Job Description Ref no:
/ Role ProfileJob Title / Global Lead, Social Enterprise
Directorate or Region / Education and Society / Department/Country / Education & Society
Location of post / East Asia – Hong Kong preferred location / Pay Band / PB9a
Reports to / Head of Society Innovation / Duration of job / Fixed-term to 31 March 2016
Purpose of job:
Reporting to the Head of Society Innovation, the post holder will:
· be an international and UK domestic thought leader in the area of social enterprise
· position the British Council as the natural partner for the UK sector’s international programmes engaging social entrepreneurs, social enterprises and support associations, and policy makers
· act as the professional lead in the British Council, driving the policy, vision and strategy of the Council’s work in the social enterprise sector. Articulate and disseminate a clear and compelling vision of the contribution that this area makes to cultural relations, and how it supports the corporate outcome for Society
· ensure that internal and external resources are lined up for maximum impact against the vision and the corporate outcome for social enterprise
· ensure strategic coherence across different funding streams and structures, with one narrative across the all regions and funding streams.
Context and environment:
Social Enterprise is one of the four core themes of the British Council’s work in Society (alongside Governance and Civil Society, Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment and Justice, Security and Conflict Resolution). Our work in this area thus far demonstrates that there are major opportunities in this sector for working in partnerships as well as, to a lesser extent, undertaking contract-based work. We now seek to appoint a Global Lead for our work in Social Enterprise to take this work to the next level. Increased impact will be achieved through a rapid and sustained increase in external partnerships, with a parallel increase in contracts being secured. Our focus is moving from supply-driven internal processes to engaging and working with external clients, partners and customers.
Our work in social enterprise addresses and engages audiences and themes that are highly relevant in a world where many face economic uncertainty. We believe the UK approach to social enterprise significantly adds value to the global movement and the Global Lead for Social Enterprise will have a lead role in delivering this for the benefit of stronger and fairer societies everywhere.
So far, we have mainly delivered under the mantle of the Skills for Social Entrepreneurs large-scale programme in East Asia (and, to a lesser extent, in Wider Europe). A number of new regions are keen to develop work in this sector and from 14/15 we intend to move forward with a framework social enterprise offer, fitting with the “tight/loose” approach of the Society team (“tight” approach on design, quality management and M&E; “loose” approach on delivery in country context). The Global Lead for Social Enterprise will deliver an overarching strategy, with associated partnership and income strategies, which will achieve high impact for the British Council and the UK.
Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:
Business development
· own and lead development of the new global social enterprise strategy to deliver on stretching targets for income and impact, and ensure this strategy is coherent with the wider Society, Education & Society and corporate British Council plans
· be responsible for an income target of at least £ 1 million per year
· lead the design of an appropriate team and project management system to deliver income and
· impact targets for global social enterprise
· liaise with business development teams on contract opportunities in the sector and, where appropriate, contribute to the writing of bids, provide technical backstopping and/or be part of an implementation team
· be responsible for the communications strategy for our work in social enterprise
· develop and co-ordinate the delivery of new products within the social enterprise offer
· develop and manage appropriate any necessary governance structures i.e. steering committees, focus groups etc
· ensure that the activities within the offer are planned, resourced and undertaken efficiently and effectively within the agreed timeline
· ensure the smooth implementation of corporate processes and systems for the financial management and reporting of activity
· work with colleagues to adapt processes for monitoring and evaluating the social enterprise offer
Thought leadership
· act as thought leader for the British Council in social enterprise, producing internal and external papers and actively participating in high profile conferences and other relevant events
· actively participate in online forums, social media and use a range of digital tools to build communities of practice, demonstrate thought leadership and sector authority
· build links with other British Council offers, such as creative entrepreneurs, skills policy etc
· develop the British Council’s global reputation and credibility in the field of social enterprise
Stakeholder management
· working with the Adviser Social Enterprise, Society Partnerships Lead and other colleagues, oversee and contribute to the development, implementation and management of a strategy for engaging with partners
· act as an advocate of the social enterprise offer with internal and external stakeholders
Financial and resource management
· ensure adequate staffing and resourcing of global project team
· manage the financial risks and be ultimately accountable for financial and risk reporting to corporate standards
· line management of Adviser Social Enterprise
Key relationships
Internally:
· Head of Education Innovation
· Head of Society Engagement
· Head of Skills
· Business managers in P&P and the global network
· Specialist advisers in Education and Society and other SBUs
· UKR
· Regional Society leads
· Partnerships team
· Regional Directors
Externally:
· CEO Social Enterprise UK
· Social Enterprise World Forum
· Social enterprise leads in DFID, Cabinet Office, DBIS
· MNCs and other businesses with an interest in social enterprise (such as Diageo)
· Global trusts and foundations as above
· Leading academics in the field
· Ministries and policy makers globally
Other important features or requirements of the job
Extensive international travel and other engagements outwith core hours
Please specify any passport/visa and/or nationality requirement.
Please indicate if any security or legal checks are required
for this role.
Person Specification
Essential / Desirable / Assessment stageBehaviours / CREATING SHARED PURPOSE (most demanding): Inspiring others to want to take a specific role as part of a shared purpose
CONNECTING WITH OTHERS (most demanding): Building trust and understanding with people who have very different views
WORKING TOGETHER (most demanding): Creating the environment in which others who have very different aims can work together
MAKING IT HAPPEN (most demanding): Achieving stretching results when faced by change, uncertainty or major obstacles
SHAPING THE FUTURE (most demanding): Changing the nature of what we do and the benefits we gain by thinking and planning with creativity
BEING ACCOUNTABLE (most demanding): Showing real dedication to the long-term mission of the British Council or the team / Interview only
Skills and Knowledge / · Strategic leadership skills
· Extensive knowledge of policies, systems and networks in social enterprise in the UK and globally (and related areas, such as social investment, SROI)
· Understanding of approaches to monitoring and evaluation, including capturing impact
· Effective interpersonal, communication and influencing skills (including with senior managers), with the ability to develop global professional networks
· Presentation and public speaking skills
· Commercial awareness and business skills / Short listing
and Interview
Experience / · Experience of leading a diverse and dispersed team
· Experience of developing new products and programmes to meet the changing needs of a target audience
· Experience of identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, including scoping and positioning for new work
· Experience of relationship management in the social enterprise sector
· Experience of managing, developing and quality assuring networks of consultants and partners
· Experience of promoting or developing UK innovation, diversity, creativity and excellence / Short listing
and Interview
Qualifications / Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant area: social enterprise, enterprise, economics, economic development, international relations / Short listing
Submitted by / Christine Wilson / Date / July 2013