View Vacancy – Senior Political Economy Adviser – C5, New Delhi

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and the competency based questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note that due to Covid-19 outbreak, the start date of employment mentioned in the advert is tentative, subject to normal business of British High Commission. All recruitment campaigns will remain open for applications, we will progress the recruitment process as swiftly as possible and continue to review all applications, monitor progress and developments. We will be in touch with you for the interviews/ should there be further updates on the application, however given the circumstances, kindly expect some delay in response and please reach out to [email protected] if you have any further questions.

Main purpose of the job:

The role of the Senior Political Economy Adviser is to help senior HMG stakeholders understand India, its people, its politics and society, in support of both UK-India bilateral and UK global priorities. The jobholder shall drive and deliver relevant reporting and analysis on Indian domestic politics, its implications for Indian economy and society, as well as its impact on UK interests in India. The jobholder will exercise oversight of a network of political officers leading on regional politics and programme delivery. This role involves steering high level political engagement of senior HMG stakeholders. This is a senior role and is ideally suited for those with expertise, experience and a passion for India, its politics, society and culture and who are highly motivated to continue to grow on the job. The job holder reports to the Head of the India Bilateral team in the Political Department in the British High Commission, New Delhi.  

Roles and responsibilities:

Reporting, Analysis and Relationship Management: 60% 

Political Reporting and Analysis: Timely analysis of key political developments, including diptels (cables) and analysis of longer term trends within India, and their impact on UK interests.   

Lead responsibility for written reporting in the following areas: 

• India’s national politics.
• Impact of politics on society and economic policy and vice versa.
• High level briefings – both written and verbal – on India, government, politics and society.

 Strategic Political Relationship Management for key stakeholders in New Delhi

• Consistently nurture and develop a wide network of contacts, particularly within political, parliamentary, think tank, and media communities in New Delhi.
• Advise on targeted engagement with key stakeholders, and lead on strategic relationship management.

Support strategic direction setting within the Political department:  30%

• Support the Political Counsellor and the Bilateral team head in providing strategic clarity and cohesion to the political department’s work.
• Advise on strategy and implementation, to enable the political department to deliver public diplomacy projects and programmes with impact.
• Line manage 1 officer.
• Mentor and contributing to the management, objective and direction setting of the India-wide political officer network around a shared purpose, vision and goals. [Counter-sign]

Cross-department support and Corporate contribution: 10%

The job holder shall be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues across all 15 High Commission departments and with our 7 Deputy High Commissions, especially at times of high volume of work, developing ideas for visit programmes and assist in implementing them. This necessarily requires the ability to work collaboratively. We also expect the jobholder to voluntarily take on a corporate objective.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line management responsibility of one member of staff; counter-signing responsibility for seven officers; other management responsibilities to be agreed with successful candidate. 

Learning and development opportunities:

The British High Commission is very supportive of learning and development objectives and there are several policy and leadership training opportunities for the jobholder through the year in Delhi and in London. There will also be occasional travel within the region for BHC-supported conferences and workshops.

Language requirements:

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English. Ability to write succinctly, while capturing nuance and complexity. Ability to communicate effectively with a UK audience. 

For candidates invited to an interview, there will be a short test of written English.

Level of language required:  Aside from fluency in English, strong working knowledge of Hindi is desirable.  

Other skills / experience / qualifications:

Essential on arrival:  

• Written and Oral Communications: excellent written and oral communication skills.  Produce written work that is concise, timely, and reflects a clear understanding of a UK audience’s needs.  Deliver briefings and presentations in a confident and professional manner. 
• Effective Networking: demonstrate you bring with you a broad-based political contact network, and have the ability to leverage BHC contacts in support of the UK’s policy objectives in India. 
• Customer Focus: understand the needs of a diverse range of customers both within the High Commission, and at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London.
• The successful candidate would have at least 10 years of relevant working experience, knowledge of and familiarity with Indian politics, society, governance structures, and institutions.