Grant Manager

Salary: £32,381 gross per annum Contract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension Location: Stratford, London, UK (Hybrid) Right to Work Requirements: Current right to work in the UK. The British Council is not able to support or sponsor work visa applications. Closing Date: Applications will close on 16 October 2026 at 23:59 UK Time 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.

The Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of National Agency for Erasmus+. In December the UK and EU arrived at a political agreement that the UK would rejoin the Erasmus+ scheme in 2027. That agreement has now been legally formalised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The British Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting international exchange. It was a lead partner in the Erasmus+ UK National Agency from 2014-20, where Erasmus+ made a significant contribution to the UK's cultural relations activities, funding 8,091 projects, engaging 583,757 UK participants, and awarding around €1.1 billion to UK organisations. Role Purpose: The Erasmus+ Grants Manager will support the successful delivery of one of Europe's most significant education, youth and mobility programmes. Reporting to a Senior Grants Manager, you will be responsible for the operational delivery of grants management activity across a defined sector or portfolio. You will oversee activity across the full grant lifecycle, ensuring that grant-making processes are delivered to the highest standards of quality, compliance, accountability and customer experience. You will provide day-to-day leadership to a team delivering grant activities, ensuring programme rules, eligibility criteria and contractual requirements are applied consistently and transparently. Working closely with colleagues across Compliance, Customer Experience, Digital, Marketing and Sector teams, you will support effective programme delivery, risk management and continuous improvement. Main Responsibilities:

• Leading the delivery of grants management activity across the full grant lifecycle, from application and assessment through to award, monitoring, change control and closure.
• Ensuring grant-making activity is delivered in line with programme rules, European Commission requirements, British Council standards and agreed KPIs.
• Allocating and managing workloads across the team to support efficient delivery of the annual work programme.
• Ensuring grant assessments, funding decisions and programme records are accurate, consistent and audit-ready.
• Monitoring performance, management information and assurance activity to identify risks and support operational decision-making.
• Line managing Grants Officers, providing coaching, guidance and day-to-day operational leadership.
• Supporting performance management, development planning and capability building across the team.
• Fostering a high-performing, customer-focused and accountable team culture.
• Applying quality assurance frameworks and supporting actions arising from audits, reviews and assurance activity.
• Identifying and managing operational risks, escalating issues appropriately where required.
• Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, data protection and information governance requirements.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across Compliance, Customer Experience, Digital, Marketing and Sector teams to resolve delivery issues and improve processes.
• Supporting implementation of programme updates, guidance changes and system improvements.
• Contributing to lessons learned activities and continuous improvement initiatives across the grants function. Role Specific Knowledge & Experience: Essential
• Experience delivering grants or similar regulated funding programmes.
• Experience supervising or leading staff within a customer-facing or operational delivery environment.
• Experience working with compliance, risk, audit or assurance processes.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong operational grants management experience.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex programme guidance, funding rules and eligibility criteria.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate, auditable records. Desirable
• Experience working in public sector or government-funded programmes.
• Experience working in international environments or across multiple cultures.
• Experience within education, youth, skills, sport or cultural engagement sectors.
• Programme, project management or grants-related qualification. Specific Requirements
• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Written and verbal proficiency in English.
• Ability to work effectively within a hybrid working environment.
• Successful completion of British Council background screening requirements. 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. A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world. Statement Safeguarding Statement If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org