Job Description

Role Profile
Job Title

Literature Intern

Directorate or Region

UK

Department/Country

Arts

Location of posts

London

Pay Band

Reports to

Literature Manager

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:
Arts alongside Education & Society and English is a cornerstone of the British Councils mission to build
bridges of trust and understanding between peoples of the world. The British Councils global network
places it in a unique position to achieve significant impact and change by finding new ways of connecting
and seeing each other through the arts.
Our Arts programme lives and breathes the aspiration to inspire to transform lives to offer creative
artists, participants and audiences across the world life-changing and life-enhancing experiences. Our
catalyst is the UKs profound cultural and artistic strength and diversity.
We believe a direct experience of the arts contributes vitally to the development of society, shared
prosperity and mutual attraction which strengthens cultural relations through inspiration.
The British Councils Arts team works with the best of British creative talent to develop innovative, highquality events and collaborations that link thousands of artists and cultural institutions around the world,
drawing them into a closer relationship with the UK. One of our main aims is to change out-of-date ideas
about the UK by focusing on contemporary work in the arts.
The Literature department of the British Council work with writers, publishers, producers, translators and
other sector professionals across literature, publishing and education. With them we develop innovative,
high-quality programmes and collaborations that provide opportunities for cultural exchange with the UK;
this might be through festivals, book fairs, conferences or in the classroom. We build relationships
between reading, writing and publishing communities in the UK, and around the world.

Accountabilities, responsibilities and main duties:

Team Membership
Take an active part in the team, becoming 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 teams and
departments in the Arts Group and across the British Council
Main duties
Communications

To ensure an up-to-date, engaging web and social media presence for the Literature Department,
working with the Literature Communications Manager and British Council and Arts
Communications team.
Support on suggesting, writing and uploading content around and following the launch of
Literature Departments re-designed website
Contributing content for News Bulletins
Sourcing information and adding new profiles to our Author Database
Commissioning and updating new Critical Perspectives for our Author Database
Delivering our social media strategy, particularly maintaining a twitter feed

Literature Programmes
Objective: To provide administrative support on literature programmes, particularly internationally through
providing:
Administrative support to the team on international projects
Research on specialist organisations, contacts and general information.
Monitoring data on equal opportunity and diversity
Organising visits for international delegates
Keeping up to date with art form developments
Continuous Professional Development and Performance Management
Support and champion continuous learning and professional development in all areas of Arts work
and share best practice and learning across the wider organisation
Actively contribute to the literature team being recognised as a centre of excellence
Actively contribute to own performance planning, management and review processes
Key relationships:
All departments within Arts Group as necessary, external contacts as necessary and throughout the
British Council
Other important features or requirements of the job
There may be a requirement to occasionally attend performances or events in the evening

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

Behaviours

Skills and Knowledge

Making it happen
Working together
Being accountable

Strong Digital Skills

Good communication ability to effectively
communicate in person, in writing and by
telephone
Ability to work as part of a team
Strong administrative skills

Experience
Knowledge, experience and proven interest of
Literature, particularly contemporary UK writing

Desirable

Creating shared purpose

Shaping the future
Connecting with others

Relevant degree or working

towards a relevant degree

A proven interest in
international cultural relations
Experience of using social
media within a work context
Experience of event/project
management
External stakeholder
management
Experience of contact
databases and creating content
for websites

Assessment stage

Assessment centre
Interview

Application
Assessment centre
Interview

Application
Assessment centre
Interview