Director of Engineering

Job title:

Director of Engineering

Company

British Council

Job description

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021-22 we reached 650 million people.About the role:British Council Pay: Starting at £77,031, plus £3,300 London allowance for those based in the London areaLocation: Any UK office (Belfast, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Manchester)Department: Digital and Technology
Contract type: Indefinite (permanent)
Closing Date: Thursday 6 June – 23:59 UK TimeYou must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.There is no relocation or visa sponsorship support offered.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.Role purposeAs Director of Engineering, you will lead the enterprise technology strategy, architecture and delivery for the organisation, and manage three functional teams: Architecture, Engineering and Product. Architecture includes Enterprise, domain and functional roles. Engineering includes front and back-end engineers, Portfolio Management and Product encompasses development.In your role, you will ensure that technology delivers business value in line with corporate priorities. Working collaboratively with other key stakeholders, you will shape the technology future of the organisation, balancing complex technology demands with business needs and leveraging technology and innovation to create value, growth, impact, and efficiency. You will ensure the British Council is at the forefront of the digital landscape and meets its digital transformation goals.Role contextThe Digital and Technology Directorate leads the British Council’s digital strategy and transformation. It creates and executes technology initiatives to fulfil the organisation’s mission and corporate priorities.Key focus areas are:

• Creating digital products that attract and retain customers, delivering business value through digital design and delivery expertise
• Developing and optimising digital platforms that provide seamless customer interactions and use scalable and secure capabilities
• Enhancing digital capability across the organisation
• Enabling growth, impact and efficiency through technology

Digital and Technology is a global Directorate organised into four divisions: Product, Engineering, Operations and Performance which collectively create digital products and services, maintain, and improve products, services and platforms and optimise performance. Areas of responsibility include digital and technology strategy, architecture, infrastructure, software, development, data, innovation, and cybersecurity. It ensures that technology initiatives are customer and value focused, accessible, efficient and secure.This unit interfaces with all business units across the departments, international operations, CE, Corporate Services, English and Examinations.In summary, the Director of Engineering collaborates with various stakeholders, including:

• Executive leadership
• Product managers
• Engineering
• Design
• Marketing
• Sales
• Customer success teams and customers.

Main accountabilities

• Manage and role model a global team of Architects, Engineers, Project Managers and Delivery Leads across various disciplines, instilling a culture of continuous learning and innovation and promoting a collaborative, sensitive and inclusive culture.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive technology strategy aligned with the company’s business goals and the Digital Enablement Strategy, anticipating future trends in technology and engineering, and identifying potential risks or challenges and planning appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Promote a collaborative culture within the organisation, fostering strong relationships with all stakeholders, including senior leaders, staff, vendors and partners or relevant industry bodies and communities.
• Manage the engineering budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and demonstrating value for money, making financially sound decisions that balance innovation, risk, and cost-effectiveness.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and technological advancements to ensure the organisation remains competitive while monitoring key performance indicators and implementing changes to enhance service quality, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure the organisation’s engineering practices comply with relevant legal, regulatory and safety standards.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of the digital and technology sector including its unique opportunities and demands, and understand how different technologies can be leveraged to drive business growth and improve operations.
• Investigate complex engineering problems and develop innovative solutions, providing expert advice on engineering matters to the senior leadership team and other stakeholders.

Role Specific Skills

• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge in software development, system architecture, and emerging technologies is crucial. This will include knowledge of core platforms, cloud technologies, and Agile methodologies.
• Strategic Roadmapping: Ability to craft, present, and execute a clear vision and roadmap for technology initiatives.
• Leadership Skills: Excellent leadership abilities are essential to manage diverse teams, inspire performance, and drive strategic vision across global engineering teams.
• Project Management: Proficiency in project and Portfolio management principles and tools is necessary for overseeing projects from conception to completion, ensuring they meet quality standards, timelines, and budget constraints.
• Strategic Thinking: The ability to think strategically, foresee future trends in technology, and align engineering initiatives with business goals is key.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are required for liaising with various stakeholders, articulating technical concepts to non-technical audiences, and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Role specific knowledge and experienceMinimum/essential

• Comprehensive knowledge of software development life cycles, system architectures, cloud platforms, and programming languages. Adept at architecture, and infrastructure management.
• At least 10 years of experience in the technology sector, specifically in engineering departments, is vital. This includes a successful track record of managing complex engineering projects and delivering high-quality technological solutions.
• Substantial leadership experience, preferably at a senior level, with a proven history of managing and coordinating diverse and distributed teams.
• Practical project management experience in overseeing large-scale, complex projects from inception to completion, ensuring they meet quality standards, timelines, and budget constraints.
• A strong understanding of business operations, financial principles, and market dynamics.
• Experience of managing enterprise technology budgets.

Desirable

• Digital ecosystem management experience, managing a company’s digital ecosystem, including front and back-end platforms, websites, social media, e-commerce, and technology operations tools.
• Certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or CEng (Chartered Engineer) can be desirable.

Language Requirements

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required.

EducationMinimum

• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent in experience.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in a related field such as Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent in experience.

Professional Qualification and Certification

• Certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional), or CSDP (Certified Software Development Professional) or CEng (Chartered Engineer) are desirable.
• Certifications in leadership or management would be beneficial.

Background ChecksInitial and continuing employment with the British Council is subject to an annual background check. The job undertaken defines the nature of check(s) and assessment applied.A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) StatementThe British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.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.If you have any problems with your application please emailPlease note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.

Expected salary

Location

Manchester – London

Job date

Sat, 18 May 2024 01:37:58 GMT

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