Call for applications: British Council sub-Saharan Africa arts director

The SSA regional director of arts is the most senior representative of arts in the region, acts as the voice of arts in the region and represents the British Council’s regional and global work in the arts and creative industries externally.

The director of arts will lead the development and implementation of complex, high-value, multi-country arts and creative industry programmes funded by the British Council grant, other partners, or client-funders.

He or she will have oversight of a wide range of activities delivered as part of the arts core offers of cultural exchange, creative economy, and global challenges.

He or she will lead a large, dispersed Arts team and manage senior partner and stakeholder relationships. They are an important part of the regional leadership team as well as the global arts leadership team and work with and through colleagues globally to influence decision-making across the cultural engagement directorate.

Role-specific knowledge and experience

The main essential knowledge and experience points being sought are:

• Specialist knowledge and understanding of current trends and practices in the arts and creative industry in the region.
• Minimum six years' experience leading impactful high-value international art projects.
• Experience in business development and partnership development - with a focus on arts and culture partnerships with trusts, foundations, and institutional funders.
• Demonstrable experience in strategy development and programme building across multiple geographies.

Desirable experience

• Understanding and appreciation of current arts trends and practices in the UK.
• Previous experience of managing international arts projects in the region.

Role-specific skills

• In-depth understanding of the arts and creative industries in the region.
• Significant experience of working in/with the arts and/or creative industries at the appropriate level.
• Active and up-to-date network of senior-level sector contacts in the region.
• Experience of collaborating effectively with others to develop solutions to issues where there is not an established framework.
• Experience of leading diverse and dispersed teams and championing inclusion and diversity of thought.
• Ability to analyse relevant equality issues and identify opportunities to address these in the portfolio.
• Experience of developing governance structures establishing and maintaining effective external and internal programme/project governance structures.

Further information

• Pay band – SMP (Senior Management Professional).
• Contract type – Two-year fixed-term Contract.
• Location – Flexible across the British Council office in SSA.
• Requirements – The role may include occasional travel within the country, region, or internationally.
• Eligibility – Candidates for this role must have a natural right to work in this location and would normally already be based in the location.
• Closing Date – 26 June (23:59 South Africa Time).

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of the British Council careers website.

Learn more about the role and the British Council’s mission here.