Soft Power Analyst

This role sits within the Research & Insight function responsible for providing well evidenced analysis and understanding of how the totality of our work across the sectors generates soft power effects for the UK within priority countries.

As with other members of the team, the postholder will have an understanding of research management processes and methodologies and will give advice and guidance across the British Council, contributing to building a culture of valuing research and policy insight.

They will also offer support, as required, to the development and delivery of global programmes across Cultural Engagement, and provide evidence and policy insight, as required, to cultural relations interventions contributing to the British Council's impact areas. They will also undertake projects and assignments on behalf of the Head of Soft Power Research and Insight, and support the contracting and commissioning of new research and the establishment of partnerships as required.

The postholder will also support the communication and dissemination of insight, both internally and externally to the British Council. Working closely with the Knowledge Exchange postholders, Policy and External Relations, and colleagues in Digital, Marketing and Communications, to ensure the R&I portfolio achieves maximum value and impact.

The post holder will support external stakeholder engagement, with a particular focus on soft power and policy stakeholders.

The postholder will support the Research Networks and Operations Lead in ensuring the R&I team is compliant with internal financial procedures and requirements, particularly at year end.

The postholder will be expected to develop areas of specialist expertise over time as part of their professional development.

Context

The purpose of the British Council's Research and Insight (R&I) function is to systematically generate useful new knowledge that will achieve impact for our mission and for UK and overseas stakeholders., Leadership & management

• Plans and prioritises own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and internal customer deliverables


• Shares intelligence and ideas to support senior managers in identifying/ developing new ways in which the R&I team could positively impact upon the British Council's impact with key stakeholders


Functional expertise

• Continues to learn and develop skills through formal and informal learning opportunities and work experience


• Uses a variety of information resources and professional networks to maintain up-to-date knowledge of developments in external policy, practice and regulation, particularly in the field of soft power, international relations and UK foreign policy.


Internal customer focus

• Proactively seeks internal customer and other stakeholder feedback to monitor satisfaction with the standard of advice and support provided, enabling improvements to be made where issues are identified.


• Builds an understanding of the context, opportunities and challenges facing colleagues globally, to ensure the development of new R&I policies and practices are based on informed insight and joined-up thinking.


Service improvement

• Within their area of technical/professional expertise, identifies opportunities for procedural improvements within established policies and determines the most appropriate mechanisms and processes for implementing those changes. Demonstrates awareness of relevant governance arrangements that relate to making system or procedural changes


• May participate as part of a team to support implementation of corporate or regional change projects within their area of functional expertise. This could include: providing technical guidance to less experienced colleagues, developing or delivering staff training and familiarisation activities; participation in project steering or practice groups etc.


Relationship & stakeholder management

• Develops good working relationships with appropriate colleagues throughout the British Council and in the relevant functional discipline to know who to engage with to enable effective implementation of R&I strategy, in particular around the soft power insight function.


• Builds a network of with external suppliers/providers/contacts to support effective service provision and knowledge exchange.


Commercial & financial management

• Shows an understanding of value for money/cost effectiveness in the advice, recommendations or service support provided to internal customers.


• Using agreed corporate systems and processes, plans and manages the core budget for their area of activity, and for any special initiatives or change projects for which they are responsible.


Consultancy, analysis & problem-solving

• Presents complex information clearly, tailoring the presentation of research and insight to meet the differing needs of both technical and non-technical audiences appropriately, as required.
  
  An understanding of one or more of the key sectors with which the British Council engages, and of international relations and soft power.


• Knowledge of UK policy making procedures, particularly in foreign policy.


• Experience of writing policy briefs or other formats to translate research findings into compelling communications.


• Experience of event management


• Experience of using social media to engage stakeholders


• Experience of budget management


Role specific skills

• Ability to communicate to influence, particularly with senior managers and stakeholders across the organisation, and with external stakeholders.


A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

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., We support the British Council to be an organisation guided by evidence, knowledge and insight, one that is confident in its voice as a cultural relations thought leader and a credible partner, and one that is generous in sharing its knowledge and insight in core areas.

As a team, we aim to be a role model for the British Council's value of 'expert and inclusive'. The team are currently based across multiple locations in the UK and South Asia. We support a community of practice of more than 200 members across the global network.

We have two core outcomes:

1. Research to ensure the British Council is a trusted and valued provider of knowledge and soft power insight for the UK and overseas stakeholders in English, Education and Arts

2. Well evidenced analysis and understanding of how the totality of our work across the sectors generates soft power effects for the UK within priority countries

These are supported by a centre of excellence approach providing professional advice and capability, including stakeholder management, technical support and knowledge exchange. We work closely with other knowledge intensive functions, including Evidence, Evaluation and Learning; and Market Research, Analytics and Insight.

Through sharing our understanding of our core areas, we contribute to the organisation's corporate strategy by enabling policymakers, researchers and practitoners to use our knowledge and insight to shape their thinking. We also enable colleagues across the organisation to avail themselves of current research and insight to support better strategy and programming overseas.

We also support the British Council in understanding and objectively evidencing how our cultural relations work contributes to the UK's soft power and long-term policy goals and has impact on perceptions of the UK in priority countries, as well as to anticipate future global trends in soft power., 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.