Country Director Israel

Contract Type: Indefinite

Closing Date: advert will close on Sunday, January 26, 2025, 4:59 am UK time

Role Purpose

Leverage your deep understanding of Israel and UK education and culture to lead and deliver impactful, sustainable, and strategically aligned cultural relations to foster trust and strengthen positive collaboration between people in Israel and across the UK. As an inclusive leader, you’ll unify efforts across all areas of the British Council locally, regionally, and globally by championing collaboration, diversity, and shared purpose.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following

• Has a thorough understanding of the country context, through extensive networks of opinion leaders and formers and other sources, and identifies opportunities to increase cultural relations impact through a similar understanding of the UK
• Has a sound understanding of comparators and (potential) partners to enrich insight and support business development and cultural relations impact, including competition in the ‘soft power’ space
• Ensures insight is organisational, it is shared and accessible to the organisation, rather than retained by the individual and country
• Develop and deliver a strong medium-term (3 year) strategy and annual/multi-year country plan for Israel, with support of regional SBU/marketing leads and relevant members of country team. Strategy and plans are based on insight and include a compelling articulation of our strengths, niche and value, drawing these from across all areas of British Council, ensuring we aim for the strongest possible cultural relations impact
• Strategy and narrative are aligned with, and inform, agreed regional and SBU strategy/global programmes and narratives to enable us to amplify our impact appropriately and ensure our cultural relations response is seen as cohesive
• SBU business plans and activities within Israel are informed by drawing on a wide range of sources, challenged and agreed. High-level performance of these components of the country plan are monitored and evaluated against agreed Key Performance Indicators, reporting as required. Assurance of adequate mitigation is sought and obtained (up the management line if necessary) where successful delivery of agreed plans is at risk
• Strategies and plans are financially sustainable and reviewed as appropriate to ensure they reflect changing internal and external realities
• Is seen as a strong public face of the British Council in country leading and contributing to relevant public debate in ways which strengthen the UK’s and the British Council’s reputation, and positions the British Council to work in partnership with like-minded organisations.
• Secures partnership and contract opportunities which align to our strategy and benefit the British Council and UK, through effective market, client and partner insights and networking.
• Builds and maintains strong senior relationships with key agencies, partners and individuals to support the achievement of British Council global and country strategies and plans.
• Relationship management will follow the planned and purposeful global account management approach embedded within the Partnerships and Fundraising Framework, and draw upon skills, knowledge and insight from appropriate country, regional and global colleagues.
• Identify key in-country and UK based stakeholders at the Mission/s. These must include, as a minimum, HMA and DHM with whom CD must maintain proactive contact – at least once per month with regular participation in SLT / Heads of Section meetings
• Key HMG stakeholders are actively consulted on our Country Strategy and Plan, which are shared and agreed with the Mission. Equally, we will contribute to the Mission’s business planning and KPIs and aim to be the SRO for any cultural, educational and English sub-items in the Mission’s Strategic Plan, and to advocate for such activity as part of the Mission’s activities.
• Stakeholders understand and value the British Council’s insight, networks and impact and recognise the British Council’s value in supporting their objectives and those of the wider UK
• Support and champion change within the country team when needed, and instilling a culture which embraces continuous change
• To actively contribute to an inclusive and anti-racist organisational culture, being aware of your own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensuring people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people’s well-being and mental health.
• Understand the British Council’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to your role, and make time for learning and development relating to EDI and anti racism.

Requirements of the role

• Recent experience of working in country and an understanding of the government, education and culture sectors and decision making processes.
• C1 Level of English.