Job Description

(Roles and Responsibilities)
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Main purpose of job:


The Trade Policy Team, within the British High Commission in New Delhi, leads on the UK's bilateral trade relationships across South Asia. The team is responsible for improving market access for UK companies including through supporting negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with India, expanding work to reduce market access barriers across South Asia to benefit businesses and citizens of both countries, and for promoting the rules based international trading system across the region in support of British business.


This role is part of a team that has the responsibility for supporting the delivery of the UK's objectives in FTA negotiations, including implementation should the deal be agreed, and ensuring this delivers for UK businesses. Should a deal be agreed, an important part of this role will be working to establish the government-to-government governance structures to oversee the implementation of the FTA.


This role will require building high quality relationships with stakeholders inside and outside of the Government of India, by undertaking detailed research, and working closely with the Negotiations Team in the UK Department for Business and Trade. The job holder will play a key role in providing analysis and intelligence on India's likely positions/approaches to specific chapters of a UK-India FTA. This work will shape how the UK approaches negotiations on these chapters and will be fundamental to ensuring a successful outcome for UK businesses.


The job holder will also support the team's market access objectives of removing barriers for UK companies to do business in India and resolve any live company issues.


The role will demand an ability to approach your work in a proactive and independent manner, apply a high-level attention to detail, and build high value relationships.

•We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.•

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:


In this role you will be responsible for:

Support and lead work on FTA chapters, with a particular focus on those affecting Trade in Services. Support and lead on implementation of the deal, should agreement be reached. (60%)


You will be responsible for building a nuanced understanding of India's approach to trade in services and other chapters of the FTA in relation to the UK's positions. You will do this through:

• Building a network of stakeholders - from inside and outside of the Government of India - who have influence on India's policies in these chapters.
• Leveraging these relationships to gather intelligence and to influence.
• Providing detailed analysis back to Chapter Leads in the UK Department of Business and Trade to support the UK's negotiating positions.
• Work across the India Network to ensure that the work on these chapters supports wider UK Government in India objectives where possible.
• Work with the market access team to ensure that, where possible, market access barriers related to these chapters are being removed via a UK-India FTA.
• If agreement on the deal is reached, work to establish the government-to-government governance structures to oversee the implementation of the FTA.
• Support the upskilling of sector leads to understand the content of the agreement so that businesses they support can maximize its utilisation after entry into force.

Supporting wider aspects of the UK's trade policy and market access work in India (40%)


You will be expected to support market access work within the team, specifically covering key sectors such as technology, defence and professional services. The aim of this work is to create strategies and engagements plans that will help resolve market access barriers in these sectors. This will range in nature but could include work such as:

• Guiding and supporting existing UK businesses in India, when faced with challenges and issues, affecting their profitability and/or investments in India.
• Supporting projects and designing lobbying strategies to progress barriers with the Government of India and state governments.
• Undertaking bespoke analysis on a particular sector and issues it may face, horizon scanning for any legislative changes that could impact UK companies.
• Working to ensure join up between the FTA work and the market access work, especially during any implementation phase of the FTA.
• Engaging with parts of the India Network, businesses, and the Government of India on bespoke issues.

Language requirements:

Language: English

Level of language required: Fluent

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British High Commission promotes learning and development, and this is a core part of our offer to our staff.

Working patterns: Office working 4 days a week is mandatory.



Essential qualifications, skills and experience
Essential on arrival:

• 4-6 years of relevant work experience
• Graduate in Economics, International Relations, Business or other related fields
• Prior experience in engaging with senior business/government stakeholders


Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
Desirable:

• A strong understanding of Government of India's policy making structures and environment
• Understanding of Indian trade policy
• Experience of doing economic analysis
• IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent exam cleared.


Required behaviours
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
Application deadline
1 August 2024
Grade
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Position
Full-time, Fixed Term
Working hours per week
40
Duration of Post
24 months
Region
South Asia & Afghanistan
Country/Territory
India
Location (City)
New Delhi
Type of Post
British High Commission
Number of vacancies
1
Salary Currency
INR
Salary
INR 121,533 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowance
Start Date
1 September 2024
Other benefits and conditions of employment
For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.



For other than BHC Candidates, salary will be all-inclusive of INR 121,533 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowance. Salary is non-negotiable.



Additionally, the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with INR 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family.



No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided.



Please note - BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g., some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.



The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO also operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require.



The BHC is recognised as a good employer, with a robust, fair and transparent performance management & appraisal system linked to increments and staff bonuses. We have a 5-day working week, plus annual leave, public holidays, maternity leave provision, special leave, paid sick leave provision; ample development opportunities, travel opportunities, a good organisational culture, and excellent work/life balance.


Around half of our work forces are women. We treat people with respect and equality and have a policy of zero tolerance for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.


This is a good opportunity to be part of a strong, diverse team, working in the biggest network that FCDO has anywhere across the globe. We are aiming to make it the best.


We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.



Additional information
Note: •All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience segment and the behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only for all the required details. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage. •

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders will need have, or be able to obtain, a valid special work permit issued from Government of India (GOI) to work in the British High Commission (BHC). BHC will not be able to sponsor work visas or obtain/ assist with the special work permit from GOI. Offers of employment made to OCI card holders will be conditional upon candidates obtaining a special work permit.

Note: For requisite special permission to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India, OCI Cardholder must visit https://ociservices.gov.in

Please note - successful applicants will be offered employment on Country Based Staff (CBS) terms and conditions. This is not a permanent UK Civil Service position and does not attract diplomatic immunities and privileges (other than what an individual may already hold if they are a recognised partner/family member of a serving diplomat).

To Apply:


Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.

• Complete the Online Application Form
• Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form
• Applicants need to answer the questions based on your professional experience. Refrain from use of AI based tools to avoid application from getting rejected/disqualified.

Internal candidates applying for this position need to inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 01 August 2024 (latest by 23:55 hours IST).


Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.


Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

Please note - Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO.


Applicants who do not have the required qualification & experience should kindly abstain from applying, as their applications will not be considered.


Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and no telephone enquires will be dealt with. Basis the scores, the candidate/s who did not score as highly as the successful candidate, might be placed on the reserve list. If during the reserve period of 6 months, the same or largely similar role becomes available, the role may be offered to the second or subsequent appointable candidates.


The appointment will be subject to Police Verification and other checks including references, medical, educational, and professional.


We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.



Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.