Head of Franchising

Job Title: Head of Franchising You must have the legal right to work in the stated location. We will not be providing Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance is not provided. Role Description and Purpose: The Head of Franchising is responsible for leading the strategic development and operational management of the franchise network. This role focuses on driving sustainable franchise growth, ensuring operational excellence across all locations, and fostering strong, collaborative relationships with franchisees. The Head of Franchising oversees the franchise development team, guiding the implementation of growth strategies and ensuring all franchise operations comply with company standards and regulatory requirements. Through effective leadership and strategic planning, this role plays a key part in expanding the organisation’s reach and impact. This role sits within the English and Examinations Strategic Business Unit (E&E SBU), one of two global strategic business units at the British Council, alongside Cultural Engagement. The SBUs support the British Council’s mission to build trust in the UK globally by sharing aspects of our education systems, governance, and culture. The E&E SBU contributes to this mission by helping individuals worldwide access transformative education and career opportunities through English language learning and internationally recognised UK qualifications. By promoting English language proficiency, the unit also facilitates global communication and helps bridge cultural divides. The British Council’s vision for English and Examinations is to be the global authority in high-quality English language teaching, learning, and assessment, and the preferred international distributor of professional and school qualifications. Role Accountability: The Head of Franchising is responsible for developing and executing strategies that support franchise growth and expansion, including identifying new market opportunities and setting clear growth targets. They lead the recruitment and onboarding of new franchisees, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s values and standards, and provide comprehensive training and support throughout the onboarding process. Operational excellence is a key focus, with the role ensuring that all franchise locations adhere to established procedures and receive ongoing support to achieve business success. Quality control and compliance are maintained through regular audits and proactive resolution of any operational challenges. The Head of Franchising also plays a vital role in relationship management, acting as the primary point of contact for franchisees and fostering a collaborative franchise community. They ensure transparent communication between the corporate office and franchisees, aligning everyone with shared business goals. Finally, the role involves analysing performance data to identify trends and areas for improvement, presenting insights to the executive team, and implementing strategies to drive continuous improvement across the franchise network. Essential Core & Role Competencies Please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates the following core and role competencies Commercial & business development Account & partnership management Managing projects Minimum of 7 years of experience in global franchise development and operations, with a proven track record of successfully managing and growing an education franchise network. External Market Environment – reflecting market realities and trends in business cases in a pragmatic way. Desirable: Extensive experience in franchise development Experience of APAC markets. Important Information: British Council Pay band: SMP Department: English and Exams Contract type: IDC Closing Date: Sunday 11th of Jan, 2026 (23:59 GMT) Location: UK (and anyone on pre-existing homeworking contracts in the UK), France, Poland, Romania and Greece