Senior Programme Manager (UK), Chevening Scholarships

Job summary

The Role

The Senior Programme Manager UK is responsible for leading the administration and delivery of the scholarship programme in the UK, ensuring a high-quality experience for scholars from award confirmation through to completion of their studies in the UK. The role oversees scholarship administration, university liaison, scholar welfare and immigration support, stipend and allowance management, engagement activities, and compliance with award terms and conditions. As a member of the Secretariat management team, the Senior Programme Manager UK works closely with senior colleagues across finance, international operations, and scholarship systems, while leading Programme Managers and operational teams to ensure effective service delivery, achievement of performance targets, and the implementation of robust processes aligned with programme policies and contractual requirements.

The role supports the delivery of the prestigious Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes, administered by the British Council on behalf of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). These globally recognised programmes provide postgraduate scholarships and fellowships to outstanding international students to study in the UK, with approximately 1,000 Chevening and 50 Marshall scholarships awarded annually. The British Council's responsibilities include programme promotion, scholar selection, university placement support, pre-departure services, scholar support in the UK, alumni engagement, impact reporting, financial management, partnership development, and social value delivery. Through these programmes, the British Council strengthens international educational partnerships, promotes cultural relations, and fosters long-term connections between the UK and future global leaders.

Job description

The Role

The Senior Programme Manager UK is responsible for leading the administration and delivery of the scholarship programme in the UK, ensuring a high-quality experience for scholars from award confirmation through to completion of their studies in the UK. The role oversees scholarship administration, university liaison, scholar welfare and immigration support, stipend and allowance management, engagement activities, and compliance with award terms and conditions. As a member of the Secretariat management team, the Senior Programme Manager UK works closely with senior colleagues across finance, international operations, and scholarship systems, while leading Programme Managers and operational teams to ensure effective service delivery, achievement of performance targets, and the implementation of robust processes aligned with programme policies and contractual requirements.

The role supports the delivery of the prestigious Chevening and Marshall Scholarship programmes, administered by the British Council on behalf of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). These globally recognised programmes provide postgraduate scholarships and fellowships to outstanding international students to study in the UK, with approximately 1,000 Chevening and 50 Marshall scholarships awarded annually. The British Council's responsibilities include programme promotion, scholar selection, university placement support, pre-departure services, scholar support in the UK, alumni engagement, impact reporting, financial management, partnership development, and social value delivery. Through these programmes, the British Council strengthens international educational partnerships, promotes cultural relations, and fosters long-term connections between the UK and future global leaders.

Main responsibilities

The Senior Programme Manager is responsible for leading and developing the UK programme delivery team, ensuring adequate resourcing, clear accountability, and high performance across scholarship administration, university liaison, and scholar support functions. The role oversees the development and delivery of annual operational plans, monitors performance against contractual targets, and works closely with the wider Chevening management team to ensure coordinated programme delivery. Key responsibilities include ensuring the accurate and timely payment of scholar stipends, allowances, and university invoices, maintaining robust financial and administrative controls, and overseeing the scholarship placement process through effective data management, university engagement, and progress reporting.

The role also ensures scholars are supported throughout their award by overseeing compliance with scholarship terms and conditions, coordinating welfare and safeguarding support, and maintaining strong relationships with UK universities. Working closely with the Welfare and Events teams, the Senior Programme Manager ensures effective escalation processes are in place for sensitive cases and that scholars have access to appropriate wellbeing support and engagement opportunities. The position is accountable for the successful delivery of key scholar events, including Orientation and Farewell programmes, while also providing leadership and flexibility to support emerging operational requirements and continuous improvement across programme delivery.

Role specific skills

• Strong administrative skills, including the ability to manage information accurately on databases and IT systems.
• Flexibility to work responsively and sensitively to changing circumstances, including responding to urgent scholar issues and client requests for information.

Role specific knowledge and experience

Essential

• Knowledge, based on experience, of an international scholarship programme.
• Experience of international student mobility, with a knowledge of the issues and challenges facing international students in the UK.
• An understanding of visa and immigration requirements and sponsorship for international students.
• An understanding and demonstrable commitment to embedding the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion into work projects.
• Experience working with online application systems and/or databases and competent user of excel spreadsheets.

Desirable

• Knowledge, based on experience, of the UK’s higher education sector, in particular the post-graduate opportunity and course context.
• Professional qualification in project/programme management, or similar discipline related to business administration.

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

Education

• Degree level or equivalent experience

Additional Requirement

• The role is primarily based in London (Stratford), with Cardiff considered for candidates able to travel regularly to London. Hybrid working is available, with a minimum office attendance requirement of three days per week. The postholder must be willing to travel within the UK to support scholar visits, meetings, and events, and may occasionally be required to work evenings and weekends to meet operational requirements.

British Council , Pay Band 8

Location: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast - UK only.

Department: Chevening, Cultural Engagement.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31st August 2027, with the possibility of extension.

Apply by: Sunday July 12th (23:59 local time)
Interview Window: TBD

The salary range for this role is £38,820 to £46,203 per annum, plus an additional £3,300 London Market Allowance for London-based employees.

In addition, the role offers an excellent benefits package, including 32 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Person specification

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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 (opens in a new window).Varies on Role.

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

If this opportunity is of interest, I would encourage you to apply by clicking the link below. The link will take you directly to the British Council Careers site, where you can review the full role profile and submit your application.

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 security check (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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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@britishcouncil.org
• Email : AskHR@britishcouncil.org

Recruitment team

• Email : AskHR@britishcouncil.org