Head of Arts – Senegal

About the role

The Head of Arts in Senegal leads the British Council’s Arts and Creative Industries portfolio, shaping strategy, building partnerships and delivering high‑impact programmes across the country. Reporting to the Country Director, this senior position works closely with global Arts colleagues and local stakeholders to advance cultural engagement and support the creative economy.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day delivery of the country Arts portfolio, ensuring programme quality and compliance with global standards.
• Manage a small Arts team, overseeing financial performance, governance and EDI/anti‑racist practices.
• Develop and implement the national Arts strategy in line with the British Council’s global objectives.
• Drive digital integration to maximise reach, impact and sustainability of programmes.
• Provide expert sector insight to shape programmes that align with local, UK and government priorities.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with arts, cultural, funding and institutional partners.
• Represent the British Council as a trusted Arts leader both internally and externally.
• Identify opportunities for multi‑country collaborations and income‑generating initiatives.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in the arts, cultural or creative industries.
• Demonstrated ability to work in resource‑constrained and complex political environments.
• Strong track record of managing budgets, teams and delivering high‑quality programmes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership building skills.
• Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and anti‑racist practice.
• Knowledge of the Francophone African arts sector and creative economy dynamics.

Required skills