gan gynnwys cynllunio, llunio adroddiadau, gwerthuso, a Chydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant.
- Cyfrannu arbenigedd technegol i waith cynllunio rhaglenni a chytundebau Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol, gan sicrhau ansawdd ac effaith, a rheoli problemau a risgiau.
- Defnyddio platfformau digidol i wella cynlluniau a chyflawniad rhaglenni.
- Arwain rheolaeth ariannol, weithredol a phortffolio effeithiol, gan gyflawni targedau elw, cyllideb, amserlenni, ansawdd, ac effaith yn brydlon .
- Cyfarwyddo a darparu rheolaeth llinell lle bo hynny'n briodol, gan gynnwys cymorth rheoli matrics i dimau rhaglenni sector.
- Gweithredu fel yr Uwch Swyddog Cyfrifol ar gyfer prosiectau neu raglenni llai, fel y bo'r galw.
- Sicrhau safonnau monitro, gwerthuso, a dysgu, ac adrodd, a hybu gwelliant parhaus ar draws holl waith y portffolio.
- Arwain drwy esiampl a chydymffurfio â pholisïau , gwerthoedd, ac ymddygiadau’r British Council yn eich holl weithgareddau a gweithredoedd.

Datblygu Busnes

- Arwain y gwaith o ddatblygu busnes a chreu incwm, gan weithio gyda’r Cyfarwyddwr Gwlad a’r tîm datblygu busnes byd-eang.
- Meithrin rhwydweithiau gyda darpar gyllidwyr, cleientiaid, a phartneriaid a nodi cyfleoedd sy’n cydfynd â blaenoriaethau datblygu busnes yng Nghymru ac yn fyd-eang.
- Arwain y gwaith o ddatblygu cynigion masnachol yn seiliedig ar dystiolaeth a chyfranu i’r gwaith o gyflwyno cynigion o ansawdd uchel, gan sicrhau bod Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant (EDI) a chydraddoldeb rhywedd, anabledd, a chynwysiant cymdeithasol yn cael eu hymgorffori.
- Gweithio gyda thimau cymorth busnes byd-eang i sicrhau bod cynigion yn cael eu costio a'u prisio'n briodol.
- Rheoli rhwydwaith o gynghorwyr cyswllt, ymgynghorwyr a phartneriaid i gefnogi datblygu busnes a chyflawni cytundebau.
- Cyfrannu at broses negodi cytundebau a sicrhau bod risgiau'n cael eu lleihau.
- Sicrhau bod adroddiadau a chyfathrebiadau'n cael eu cyflwyno’n brydlon ar gyfer cytundebau a mentrau a ariennir yn allanol neu drwy grantiau.

Rheoli rhanddeiliaid a gosod y busnes yn y farchnad

- Meithrin a rheoli cysylltiadau sydd o fudd i'r ddwy ochr gyda rhanddeiliaid allweddol i gryfhau ein dealltwriaeth o'r tirlun addysg a nodi cyfleoedd am bartneriaethau.
- Cynrychioli'r British Council a'r DU fel arbenigwr sector dibynadwy drwy rwydweithio, mynychu ac annerch digwyddiadau neu gyfarfodydd, ac arwain ar ffyrdd o feddwl.
- Sicrhau ein bod yn gosod y British Council fel partner gwerthfawr o ansawdd uchel, gan gyfrannu at ein cenhadaeth i feithrin ymddiriedaeth rhwng pobl yn y DU a gwledydd ar draws y byd.

Gwybodaeth am y farchnad, ymchwil, a mewnwelediad

- Casglu gwybodaeth a mewnwelediad i'r farchnad ym maes addysg Cymru i gefnogi'r ymgysylltu rhwng sector addysg Cymru a phartneriaid yn y DU ac yn rhyngwladol.
- Defnyddio arbenigedd sector ar gyfer ymgynghoriadau cyhoeddus a fforymau allanol, gan ddarparu mewnwelediadau’n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth a dangos arweinyddiaeth meddwl.
- Comisiynu ymchwil perthnasol sy'n cyfrannu at strategaeth ymchwil Addysg Drydyddol y British Council.

Rheoli masnachol a/neu ariannol

- Llunio adroddiadau perfformiad busnes sy'n cwmpasu incwm, costau, canlyniadau, ac effaith y portffolio.
- Rheoli cyfrifon incwm a gwariant ar gyfer rhaglenni a phrosiectau, a chyfrannu at gynllunio busnes eangach.

Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth, a Chynhwysiant

- Cyfrannu'n weithredol at feithrin diwylliant cynhwysol a gwrth-hiliol, gan amlygu ymwybyddiaeth o ragfarnau a sicrhau bod pawb yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi a'u trin yn gyfartal.
- Ymgorffori arferion Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth, a Chynhwysiant ym mhob prosiect a rhaglen, gan sicrhau bod y broses o’u cynllunio a’u cyflawni’n cyfrannu’n weithredol at hybu cydraddoldeb rhywedd, hawliau anabledd, a chynhwysiant cymdeithasol.

- Cymryd cyfrifoldeb am ddysgu a datblygu parhaus o ran Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth, Cynhwysiant a Gwrth-hiliaeth.

C ymwysterau:

Hanfodol

- Gradd a/neu brofiad cyfatebol.

Dymunol

- Cymhwyster rheoli prosiect neu gymhwyster cyfatebol neu brofiad gwaith cyfatebol.

Profiad:

Hanfodol

- Dealltwriaeth fanwl a thrylwyr o’r sectorau Addysg yng Nghymru a’r DU, a blaenoriaethau dwyochrog.
- Profiad o gyflawni prosiectau neu raglenni sylweddol wedi’u hariannu’n allanol.
- Profiad uniongyrchol o ennill business neu gytundebau a ariennir gan gleientiaid.
- Profiad o arolygu arfer Monitro, Gwerthuso a Dysgu (MEL) ar brosiectau, a defnyddio'r gwersi hynny i lywio rhaglenni a strategaeth.
- Profiad o feithrin cysylltiadau sydd o fudd i'r ddwy ochr gyda rhanddeiliaid amrywiol gan gynnwys asiantaethau amlochrog, rhoddwyr, swyddogion llywodraeth, arweinyddion Addysg ac Addysg Drydyddol, academyddion, ymchwilwyr, cyn-fyfyrwyr a myfyrwyr.
- Profiad o ymgorffori Cydraddoldeb, Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant mewn rhaglen ni.

Dymunol

- Gwybodaeth am dueddiadau symudedd rhyngwladol ymhlith myfyrwyr o Gymru, a myfyrwyr sy'n dod i Gymru i geisio cyfleoedd addysg drydyddol.
- Gwybodaeth am dueddiadau addysg trawswladol yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys partneriaethau academaidd ac ymchwil sefydliadau addysgol cyhoeddus a phreifat.
- Gallu dadansoddi materion perthnasol yn ymwneud â chydraddoldeb a nodi cyfleoedd i fynd i'r afael â nhw yn y portffolio.
- Sgiliau iaith Gymraeg

Gofynion Iaith:

- Mae systemau a phrosesau byd-eang y British Council yn gweithredu yn Saesneg. Mae hyfedredd llafar ac ysgrifenedig yn Saesneg yn angenrheidiol ar gyfer y rôl yma.  Mae sgiliau iaith Gymraeg yn ddymunol ar gyfer y rôl yma.

G

Lleoliad : Caerdydd, y DU yn unig

Math o gytundeb: Cytundeb Cyflenwi Amhenodol (IDC)

Band cyflog : 8

Cyflog: £40,179

wybodaeth Bwysig:

Gwiriadau cefndir: Mae cyflogaeth gan y British Council yn amodol ar dderbyn gwiriadau cefndir boddhaol cyn cael eich cyflogi, ac o bryd i'w gilydd yn ystod cyfnod y gyflogaeth, yn ôl yr angen. Bydd natur a lefel y gwiriadau’n dibynnu ar y rôl a chyfreithiau lleol perthnasol.

Prawf Hunaniaeth a’r Hawl i Weithio: Rhaid bod gan yr ymgeisydd yr hawl i fyw a gweithio yn y wlad y lleolir y swydd ynddi – ar adeg gwneud y cais, a thrwy gydol cyfnod y gyflogaeth. Ni ddarperir cymorth mewnfudo na fisa, na chymorth ad-leoli ar gyfer y swydd yma. Rydym yn croesawu ceisiadau gan ymgeiswyr sy’n byw yn y wlad sy’n recriwtio a swyddfeydd gwlad eraill y British Council, ar yr amod eu bod yn ateb y gofynion perthnasol o ran yr hawl i weithio.

Dyddiad ac Amser Cau i Geisiadau:

18 Hydref 2026 11:59 IST (Amser Safonol India)

18 Hydref 2026 7:59 BST (Amser y DU)

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]