Cluster Business Manager

Cluster Business Manager The British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.   We work in two ways – directly with individuals to transform their lives, and with governments and partners to make a bigger difference for the longer term, creating benefit for millions of people all over the world. We help young people to gain the skills, confidence and connections they are looking for to realise their potential and to participate in strong and inclusive communities. We support them to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications. Our work in arts and culture stimulates creative expression and exchange and nurtures creative enterprise. We connect the best of the UK with the world and the best of the world with the UK.   These connections lead to an understanding of each other's strengths and of the challenges and values that we share. These builds trust between people in the UK and other nations which endures even when official relations may be strained. We work on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2019-20 we connected with 80 million people directly and with 791 million overall, including online and through our broadcasts and publications. Pay Band: 7/F Location: Dhaka, South Asia, Bangladesh Contract type: Indefinite Contract-Local. Requirements - Candidates must have the pre-existing right to live and work in Bangladesh Closing date: Thursday, 5 September 2024. Closing Time: 23:59 Bangladesh Time   Role Purpose: To support the Cluster Lead in delivering against the cluster P&L. The role defines and delivers against a plan to achieve business targets for Bangladesh.  Working closely with marketing and across British Council external-facing colleagues to understand the demand and commercial opportunity. It works to identify, plan and progress commercial growth opportunities. It works closely with and coordinates across the team; working with operations to ensure costs are controlled; customer service and academic teams to build sales capability and retention opportunities. The role monitors and evaluates performance on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis, identifying strategies to address underperformance Main Accountabilities: Commercial planning and business delivery Translates regional and SBU commercial strategies into annual work plans and deploys resources efficiently and cost effectively to deliver required income, impact and profitability targets for the country/teaching centre. Liaises closely with regional and SBU colleagues to clarify and agree local targets in terms of revenue/margin/volume/impact/time/cost. Manages the effective implementation of the commercial plan ensuring this is delivered in a timely, cost-effective manner which meets business objectives, adapting where necessary to meet objectives and environment. Works closely with regional colleagues to ensure the profitability of global products, services and marketing campaigns and ensuring they reflect market requirements Supports the Cluster Lead with demand planning and forecasting activities to create a strategic resource plan to maximise income and surplus line with regional and SBU strategies. Supports geographical expansion and presence through the identification and evaluation of new sites and the initiation and coordination of launch plans in partnership with cross functional colleagues. Customers & Stakeholders  Primary point of liaison for teaching with key internal stakeholders for estates management, security, health and safety and procurement (e.g., Business Operations and Global Estates)   Provides a single view of performance to cluster and regional colleagues (e.g.  FP&A, cluster lead) and reports on potential business development or extension opportunities   Identifies and shares examples of process best practice with peer’s appropriate colleagues in the country or cluster to drive continuous improvement. Manages a range of relationships with external stakeholders (e.g., government, sponsors, customers, partners) to achieve positive outcomes and facilitate operational delivery. Acts as a key contact of B2BIG clients and supports B2BIG activities as required. Manages and supports the negotiation/structuring of local deals to achieve required operational goals, drawing appropriately on the input and expertise of other colleagues/external advisors as required Analysis & reporting Uses management information, analysis and personal operating experience to identify and make recommendations on improvements to country-wide ways of working, processes, procedures and/or resources that will enhance efficiency and effectiveness Gathers and monitors market insights (in partnership with Marketing/Customer Service, B2BIG) to inform commercial strategy and plans (market trends, competitive landscape, PESTLE) to make recommendations to drive enhance performance, cost effectiveness, service quality and efficiency in the business unit as a whole  Presents complex information clearly, using written, graphical and financial data/analysis, to enable evidence-based operational decision-making and planning  Commercial & resource management Manages and coordinates monthly, quarterly and year-end analysis reporting on P&L liaising with cross functional team leads. Within agreed corporate procedures and schedules of delegated authority, manages and reports on variances to plan, controlling principal local levers impacting on cost and service provided (e.g. people, processes, resources, suppliers) Leadership & management Coordinates workplans across teaching centre teams and functions monitoring the achievement of key milestones and deadlines to ensure services and planned change is delivered to cost, quality and deadline Promotes cross-team working through setting up or maintaining effective collaboration tools or processes  Takes a visible leadership role to drive collaboration between teaching centre functions and support services Risk & compliance  Monitors compliance with agreed risk management procedures relevant to service delivery (e.g., child protection, security policies, financial protocols, anti-fraud measures). Highlights to senior managers any instances of non-compliance. Working with the Cluster Lead, is responsible for legal representation, managing tax and status changes, oversees audits, provides formal representation of the British Council for legal, ER cases at a Centre level. Ensures BCP and incident management plan is up to date. Uses standard protocols to assess a range of risks across the operation and makes appropriate contingency plans to manage delivery safely and effectively in challenging circumstances. Undertakes regular quality checks and reviews, following agreed corporate or relevant external protocols, to monitor quality, consistency and effectiveness of service delivery.  Reports on findings and recommends appropriate remedial actions as required  Role specific knowledge and experience Essential Experience within a commercial role ideally within the education sector Experience of market segmentation, commercial opportunity assessment and competitor analysis Experience of contract management. Desirable: Demonstrated experience of developing and implementing successful commercial strategies. Additional Information: All necessary background checks as per the British Council Pre-Appointment Screening policy along with medical check-up will need to be completed successfully prior to signing the final employment contract. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and called for interview. We will only shortlist applications submitted on a British Council application form submitted electronically through our career portal. Any hard copies of the application and incomplete application in the portal will not be accepted. To apply, please click on the following link that will take you to the career portal of British Council Apply Here A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Equality Statement The British Council is committed to a policy of equality and to valuing diversity and is keen to reflect the diversity of the societies in which we work at every level within the organisation. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. We aim to abide by and promote equality legislation by following both the letter and the spirit of it to avoid unjustified discrimination, recognising discrimination as a barrier to equality of opportunity, inclusion and human rights. All staff worldwide are required to ensure their behaviour is consistent with our policies. The British Council has Disability Confident Employer Status. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. Applicants are encouraged to highlight any specific requirements or adjustments needed to enable participation in the recruitment process. 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.