Why work for us | British Council

Working for the British Council offers a unique opportunity to gain experience and develop skills in international cultural relations. We have 7,400 members of staff in offices, teaching centres, libraries and information and resource centres in the UK and more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. Working with us, you will be part of a modern, rapidly changing organisation with worldwide influence and impact. Our work offers you a scope for versatility, initiative and creativity in a stimulating and supportive environment.

The British Council Pakistan team is made up of about 200 colleagues across offices in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. As part of our team, you could be running an arts event in Lahore, facilitating a group of young Active Citizens in Peshawar, managing a major exams session in Quetta, writing the next big thought paper on education in Pakistan, or signing off a partnership contract with a major corporation in the USA.

At British Council we recognise that it is individuals that are the driving force behind our work, and we continually look for additional ways to inspire and motivate them. Here are just a few reasons why British Council might be the right place for you:

If you’d like to know more about typical career profiles and what it is like working for us, please visit the our team page.

Work environment

We live and work by our values of integrity, mutuality, creativity, professionalism and valuing people. Our work environment is therefore one of trust, empowerment, mutual respect and flexibility where you are encouraged to voice your opinions and contribute to our cultural relations work. Our robust policies for speaking up, anti bullying and harassment, health and safety and child protection guide our efforts to offer a positive and inclusive work environment.

Learning and development

We provide a number of learning opportunities to help staff achieve their individual development goals, and encourage managers to help realise each team member’s full potential. Our learning and development offerings include on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring, face to face workshops, digital learning resources and a career development toolkit. Our Professional Development Scheme combines classroom education with work experiences and reimburses a portion of your educational expenses. Download our Training Plan for FY 2012-13.

Equal opportunities and diversity

As a cultural relations organisation, equal opportunity and diversity lie at the core of what we do. We celebrate the aspects that make our staff members unique, and provide a work environment that does not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment of any individual or group on the basis of age, gender, disability, religion, work-life balance or ethnicity. If you are an applicant with special needs, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria. To learn more about the work we are doing in this area, please visit our equal opportunities and diversity page.

Work life balance

We encourage our staff to strike a work life balance by committing to working smart and making time for personal activities and pursuits. We offer a number of flexible working options, encourage staff to avail their full annual leaves and offer counselling services to staff in distress. Download the doc below to learn more about flexible working options we offer.