Job Vacancy at British Council—HE Programme Manager

Looking to advance your career in higher education programme management with a globally recognized organization? British Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates for the position of HE Programme Manager. This opportunity is ideal for professionals with experience in higher education, programme management, project delivery, stakeholder engagement, partnership development, or international education who are passionate about delivering impactful education programmes and strengthening collaboration across institutions.
If you are interested in this job opening you can continue on this page for more information on the job description and for the official online recruitment channel to begin application.

Applications are invited for the position below:

Job Title: HE Programme Manager

Location: Lagos

Role Purpose

• Lead on strategy, planning and delivery of the country Tertiary Education portfolio including delivery of British Council global programmes – student mobility and internationalisation, tertiary education and science partnerships, and non-formal education – and client-funded programmes, ensuring they achieve impact targets.
• Support business development and income generation, contributing to successful delivery of country and global income targets, with support from Country Director and the global team.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and demonstrate expertise on behalf of the British Council and the UK in the sector, positioning the organisation favourably with government representatives, clients, partners, researchers and technical experts.
• Build market knowledge and insight about the local education context and share this internally and externally.
• Embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) into all aspects of this work so that our people and partners experience a culture that promotes respect, inclusion and diversity, and benefits everyone.

Role Accountabilities

• This role is responsible for leading the country’s Education/Tertiary Education strategy and annual planning, ensuring alignment with global British Council priorities, local stakeholder needs, and broader cultural engagement objectives. Working closely with the Country Director, government partners, and British Embassy or High Commission colleagues, the role develops strategic partnerships, strengthens internal collaboration, and leverages digital tools and channels to maximize programme impact, reach, and sustainability. It also builds sector knowledge and research insights to support the UK education sector’s engagement with the country and region.
• A key part of the position is providing leadership and oversight for the Education/Tertiary Education portfolio, including programme design, implementation, quality assurance, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and risk management. The role ensures compliance with British Council standards, manages budgets and resources effectively, incorporates Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) principles into all activities, and uses technology to improve programme delivery. It may also involve direct line management, acting as the Senior Responsible Officer for designated projects, and ensuring projects achieve agreed outcomes and impact measures.
• The role has a strong business development and stakeholder engagement focus. It identifies funding and partnership opportunities, develops relationships with donors, clients, consultants, universities, government bodies, and other sector stakeholders, and contributes to the preparation of competitive, evidence-based proposals and contracts. It also supports negotiations, due diligence processes, financial reporting, and the management of externally funded programmes, while maintaining the British Council’s reputation as a trusted and high-quality partner.
• Additionally, the role serves as a sector expert and ambassador, representing the British Council through networking, research, thought leadership, events, publications, and policy engagement. It promotes an inclusive, anti-racist organisational culture, embeds gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusion across programmes, and ensures staff, partners, and beneficiaries are treated equitably and supported effectively.