Head of Policy and Insight, China

Job summary

Contract Type: International Assignment – 2 years, UK Nationality required

Location: Beijing, China

This role will be offered on long-term strategic international assignment terms which includes visa and transfer support and benefits such as assignment allowances, housing, and utilities, and schooling

The full International Assignment package is offered at the discretion of the British Council and may not be available to candidates who are currently already based in another location but have significant connections to the host location. Applications for locally hired candidates are welcome but if successful will not qualify for the international assignment package and will continue local terms and conditions of service.

Operating at the intersection between cultural relations and the wider UK-China relationship, this is a new role that focuses on translating on-the-ground experience from British Council delivery of Education and Culture programmes into policy insight and inputs, mainly intended for xHMG stakeholders at post.

The British Council operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy. This is its largest operation globally, also encompassing two commercial subsidiaries, including a significant Exams business. Across its different entities, it employs over 600 people in four offices across China. It plays a major role in supporting higher education engagement and partnership with China, including in transnational education, student mobility, and alumni engagement. Through its English programmes, it reaches nearly 100k English teachers every year. It also runs large programmes in Arts and Culture, connecting artists and institutions from both countries. A significant strand of work also focuses on enabling engagement with China for young people in the UK, through programmes like the Mandarin Excellence Programme, enhancing the UK’s long-term capability to engage with China from a position of knowledge and understanding.

China is a complex and high-stakes operating environment where cultural relations activity increasingly intersects with wider UK government policy considerations, especially in the education sector where risks and opportunities are closely intertwined. Bringing strong policy capability, the Head of Policy will support the Country Director and country sector leads in providing leadership and alignment on Education and Culture across a large, complex embassy / UK network in China, drawing on British Council on-the-ground experience and sector knowledge to inform and help shape government engagement choices. The role sits within the Country Director Function.

Job description

Contract Type: International Assignment – 2 years, UK Nationality required

Location: Beijing, China

Main accountabilities

• Support the Country Director Function and sector leads in delivering pro-active and engaged leadership on Education and Culture across the UK embassy.
  Develop high-quality written policy analysis / products on Education, Culture, and soft power trends relevant to xHMG (and sectoral) interests in China.
  Pro-actively draft and coordinate briefs, submissions, diptels, and updates in line with embassy policy processes and rhythms.
  Maintain active and influential working-level relationships across Embassy teams (Political, Economic, DBT, Science & Innovation, Outreach, Comms) and with sector-relevant contacts within the diplomatic community.
  Support engagement with the embassy on strategic comms.
  Align policy outputs with British Council sector leads in country, drawing on their expertise.
  Liaison with government relations colleagues in the UK where HQ needs China content for their stakeholders.
  Provide insight, briefing and support for high-level visits.

Role Specific Skills

• Strong stakeholder / relationship management skills across institutional boundaries.
  Advanced analytical capability, including interpretation of complex political and regulatory environments.
  Excellent drafting skills, including policy-focused written products.
  Ability to translate sectoral expertise into cross-government policy relevance.

Person specification

Minimum / Essential Requirements

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience developing internationally-focused policy analysis and written products for UK government audiences.
• Experience working in complex international or government-adjacent environments.
• Experience developing new policy related products or approaches.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience working in / with UK higher education sector, preferably in a policy role.
• Experience working in China and / or on China-related policy not essential but highly desirable.

Additional job requirements

• International Assignment – 2 years. UK nationality required
• Regular domestic/international travel.
• Attendance at some evening or weekend events.
• This role will require security clearance at Developed Vetting (DV) level.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,820, British Council contributes £11,246 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

This role will be offered on long-term strategic international assignment terms which includes visa and transfer support and benefits such as assignment allowances, housing, and utilities, and schooling

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.

The full International Assignment package is offered at the discretion of the British Council and may not be available to candidates who are currently already based in another location but have significant connections to the host location. Applications for locally hired candidates are welcome but if successful will not qualify for the international assignment package and will continue local terms and conditions of service.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please apply via the link below

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : ASKHR
• Email : AskHR@britishcouncil.org

Recruitment team

• Email : AskHR@britishcouncil.org