Head Operations at British Council

Role Purpose

To ensure the efficient management of our Operations (Facilities & Estates), IT services, transport, leases and contracts, Health and Safety, environmental awareness (EFT) and Protocol for the SSA Regional Office and Kenya Country Office in Nairobi. The post holder will also work closely with the Regional Head of Security and the BHC’s Overseas Security Manager to ensure the security of our premises, resources and staff.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Working with Regional SSA and Kenya Leadership Team, Global Estates and Risk Teams, support the development of Kenya Estates strategy.
• Lead the delivery of the strategy and plan and monitor/evaluate to ensure it remains viable and cost effective.
• Translate the strategy into the annual workplan for facilities and estates.
• Engage regularly and consistently with business leads and their teams to form a sound understanding of business direction and needs and a fit for purpose estates / facilities response in line with strategic direction, operational requirements, corporate standards and budgets.

Management and Delivery of the Facilities & Estates function

• Accountable for the BC Kenya & SSA Regional Office Platform & Running Costs
• Ensure sound budget management and reporting in line with corporate requirements.
• Management of the delivery and maintenance of a fit for purpose estate in Kenya including office and residential premises to meet corporate compliance standards and internal customers’ needs. Manage our relationships with landlords.
• Management of the delivery and maintenance of fit for purpose facilities functions and teams, including facilities management, health & safety, external venues, transport, travel and logistics, supplier and contract management.
• Submit timely and accurate premises and environmental corporate returns in line with reporting requirements.

Key stakeholder engagement

• Liaise with British High Commission to support import and timely clearance of goods sourced outside of Kenya. Work with BHC on joint tenders for services where this makes sense (e.g., cleaning, garden maintenance, security, catering)
• Proactively manage the relationship with key suppliers and specifically the quality of service/ value for money from suppliers identifying opportunities for efficiencies

Security and Safety, Risk Management, Standards and Compliance

• Oversee the development and implementation of the Country’s Business Continuity Plan and Security Risk Management Strategy.
• Working closely with the Regional Safety and Security Advisor and BHC Overseas Security Manager to ensure business continuity, emergency response and Incident Management plans are in place, regularly updated and tested.
• Delivering staff training and briefing sessions to raise awareness of H&S / Fire / Emergency Response procedures and staff roles and responsibilities.
• Working closely with the Regional Safety and Security Advisor and BHC Overseas Security Manager to ensure the correct balance of security strategies in relation to the nature, type and frequency of threat.
• Establish and maintain an active security network, proactively engaging with the relevant security forums and agencies to ensure active monitoring and response to emerging threats within the country.
• Lead in the review of country security and safety related incidents and ensure that lessons are identified and documented, and corrective action plans are created, implemented, and monitored.
• Work with relevant stakeholders to identify and manage the risks surrounding events, meetings and activities held involving the British Council in the country.
• To lead as British Council Kenya’s Health & Safety and Fire Safety Champion and custodian of standards in line with corporate standards across all areas of facilities and estates (including external venues)
• Work collaboratively with the Environmental Management team colleagues to ensure that the estate and Facilities Management services are managed so as to minimise environmental impact, to maintain the requirements of ISO 14001 certification and to meet the requirements of environmental policy, strategy and standards set by the Environmental Management team

Team Leadership and Management

• Provide inspiring and motivational leadership that role-models the British Council’s values and behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence, whilst promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Demonstrate effective line management of Protocol and all Admin Staff supporting Kenya and Regional SSA Office and ensure that line management as per British Council corporate standards.
• Ensure Performance Management process for direct reports is undertaken to meet corporate requirements.
• Actively support equality and diversity and work to the British Council’s EDI policy at all times.

Policies, Processes

• Working closely with the Country Director in formulation, implementation, updating and maintaining a database of all country-level policies and processes.
• Ensuring all operations functions are managed in line with the global and country-level processes and policies.

Role specific skills

• Outstanding leadership and management skills and the proven ability to build and inspire teams to achieve objectives.
• Strategic leadership and analytical thinking skills.
• Strong people leadership, supervision, and training skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent planning and organization skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Knowledgeable with local operations, administration, protocol, security and safety, and facilities management policies, rules and regulations

Minimum/Essential Requirement

• A minimum of 7 years of proven experience in operations within the corporate sector, public /NGO sector.
• Experienced in Safety and Security; managing people, stakeholder management, risk management
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple functions such as office administration, facilities and estates, enterprise and country risk, security and safety, IT support, protocol, events and travel (both local and global).
• Experience in managing a portfolio of medium to large-scale operations/project.
• Proven experience of working with senior key stakeholders (Internal and External), collaborating, and providing advice.
• Evidence of managing and working in a multi-disciplinary property or estates team carrying out a mix of different functions or delivering different services.
• Experience of working in a global context with SBU and /or country operations.