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.
Role Description/Purpose
The British Council is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Campaign Marketing Manager to lead the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of paid media campaigns across a defined portfolio of regions and market categories. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled marketing professional to combine hands-on campaign leadership with people management, driving outstanding campaign performance and supporting the development of a team of Campaign Managers.
As a Senior Campaign Marketing Manager, you will personally lead the most complex, high-value campaigns within your portfolio while providing leadership, guidance and support to Campaign Managers. You will play a critical role in setting standards for campaign excellence, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, data-driven campaigns that maximise return on media investment and contribute to the British Council’s global objectives.
You will be accountable for the Campaign Quality KPI across your portfolio and will act as the primary point of contact for media agency partners. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will oversee campaign planning and execution, monitor performance, identify opportunities for optimisation, and design testing initiatives that drive measurable improvements in campaign effectiveness and efficiency.
The role sits within the British Council’s Marketing and Communications function, a strategic team responsible for driving awareness, engagement and understanding of our work across diverse audiences around the world. By using audience insight, market knowledge and data analysis, the team develops impactful campaigns that strengthen our reputation, build customer relationships and demonstrate the value of our services and programmes.
Within the Campaigns team, you will contribute to the smooth operation of network campaign delivery and the ongoing development of campaign processes, standards and best practice. You will work alongside fellow Senior Campaign Marketing Managers and Campaign Managers, supporting continuous improvement across a portfolio that may include a combination of Grow, Nurture and Mature markets.
We are looking for a collaborative and results-oriented leader with significant experience in paid media campaign management, strong analytical skills, a passion for performance marketing and the ability to manage multiple stakeholders in a complex, international environment. You will be comfortable balancing strategic thinking with operational delivery and will be motivated by developing others while delivering measurable business impact.
Join us and help shape world-class marketing campaigns that connect millions of people with the British Council’s opportunities, services and programmes around the globe.
Role Accountabilities
The British Council is looking for an exceptional Senior Campaign Marketing Manager to lead the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of paid media campaigns across a defined portfolio of regions and market categories. This is a pivotal leadership role for an experienced marketing professional who combines strategic thinking, data-driven decision making and outstanding stakeholder management with a passion for developing high-performing teams.
As a Senior Campaign Marketing Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that campaigns are delivered on time, within agreed standards and with a clear focus on quality and performance. You will personally lead the most complex, high-value and high-profile campaigns within your portfolio, setting the benchmark for excellence and demonstrating best practice through your own work. You will oversee campaign planning, approve media plans within delegated authority and provide recommendations on higher-risk or higher-value activity to senior leadership. Working across multiple markets, you will manage campaign demand, balance priorities and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and maximise impact.
A key aspect of this role is ownership of the portfolio’s Campaign Quality KPI. You will drive continuous improvement in campaign quality by setting performance targets, monitoring results and implementing measures that enhance effectiveness. Through regular auditing, quality assurance and root-cause analysis, you will identify and address issues before they impact delivery. You will work closely with colleagues and agency partners to ensure standards are consistently applied, contribute to the evolution of campaign quality frameworks and escalate recurring or systemic challenges where necessary.
You will play a leading role in testing and experimentation, partnering with the Marketing Performance team to design and implement a robust framework for campaign optimisation. By developing structured testing roadmaps, analysing results and turning insights into action, you will help ensure that campaign decisions are based on evidence rather than assumption. Your work will contribute to the continuous improvement of campaign practices across the organisation, enabling successful approaches to be shared and adopted across different regions and portfolios.
As the primary point of contact for media agencies within your portfolio, you will build strong, productive partnerships that deliver measurable value. You will provide clear strategic direction, challenge recommendations where appropriate and ensure agencies deliver against agreed standards, service levels and performance expectations. Through ongoing performance reviews and collaboration, you will support the delivery of innovative, high-quality campaigns that align with British Council objectives and global brand standards.
The role also includes full line management responsibility for Campaign Managers within your portfolio. You will support their growth and success through effective performance management, coaching, mentoring and development. By establishing clear expectations and promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous learning, you will help create a resilient and high-performing team capable of delivering excellent results.
Working closely with colleagues across Marketing, Brand, Content and Performance functions, you will contribute to the development and implementation of campaign processes, standards and best practices. You will ensure campaigns are measurable and optimised through appropriate tracking, tagging and performance frameworks, while supporting the adoption of campaign technologies and marketing automation tools that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Success in this role will require the ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders across a complex international environment. You will collaborate with marketing budget holders to understand business objectives, translate them into effective campaign strategies and manage expectations regarding priorities, timelines and available resources. You will confidently communicate campaign standards, advocate for best practice and represent the Campaigns team in regional and business unit marketing forums.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a global organisation that creates opportunities for people around the world through education, arts and culture. If you are an experienced marketing leader with expertise in paid media, campaign optimisation, stakeholder management and team development, we would welcome your application. Join us and help shape high-quality, insight-driven campaigns that deliver meaningful impact across the British Council's global network.
Qualifications & Experience
Essentials
Desirables
Important Information:
Closing date – Monday 12th October 2026.
A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
Safeguarding Statement
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 in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org
