UK/NG Season Marketing and Communications Manager at British Council

Role Purpose - The Job

The purpose of this role is to lead the marketing and communications strategy and delivery of the UK/Nigeria Season of Culture 2028, and to play a complementary role supporting marketing and communications across the wider British Council Nigeria arts and creative economy portfolio.

The role sits within the Season delivery team and works closely with programme colleagues throughout the Season's lifecycle. It shapes how the Season is understood, experienced, and remembered by every external stakeholder from Federal Ministry counterparts to Nigerian and UK audiences, and from creative sector partners to media and diaspora communities.

Alongside the Season, the postholder supports the marketing and communications work of the annual arts programmes that feed into it, ensuring a coherent audience narrative and consistent brand across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Sector expertise and campaign delivery


Lead the Season and portfolio marketing and communications function as a dedicated professional discipline, working closely with programme colleagues across the Season's lifecycle.
Lead marketing campaigns for the Season of Culture 2028 and for the annual arts programmes that feed into it.
Ensure campaigns are data-led, strategically aligned, and proportionate to scale.
Manage day-to-day delivery with internal teams and external suppliers.
Brief and manage external agencies, ensuring brand and ethical marketing standards are met.
Manage the Season website and digital channels; commission content aligned to the wider portfolio narrative


Brand and market positioning


Manage the Season brand identity in coordination with the Federal Ministry and British Council UK.
Ensure annual arts programme communications build toward and align with the Season brand.
Protect and enhance the British Council brand across the Season and its pipeline programmes.
Provide marketing expertise, advice, and challenge to programme colleagues.
Keep abreast of trends in the Nigerian creative sector and cultural marketing.


Consultancy, analysis, and audience insight


Evaluate marketing impact through evidence, insight, and audience data across the portfolio.
Use annual arts programme insight to inform Season audience strategy.
Identify marketing opportunities that strengthen both the annual portfolio and the Season pipeline.
Distil complex programme narratives into audience-facing content.


Strategy and planning


Lead the Season marketing and communications strategy across its delivery lifecycle.
Ensure annual arts programme communications contribute to the Season narrative arc through 2028.
Align Season marketing with British Council global marketing and Nigeria country priorities.
Plan announcement calendars, key public moments, and campaign timings across the portfolio


Commercial and financial management


Plan and manage the Season and arts portfolio marketing budget as a coherent whole.
Report monthly and at year-end on delivery, budget, risks, and issues.
Lead on procurement, contracting, and financial oversight of agencies


Relationship and stakeholder management


Manage senior stakeholder communications for the Federal Ministry, UK Government, and the Bilateral Board.
Coordinate with Global and Nigeria Arts colleagues to align Season and portfolio Marketing and communications with wider British Council marketing direction.
Coordinate with British Council UK marketing teams and the International Seasons team.
Participate in the British Council global Marketing Community of Practice, marketing townhalls, and cross-Season learning networks.
Adopt British Council brand and marketing methodology and stay current on evolving ways of working across the marketing function.
Manage Nigerian and UK media relationships that serve both the annual portfolio and the Season


Leadership and management


Plan and prioritise own work across the Season delivery lifecycle.
Coordinate colleagues, agencies, and vendors to deliver Season and portfolio moments.
Support and mentor junior marketing colleagues and interns.
Manage crisis communications and reputational risk across the portfolio


Minimum/essential
Requirements of the role:


Degree in marketing, communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
At least seven years' marketing and communications experience, with at least three in a senior role.
Proven ability to lead complex marketing campaigns across multiple audiences.
Experience of managing brand identity for public-facing programmes.
Experience of briefing and managing external agencies and creative suppliers.
Experience of working with senior stakeholders, including government or institutional partners.
Excellent written English and strong content development skills.
Strong digital and social media skills.


Desirable


Professional marketing qualification (CIM, CIPR or equivalent).
Experience of cultural programmes, festivals, or bilateral cultural work.
Knowledge of the UK/Nigerian creative sector and media landscape.
Experience of crisis communications.
Experience of monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting in a cultural or arts programme.