British Council
Interim People Business Partner Global Change Programme
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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.
Job Title: Interim People Business Partner Global Change Programme
Department: People Business Partnering
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract ending 31 March 2027
Pay Band: SMP
Country/Location: London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast. Applicants currently employed by the British Council on an existing UK homeworking contract, and other applicants who are not within reasonable commuting distance of these locations, may be considered for a homeworking contract subject to business need.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 2 September 2026 at 22:59 UK Time
The Role:
The Interim People Business Partner, Global Change Programmes, provides strategic people leadership for major global transformation initiatives. Partnering with senior leaders and programme teams, the role designs and delivers people solutions and activity that enable successful organisational change, build leadership capability, manage workforce impacts and accelerate the adoption of new operating models and ways of working.
Accountabilities:
Leadership & management
- Partner with senior leaders and programme teams as an equal on decisions relating to design and implementation of people plans to deliver global change programmes that align to business strategy.
- Convene and coordinate across multiple People function teams to design, deliver and monitor implementation plans, embedding new ways of working, troubleshooting and unblocking challenges when necessary, and maintaining pace.
Strategy and/or planning
- Work in partnership with business leaders and programme teams to ensure that people implementation plans successfully identify, shift and enable the skills profile of their workforce aligned to their business strategy, including commercial, digital and other priority skills.
- Commission, secure and analyse relevant data and insight to inform people implementation plans. Ensure that people implementation plans support appropriate job architecture for the business, from both a design and systems perspective.
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Relationship and Stakeholder management
- Build and manage relationships with senior leaders and their teams, bringing challenge and thought leadership so that talent & organisational development are at the heart of their people implementation plans and business delivery.
- Act as a coach to senior leaders and project teams within the business area to ensure effective end-to-end implementation of people plans for global change programmes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the People team so that business insight and needs are at the heart of people implementation plans and therefore achieve maximum impact.
Commercial and financial management
- Have a deep understanding of the business model of their stakeholder group, and partner with leaders on enabling a workforce with the size, shape and skills profile that best supports that model.
Consultancy, analysis and problem solving
- Consult with the senior leadership team and project team and use data and insight to identify solutions to critical people-related opportunities within global change programmes.
Role specific skills:
Minimum/essential
- University degree or equivalent professional experience
- Experience of business transformation and aligning people plans to enable change, including talent and organisational design & development.
- Experience implementing significant projects or programmes to tight deadlines.
- Experience as a member of a business leadership team, in a line or professional services partnering role.
Desirable
- CIPD or equivalent OD / Change qualification (desirable)
- Experience of strategic business and workforce planning
- Experience within a centre of excellence in learning & / or organisational development, talent management, employee engagement or change
- Experience within a global organisation
- Experience in strategic organisation re-design projects
- Experience in an external or internal consulting role
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Requirements:
- Please note that candidates must have the pre-existing, legal right to work in UK
- This is a hybrid role – primarily working from the office with home working flexibility.
- If you are on a pre-existing British Council homeworking contract, or you do not live within a reasonable travelling distance of one of the office locations, homeworking will be considered.
- Applications will close at 22:59 UK Time on 2nd September 2026.
- Interviews are likely to take place week 7 September.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We 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 Statement
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 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 askhr@britishcouncil.org
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