Job Description

Transformation has resulted in changes in skills requirements, roles, and numbers of roles required in the new operating model. The roles in the new operating model will be restricted to employees in the selection pool in the first instance. Selection for any jobs that remain unfilled following the agreed selection process will be conducted in line with the Global Recruitment policy.
Project Manager SIDP, South Africa
The Role:
Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation Project (SIDP) is focussed on delivering basic digital literacy and intermediate digital skills training to excluded groups in South Africa, Kenya, Indonesia, Nigeria and Brazil. The Project Manager, SIDP is responsible for the effective planning, management, coordination, delivery and evaluation of the SIDP project in South Africa, as well as clearly communicate the impact of Skills and Enterprise across Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK.
The post holder will also be actively involved in the nurturing and managing of relationships with different project stakeholders, internally and externally. Working under the guidance of the Deputy Director, the post holder will be part of the SIDP project strategy team and will be involved in implementing the project deliverables and executing the strategy to achieve the same in South Africa.
Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:
Leading and managing

• Contribute to successful strategy design, project management and financial management to British Council standards.
• Plans and prioritises own work activities, which span across a range of different projects and programmes responding to changing and at times competing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a weekly/monthly time horizon.

Strategy and Planning

• Support the development of a robust programme that fits within the SIDP strategy and responds to sector needs and offers demonstratable impact.
• Using standard procedures and templates, regularly records, analyses and reports on operational activity levels and performance data, to support timely and effective business decisions that respond to operational needs

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Using agreed systems and processes, maintains accurate and up-to-date records to support effective and coordinated stakeholder management across the organisation.
• Conducts research, using a range of information channels, into the business activities, challenges and key personnel in target partner or sponsor organisations to support senior colleagues in developing new business and cultural relations opportunities for the BC.

Financial and operational management and governance

• Work closely with colleagues and partners to monitor and support financial planning and reporting.
• Manage the financial life cycle of projects; this will include the timely review of and reporting on financial targets for operational expenditure, indirect costs, management expenses etc with support from the Finance Team.

Business Development, Partnership and Relationship Management

• Under direction from more senior colleagues supports the development of develop new partnerships that extend the impact of our work in South Africa and UK.
• Create relationships with key business stakeholders in South Africa, SSA and global network, such as Operations Manager, Marketing and Communications, Insights and Evaluations Manager, Grant Contract management, country teams etc

Project management

• Implements an agreed set of projects and activities (including planning, partner liaison and logistics) to ensure these are delivered to time, budget and quality.
• Operates effective project/programme controls, risk management and monitoring processes to track progress and alert colleagues and partners to issues as they arise.

Contract and grant management

• Prepare contracts for all partnerships ensuring they capture all elements of the partnerships and outline clearly all partner responsibilities and benefits following established corporate templates.
• Monitor and ensure delivery of partnership benefits to funding and non-funding partners.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support the development and implementation of M&E plans for the SIDP project (including databases and data collection; outcome and impact evaluation; success stories).
• Working closely with the project monitoring, evaluation consultants/teams to ensure proper documentation and clear reporting on progress against indicators and targets and determine corrective measures to improve project delivery.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Ensure that programme delivery, training events and activity are appropriately screened, including conflict sensitivity screening, and reflect British Council EDI policy.
• Work with team to ensure programme reporting portfolio managed for British Council Diversity Assessment Framework and Standards.

Requirements of the role:

• Minimum 3 years experience managing projects or managing aspects of programmes.
• Understanding of youth skills, employability, and enterprise in South Africa
• Understanding of digital skills (and gaps) sector landscape/context in South Africa
• Graduate qualification in a related field and a minimum of 3 years project management experience.

Desirable:

• An innovative approach to the use of digital and social media to connect audiences.
• Understanding of the enterprise skills sector in other Sub-Saharan African countries
• Project management certification

Closing Date: Applications will close at 23:59 on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 South Africa Time / 22:59 UK Time
You must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of application.
Important Information:
Department: NFE
Contract Duration: Fixed term contract ending 31 March 2026 (with a possibility of an extension)
Pay band: 6
Gross Salary: ZAR 52 479,00
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Requirements:
Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in South Africa
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.
We are committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We will support all employees to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.