Country Director Israel

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Contract Type: Indefinite
Location: Israel
Right to Work Requirements: Right to Work in Israel. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.
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.
Others are held to account to deliver to the same values and behaviours
Staff feel empowered and enabled to deliver excellence
All staff feel part of one British Council country/territory operation (as well as part of a specific SBU or professional function team), are aware of the British Council’s overall purpose and its strategy and narrative for the country/territory All staff understand and operate within the Code of Conduct
Risks (safeguarding, fraud, IGRM, safety and security etc) are managed effectively across the operation and evidence of this monitoring and challenge is clear (e.g. through recorded reviews of risk register) Concerns are escalated up the management line appropriately
Compliance with British Council policies and processes, (including amongst teams reporting outside the country operation) is modelled and championed and staff held to account for the same
Our commitments to EDI, the Anti-Racism Action Plan, and Environmental protection are delivered
Our resources are used effectively and demonstrate value for money.

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.

Additional information

Regular domestic/international travel.
Attendance at some evening or weekend events.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

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; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email [email protected]

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.