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.

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Researcher for JEDI

Pay Band: 8

Salary: £38,820 - £46,203 (+ £3,300 market allowance if based in London)

Contract Type: Indefinite

Role Type: Business, Partnership and Programme Product Development

Location: UK; London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast.

Successful applicants must be within a commutable distance to a British Council office.

Requirements: Candidates must have the pre-existing (permanent) right to work in location.
Mobility / relocation / visa sponsoring support will not be provided. 

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays

• 3 days volunteering leave

• Career average defined benefit pension scheme

• An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you've built up working in and / or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world!

Closing date: 29th April, 11:59pm UK time.

Role Purpose

The main purpose of the role is to strengthen the British Council’s research and development potential by adding to our existing and emerging high-level expertise in English language teaching, learning and assessment (TLA) research and development, specifically in the area of Justice, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).

The role holder will contribute to the British Council’s thought leadership agenda in TLA through conducting, commissioning, presenting and publishing research in the area of JEDI to support the overall strategy of the British Council English Language Research (ELR). The role will actively contribute to diversifying the language teaching, learning and assessment professional communities in the UK and globally through the development and implementation of meaningful initiatives at different levels. The role will ensure JEDI principles and policies are integrated across the hubs within ELR, including the New Directions conference series, research grant programmes, Future of English work, and test development and validation projects. In addition, the role will work with the Head of the RED hub to offer support for other RED hub activities where necessary.

The role is intended to add significantly the British Council’s ‘World Authority’ status in the area of JEDI in English language teaching, learning and assessment, including contributing to the Future of English programme from a JEDI perspective. An additional key aspect of the role will be the oversight of relevant research grants.

The role will also support projects and programmes across BCELR in their area of expertise and to widen their professional experience, e.g. supporting conferences and research programmes where necessary.

The role is designed for an experience academic researcher with a strong background in programme management, preferably including research grant programmes, and framework implementation and a sound understanding and proven commitment to JEDI in the fields of language teaching, learning and assessment.

Context

This position is a key role within the Research Engagement and Dissemination (RED) hub within the ELR. The red hub contributes to ELR work by informing strategy, supporting engagement and dissemination, and enabling key activities across the five research hubs within the ELR; the Data Science & Insights (DS&I) hub, the Research and Validation (R&V) hub, the Future of English hub, the Teaching and Learning hub and the RED hub itself. Activities carries out in these hubs include innovative language product design and development, Language Assessment Literacy engagement aimed at teachers, policy makers, and other stakeholders, and research and expert advisory work supporting assessment and language education reform projects in education systems.

Main accountabilities

Subject/Sector Expertise [Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion]

• Maintains an authoritative and up-to-date knowledge of JEDI theory and practice to enable BCELR to demonstrate expertise in language assessment, learning and educational reform, providing expertise in JEDI theory, practice, and research approaches and models, including Open Science approaches and practices.

• Conducts own research into JEDI in teaching, learning and assessment and presents on JEDI themes, contributing JEDI specific material to the ELR content library and contributing to the dissemination work of the ELR RED hub.

• Demonstrates a background in practical implementation of JEDI at different levels across products and projects or programmes.

• Is able to oversee and be accountable for all compliance requirements associated with JEDI initiatives.

• Develops a body of work through research, publication and dissemination which builds the British Council’s position of international leadership and authority in monitoring and evaluation of language assessment and learning.

• Represents the British Council externally to enhance its reputation as a leading authority in the field of JEDI in language assessment, learning and educational reform, promoting and supporting new collaborative opportunities in the area.

Product or programme/management or development

• Designs and develops guidelines and standards on JEDI that can be applied to different projects and programmes across ELR.

• Working with relevant colleagues across the British Council, maps out the JEDI footprint across the organisation’s work in teaching, learning and assessment, identifying gaps and highlighting future areas of focus.

• Researches JEDI theories, frameworks and standards, identifying and implementing appropriate models to support JEDI within ELR.

• Develops, plans, and manages JEDI programmes to support higher level strategy, including the Assessment Apprenticeship programme.

Relationship and stakeholder management

• Leads on engagement internally and externally to help set and oversee the internal and external academic research agenda in the area of JEDI.

• Through active engagement with the international, regional and local [XX] research communities develops networks and influences professional practice to enhance the reputation of the British Council for world leading JEDI research in teaching, learning and assessment.

• Leads on engagement internally and externally to support the establishment and implementation of JEDI initiatives including a research agenda to support higher level strategic goals, and programmes aimed at addressing underrepresentation in the field.

• Provides leadership and guidance on JEDI principles, practice and implementation to the wider ELR team, informing their work at a range of levels across products, projects and programmes.

Leadership and management

• Provides strategic leadership for JEDI initiatives at different levels of operationalisation within language teaching, learning and assessment.

• Sets, implements, and oversees a workplan for JEDI areas of activities within the ELR strategic portfolio.

• Manages relevant JEDI programmes, e.g. the Assessment Apprenticeship programme.

• Oversees the management of ELR research grants where necessary.

Qualifications

PhD in relevant field (complete or in progress)

Role specific knowledge and experience

• Experience of developing and implementing JEDI policies and/or frameworks.

• Experience overseeing programmes and/or managing projects.

• Experience of communicating research and/or theory in international forums with external specialist audiences in both written and spoken modes.

• Research experience in the area of JEDI in TLA using appropriate methodologies and tools.

Closing date: 29th April, 11:59pm UK time.

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

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The 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 email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please 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.