British Council
People Business Partner
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People Business Partner
Working at the British Council 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
People Business Partner.
Department
People Business Partnering.
Contract Type
Indefinite.
Pay Band
SMP.
Location
London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast and anyone on pre-existing British Council homeworking contracts in the UK.
Closing Date
Sunday 12 July 2026 at 22:59 UK Time.
The Role
The British Council is undergoing a major transformation to support its commercial and digital growth, with new operating models being implemented across the organisation.
The Business-Aligned People Partnering team, within the Talent & Organisational Development Directorate, works closely with leaders to embed these changes, strengthen organisational capability, build future skills, foster an inclusive culture, and drive the people agenda. Acting as trusted advisors, the team collaborates across the People function to deliver strategic initiatives that support the organisation's long-term success.
Accountabilities
Leadership & Management
- Partner with senior leaders as an equal, making decisions relating to talent progression and retention, and aligning organisation design with business strategy.
- Convene and coordinate across multiple People function teams to design and deliver key initiatives, embedding new ways of working and a culture of learning.
Strategy and Planning
- Co-create plans with leadership teams to enable delivery of the strategic workforce plan and oversee delivery, including coaching and enabling leaders to meet their accountabilities as part of the plan, ensuring impact is realised.
- Work in partnership with business leaders to identify, shift, and enable the skills profile of their workforce aligned to their business strategy, particularly focusing on commercial, digital and other priority skills.
- Carry out key talent exercises with business leaders, including:
- Talent reviews
- Critical roles assessments
- Succession planning
- Capacity, capability and skills reviews
- Provide data and insight and actively participate in business planning to ensure people considerations are central to business plans and the right areas are prioritised.
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Relationship and Stakeholder Management
- Build and manage relationships with senior leaders and their teams, offering challenge and providing thought leadership so that talent & organisational development are central to their business delivery, and the People function builds its credibility and impact.
- Act as a coach to senior leaders within the business area, helping to improve relationships and ways of working to build a cohesive culture like the "One British Council" and maximise its impact.
- Collaborate with colleagues across the People team to ensure business insight and needs inform product and initiative design, securing maximum impact.
- Embed new ways of working with colleagues across the People function, creating collaborative feedback loops to continuously enhance delivery models.
Commercial and Financial Management
- Develop a deep understanding of the business model of their stakeholder group and partner with leaders to enable a workforce that matches the desired size, shape and skills profile.
- Contribute to the Talent & OD budget, ensuring funding is focused on the biggest impact opportunities.
Sector/Subject Expertise
- Serve as the business partner to designated senior directors within the business area, providing coaching on all strategic HR aspects to enhance organisational capability in strategic talent management and organisational development.
Consultancy, Analysis and Problem Solving
- Consult with the senior leadership team, leveraging data and insights, and identify solutions to strategic people-related problems.
- Convene design and delivery teams, co-create delivery plans, and oversee or lead on their delivery.
Role Specific Skills
Minimum/Essential
- University degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in business transformation, specifically aligning people plans to support change, including talent and organisational design and development.
- Experience as a member of a business leadership team, either in a line or professional services partnering role.
- Experience of business and workforce planning strategies.
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Desirable
- CIPD or equivalent organisational development (OD) or change qualification.
- Experience working in a centre of excellence in **learning]****, 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.
Additional Information
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Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
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Hybrid role – primarily office-based with flexibility for homeworking.
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Applications close at 22:59 UK Time on 12th July 2026.
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Interviews likely to take place the week of 27th July.
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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Applications from all sections of the community are welcomed as we value diversity, bringing depth to our work.
The British Council is an employer committed to disability. This scheme enhances stigmas, deepens understanding of disabilities, and broadens our talent pool. Interview guarantees are offered to candidates who meet the role's essential criteria and are disabled.
Reasonable adjustments conversations about specific needs or adjustments to accommodate participation in work and activities are welcome.
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Safeguarding Statement
The British Council is committed to safeguarding all children, young individuals, and adults with whom we work. It upholds the belief that every child and adult deserves a safe world, safeguarded from any abuse, neglect, or exploitation in line with the provisions articulated in article 19 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
Appointment to positions entailing involvement with vulnerable groups is based on satisfactory completion of thorough legal checks and adherence to British Council safeguarding policies for adults and children.
If there are any issues regarding applications, reach out to askhr@britishcouncil.org.
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