E+ Partner finder

British Council; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The British Council invites applications for the Erasmus+ Partner-Finding role, a two-year fixed-term contract. The role is based in the UK, with hybrid locations in Edinburgh or Belfast, and involves supporting organisations to identify, engage, and build partnerships with European partners.

You will work with the Erasmus+ Partner-Finding Team to provide tailored guidance, brokerage, and online support across sectors and nations.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent work experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored advice and practical support to organisations seeking European partners.
• Assist with identifying, assessing, and engaging potential partners aligned to project aims and programme priorities.
• Maintain accurate and auditable records of partner-finding activity and outcomes.

Skills

Communication skills

Influencing

Partnership development

Education

Degree or equivalent work experience

Job description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.We connect. We inspire.E + Partner FinderImportant Information:Contract Duration: Two years fixed term contractSalary: £32,381 per annumLocation: UK, Edinburgh or Belfast (Hybrid)Closing Date: 20 October 2026, 22:59 UK timeYou must have the legal right to work in the country at the time of application.Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided.The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+.In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 million to UK organisations.The Role:The Partner Finder sits within the dedicated Erasmus+ Partner-Finding Team and plays a key role in helping organisations across the UK identify, engage and build relationships with suitable European partners.Working under the guidance of the Senior Partner Finder, you will provide tailored advice and practical support to organisations across all four UK nations and multiple education, training, youth and sport sectors. You will help organisations establish sustainable international partnerships, increasing participation and supporting successful Erasmus+ projects.Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:Direct Partner-Finding SupportProvide tailored advice and practical support to organisations seeking European partners.Support organisations at different stages of readiness, from first-time participation to experienced Erasmus+ delivery.Assist with identifying, assessing, and engaging potential partners aligned to project aims and programme priorities.Provide guidance on building effective, balanced partnerships, including roles, responsibilities, and consortium design.Partner Identification & BrokerageProactively identify suitable European partner organisations using networks, platforms, and National Agency contacts.Facilitate introductions, matchmaking, and initial relationship-building where appropriate.Maintain accurate and auditable records of partner-finding activity and outcomes.Encourage organisations to develop and share partner search profiles and project ideas.Cross-Sector and Cross-Nation CoverageWork across sectors and all four nations to ensure equitable and inclusive access to partner-finding support.Adapt approaches to meet sector-specific needs, capacities, and contexts.Support priority or under-represented groups to engage in European partnerships.Contribute to reducing barriers to participation through targeted outreach and tailored support.Ambassador Network Engagement •In consultation with Sector Leads, work alongside the Ambassador network to extend reach and peer-to-peer support.Ensure all interested organisations are effectively signposted to appropriate support and opportunitiesProvide feedback and intelligence from ambassador engagement to inform team activity.European Liaison and NetworkingEngage with European partner-finding structures and National Agencies across participating countries and contribute to two-way exchanges of information.Share organisational needs and partnership requirements with European counterparts, as guided by the Senior Partner Finder.Identify emerging opportunities aligned to programme priorities and thematic areas set by the European Commission for collaboration and partnership development.Contribute to and participate in European-level networking activities, including contact making seminars (TCA), brokerage events, and thematic workshops.Online and Digital SupportSupport organisations to access and effectively use online partner-finding tools and platforms, including the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, EPALE (for adult learning), and the European School Education Platform.Contribute to the development, refinement, and promotion of digital guidance and resources aligned to these and other platforms.Signpost organisations to relevant European and programme level tools and support tools based on sector and need.Monitoring, Insight & Continuous ImprovementCapture and report data on partner demand, gaps, and outcomes.Escalate emerging risks, trends, or issues to the Senior Partner Finder.Contribute to continuous improvement of partner-finding approaches and resources.Use insight to inform outreach, event planning, and service development.Requirements of the role:Ability to identify and mitigate partner-related risks to programme delivery.Skilled at supporting organisations to navigate European partner environments and platforms.Strong communication and influencing skills to guide and build confidence in organisations engaging in European partnerships.Ability to adapt partner-finding approaches to different sectoral contexts and organisational maturity.Experience balancing national priorities with European collaboration requirements.Confident use of online platforms, databases, and matchmaking tools to identify partners.Confidence in facilitating collaboration and early-stage partnership development.Responds flexibly to changing priorities and emerging stakeholder demandsDelivers a high standard of service, ensuring organisations feel supported and included and able to participate effectively.Degree or equivalent work experienceDesirable:Knowledge of the Erasmus+ programme.Practical experience liaising with other National Agencies or European support structures. •Working knowledge of the Erasmus+ programme including its priorities, structure, partnership requirements, funding streams, and timelines.A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.Equality, Diversity and Inclusion StatementWe are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.Safeguarding StatementThe 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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email [e-mail]