Strategic Communications Manager (Living Bridge), Grade- HEO : British High Commission in India

Apply by 18th April 24

British High Commission in India We maintain and develop relations between the UK and India.

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.

Job Category 1 UK Mission

Job Subcategory 1 Communications, Press and Media

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 1 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:

We are looking for a dynamic communications professional who will work with colleagues across the UK in India to bring greater coherence and structure to our communications. They will lead on strategic communications and campaigns focusing on the theme of the “Living Bridge” – the uniquely strong people-to-people relationships between the UK and India.

This will mean working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across the UK in India Network to promote the Living Bridge along with being the communications business partner to the Political Department and internal stakeholders under the Living Bridge pillar.

Your job will be to explain what the living bridge is and why it is important to targeted Indian audiences – capturing examples of this living partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life.

You will be part of the Communications team at the British High Commission New Delhi, which provides a fast-paced and engaging work environment. The role requires exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

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

The role

This is an exciting role sitting at the heart of the UKinIndia network communications team.

As Strategic Communications Manager (Living Bridge), you will be responsible for being the “go-to” person on your area. This will mean collaborating closely with policy leads in the Political department and working with a

wide range of colleagues across the India Network to promote the Living Bridge that exists across culture, education, collaboration, research, technology, and business.

Your job will be to explain what this is and why it is important – capturing examples of this living partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life. You will:

• Develop and then deliver a strategic communications plan for Living Bridge and People focused pillars.
•  This includes working with key stakeholders, develop and maintain a set of key messages and a forward look plan of key activity.
• Be the communications point of contact and maintain a virtual network of colleagues, to ensure a clear understanding of relevant activities, find stories, create up-to-date and compelling content, and maintain an awareness of potential sensitivities. Support colleagues on presentation, and identifying sensitives and opportunities.
• Advise colleagues and partners, developing written communication materials to showcase the UK’s work, and helping to manage media issues.
• Plan content and stories linked to your theme working closely with the News and Digital team, on the links between India and Britain, to place both on
• UKinIndia digital channels, and in mainstream media.
• Establish processes to gather audience insight and key perceptions to create a baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of your plan and conduct regular evaluation.
• Maintain flexibility, supporting colleagues working on other themes, and take on additional responsibilities as required (for example during ministerial visits, or responding to emerging issues).
• You will be required to work in close collaboration with a team of communications specialists, working in multiple locations (there are seven Deputy High Commissions across India, and well as the High Commission in Delhi).
• You will also take on wider responsibilities as part of the Press and Communications Group, inputting into insight and evaluation activity, providing mentoring and training for others, and taking the lead on some corporate issues.

The job holder

You will need to be proactive, organised and great at building productive relationships. You will need to spot opportunities and think creatively about how to improve our communications, even where there is minimal budget. Where appropriate, you will need to be able to deliver results quickly and to a high standard independently.

You will be familiar with how to deliver effective strategic communications campaigns from start to finish and have a sound understanding of campaign planning, being able to think creatively about how to tackle issues, change perceptions and get your audience’s attention.

The job holder may be called upon to support the wider communications team when necessary, so a degree of flexibility is required.  You will report to the Deputy Head of Communications.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• No direct line management responsibilities at the outset, although this may evolve over time.
• Essential qualifications, skills and experience 1 At least 5 years of communications experience in a relevant field.
• Previous experience in media, marketing, public relations, or campaigning in India. Either as a journalist in traditional or digital media, campaign manager or in the wider communications field.
• Solid understanding of campaign planning and experience in designing and delivering a campaign.
• Excellent written communication skills, to be able to draft press releases, communications materials, and proof-read.
• Familiarity with different digital platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) and ability to communicate professionally and evaluate digital impact through these.
• Proven ability in writing and editing, with strong English language drafting skills.
• IT proficiency – particularly MS Office, including Outlook and PowerPoint.

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Hindi

• Level of language required: Full professional fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in Hindi is desirable but not essential.
• A written test will be included as part of the recruitment process.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 

• Degree in communications, journalism or a related field
• Prior experience of working in an international, multicultural organisation.
• Experience in generating digital content, working closely with photographers, video makers and others to produce material for digital media.
• Experience building the capability and capacity of others to deliver effective communications products

Required behaviours 

Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

• Application deadline : 18 April 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 1 INR
• Salary 1 INR 121,533 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowances
• Start Date 1 15 June 2024

Other benefits and conditions of employment 1 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 Allowances.

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 which includes self, spouse/partner and children up to an age of 23years and irrespective of age, only if with, physical or mental disability.

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 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.
• Additional information 1 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 18 April 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.

The work of a diplomatic mission can be unusual, and the subject matter can range from trade and investment, to defence and security to education and visas. The jobholder should be able to hit the ground running, learning quickly about a wide range of issues, and be comfortable working a desk as well as being out in the field.

The UK is one of the largest and more active foreign missions in India, and it represents the UK’s largest overseas network. The Press and Communications Group is at the heart of this network, working closely with the High Commissioner and engaging regularly with the various government departments represented in India. Despite its size, it is a warm and welcoming team.

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.