Job Description

Role Profile
Job Title

External Relations Assistant

Directorate or Region

CHQ

Department/Country

External Relations

Location of posts

London

Pay Band

Reports to

External Relations
Officer

Duration of job

12 weeks fixed term

Purpose of Internship:
Our Corporate Internship Programme provides under-graduates and graduates with a unique
opportunity to gain on-the-job experience to support their learning and formal studies as well as
providing real professional experience and contacts for the future. Interns will be placed in a
business team of professional interest to them and will be required to deliver a specific piece of
work. This piece of work will provide the Interns with good experience in delivering a meaningful
project which has value to the British Council and will allow them insight into our business.
Interns will also be required to participate in a whole Intern Group project, alongside some
vocational training and will have the opportunity to obtain real experience in a unique
organisation.
Context and environment:
The External Relations team helps ensure top-level stakeholders are positively engaged with the
British Councils work and that they understand our purpose and our contribution to better
international cultural relations. We focus on UK Ministers and politicians; and key decisionmakers and opinion formers in UK Government, Parliament, the arts and education sectors and
the business community.
The External Relations team leads the British Councils programme of policy research and
thought leadership. It also manages the UK aspects of the Hammamet Conference to build trust
and understanding between senior leaders in the UK and North Africa.
Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:
Team Membership
Take active part of team, involved in team meetings and team initiatives
Actively contribute to cross-functional working parties
Proactively contribute to team planning, monitoring and review activities
Support relationships with internal and external stakeholders in ways that enhances the
British Councils reputation

Support the team to identify and utilise / resolve: successes, learning, problems and areas for
change and improvement
Proactively seek to understand the interdependencies and connections between the External
Relations team, Corporate Communications team, Chair and Chief Executives office, the
global arts and education teams, and key regions and countries.

Main duties

Undertake research and maintain records to support engagement with Parliamentarians and
Parliamentary Committees
Provide support to stakeholder events taking place during the period of the internship,
including compiling guest lists, developing briefings for staff attending events, and
undertaking event management tasks
Support the dissemination of British Council research and thought leadership via
summarising key content and using online and digital channels to connect with new
audiences
Support the preparations for the 2014 Hammamet Conference and associated projects,
engaging with key stakeholders with an interest in North Africa and help arrange a UK study
visit for a group of outstanding young North African students
Database management and administration with the rest of the External Relations team
Team admin, including organising meetings, minute taking, arranging travel, information
management etc.
Working with the Head of External Relations to manage the External Relations team
planning and strategy day 2014

Continuous Professional Development and Performance Management

Support and champion continuous learning and professional development in all areas of
partnership and business development work and share best practice and learning across the
wider organisation
Actively contribute to partnership and business development team being recognised as a
centre of excellence
Actively contribute to own performance planning, management and review processes
Key relationships:
External Relations Officers
External Relations Managers
Head of External Relations
Press Officers
Events Managers
Head of the Chair and Chief Executives Office
Key staff in other departments as required
Other important features or requirements of the job
(e.g. travel, unsocial/evening hours, restrictions on employment etc)
Occasionally the post holder may be asked to attend an event in the evening or during

unsociable hours

Please specify any

Must have the right to work in the UK.
passport/visa and/or nationality
requirement.
Please indicate if any security
N/A
or legal checks are required
for this role.

Person Specification
Essential

Desirable

Assessment stage

Behaviours
Making it happen
Working together
Being accountable

Skills and
Knowledge

Assessment centre
Interview

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Political understanding and knowledge
Strategic thinking skills
Team working
Influencing skills
Problem solving
Computer skills Microsoft office and email
An interest in international relations or cultural
relations

Experience

Creating shared purpose

Shaping the future
Connecting with others

Working towards a relevant degree in an arts or

social science related subject e.g. politics,
economics, history, international relations etc.

Project management
Event management
An interest in international
relations or cultural relations
Good understanding of online
and social media

Application
Assessment centre
Interview

Knowledge of or experience of
web editing software

Application
Assessment centre
Interview