E+ Senior Partner Finder

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.

Job Title:

Erasmus+ Senior Partner Finder Pay Band: 8

Salary: £40,179 gross per annum

Contract Duration: 2 Year Fixed Term Contract with possibility of extension

Location :
Edinburgh, Belfast & Cardiff 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 22 September at 22:59 UK Time We are operating on the basis that any offer is made pending client confirmation of funds.

Role Purpose The Senior Partner Finder will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Partner-Finding function, ensuring organisations across the four nations are effectively supported to identify, secure, and sustain meaningful European partnerships aligned to priorities set by the European Commission.

Main accountabilities

Leading the national Partner-Finding strategy across all four nations.

Developing coordinated approaches aligned with Erasmus+ priorities and programme needs.

Managing the Partner-Finding Team, including performance, workload, and development.

Overseeing complex, high-risk, and strategically significant partner-finding cases.

Promoting inclusive access to partner-finding support for priority organisations and groups.

Collaborating with Accreditation and programme teams to strengthen partnership development and sustainability.

Engaging Sector Leads and Ambassadors to extend reach and identify emerging needs.

Building relationships with European National Agencies and international partner-finding networks.

Monitoring and analysing demand, outcomes, risks, and trends to inform strategic decision-making.

Driving effective use of digital platforms and resources to support European partner identification and matchmaking.

Role Specific Knowledge and

Experience:

Minimum/essential

Experience leading or managing a team or function

Strong ability to identify partner ‑ related risks to programme delivery.

Experience supporting both first ‑ time participants and experienced organisations.

Experience supporting organisations to navigate online European partner environments.

Ability to adapt partner ‑ finding approaches to different sectoral contexts and organisational maturity.

Experience balancing national priorities with European ‑ wide collaboration

Desirable

Practical experience liaising with other National Agencies or European support structures.

Strong working knowledge of Erasmus+ programme structures, priorities, delivery mechanisms, funding streams, and timelines.

Education Degree or equivalent work experience.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management…