E+ Senior Partner Finder

British Council; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

The British Council in the UK is seeking a Senior Partner Finder to lead the Partner-Finding function across four nations, ensuring organisations identify and secure meaningful European partnerships aligned to Erasmus+ priorities. You will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight to support the delivery of priorities set by the European Commission.

You will manage the Partner-Finding Team, oversee complex or high-risk cases, promote inclusive access, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Experience leading a team or function.
• Ability to identify partner-related risks to programme delivery.
• Experience supporting first-time participants and experienced organisations.
• Knowledge of Erasmus+ programme structures and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national Partner-Finding strategy across four nations.
• Develop coordinated approaches aligned with Erasmus+ priorities.
• Manage the Partner-Finding Team, workload and development.
• Oversee high-risk and strategically significant partner-finding cases.
• Collaborate with sector leads, accreditation and programme teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Risk identification

Stakeholder engagement

Digital platforms

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.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 billion to UK organisations.Job Title: Erasmus+ Senior Partner FinderPay Band: 8Salary: £40,179 gross per annumContract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extensionLocation : Edinburgh, Belfast & CardiffRight to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications.Closing Date: Applications will close on 22 September at 22:59 UK TimeWe are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds.Role PurposeThe Senior Partner Finder will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Partner-Finding function, ensuring organisations across the four nations are effectively supported to identify, secure, and sustain meaningful European partnerships aligned to priorities set by the European Commission.Main accountabilitiesLeading the national Partner-Finding strategy across all four nations.Developing coordinated approaches aligned with Erasmus+ priorities and programme needs.Managing the Partner-Finding Team, including performance, workload, and development.Overseeing complex, high-risk, and strategically significant partner-finding cases.Promoting inclusive access to partner-finding support for priority organisations and groups.Collaborating with Accreditation and programme teams to strengthen partnership development and sustainability.Engaging Sector Leads and Ambassadors to extend reach and identify emerging needs.Building relationships with European National Agencies and international partner-finding networks.Monitoring and analysing demand, outcomes, risks, and trends to inform strategic decision-making.Driving effective use of digital platforms and resources to support European partner identification and matchmaking.Role Specific Knowledge and Experience:Minimum/essentialExperience leading or managing a team or functionStrong ability to identify partner ‑ related risks to programme delivery.Experience supporting both first ‑ time participants and experienced organisations.Experience supporting organisations to navigate online European partner environments.Ability to adapt partner ‑ finding approaches to different sectoral contexts and organisational maturity.Experience balancing national priorities with European ‑ wide collaborationDesirablePractical experience liaising with other National Agencies or European support structures.Strong working knowledge of Erasmus+ programme structures, priorities, delivery mechanisms, funding streams, and timelines.EducationDegree or equivalent work experience.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.#LI-HybridA 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]