Senior Policy Officer in the Economic Department –  The Embassy of the Netherlands in New Delhi

Deadline for application is before 15 October 2021

Job grade: 8

Number of working hours per week: 38

The Netherlands Embassy is located in New Delhi, a Consulate General is located in Mumbai and in Bangalore. There is a Honorary Consulate in Kolkata and in Lucknow, and there are Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO’s) in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad

General features of job

• The Economic Department is responsible for the sectors Life Sciences and Health, Energy/Climate and Water. The Netherlands and India enjoy a long standing bilateral cooperation in the field of water. This cooperation will be intensified  and the present portfolio will be expanded and a more comprehensive programme developed.
• The Senior Policy Officer will be the sector lead for water. The water portfolio comprises of water treatment, water management and flood management. Regional focus is on Kerala, Tamil Nadu and UP.
  The Senior Policy Officer reports and is accountable to of the Economic Counsellor and Head of the Department.

Duties and result areas
Policy support

• To support and contribute to the formulation, development and implementation of the bilateral water programme, including policy and strategy development.
• Identifying political, economic and societal developments that might impact the availability of water for the main stakeholders. Policy advise is formulated accordingly.
• Coordination of all policy level G2G contacts and activities of the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water with the Indian ministry of Jal Shakti, and the water authorities in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and UP.
• Contributing to the planning, management and evaluation of the bilateral water programme.

Implementation support

• To support the projects and activities developed under the water programme.
• On the trade and business development side, the Senior Policy Officer will respond to trade and investment inquiries of Dutch water sector.
• Pro-actively informing the Dutch water sector, related businesses and relevant stakeholders on market access and legislative issues, as well as economic, commercial and other developments in the Indian market.
• Identifying, developing and communicating business opportunities in specific sectors for the Dutch water sector; identifying bottlenecks and contributing to solutions.
• Preparing, planning and organizing trade and strategic missions to India and the Netherlands, as well as trade fairs, seminars, business-to-business meetings and networking events.

Networking

• Developing, maintaining and making use of a relevant network among the Dutch and Indian water sector, such as private sector companies, knowledge institutions, government organisations and line ministries.
• Linking Dutch and Indian business to relevant Dutch export support promotion schemes.

Reporting

• Gathering information and reporting on the relevant area of operation by studying literature and reports, contributing to research and advising on the relevant policy, including the independent interpretation and analysis of the data collected.

Working Environment

The diplomatic, consular and business support network in the Repuiblic of India of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises the Embassy in New Delhi, Consulates-General in Bangalore and Mumbai and Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO’s) in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and Honorary Consuls in Chennai, Kolkata and Lucknow.

The Embassy in New Delhi has around 70 staff members. The Chancery of the Embassy is located within the diplomatic enclave at 6-50/F Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021 New Delhi.

The team of the Economic Department comprises the Economic Counsellor, the Second Secretary, and three Senior Policy Officers. The Senior Policy Officers report to the Economic Counsellor. The Department plays a key role in the Dutch government efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations.

The Economic Cluster constitute of the Economic Department and the Departments of Life Sciences and Health, Agriculture, Science&Technology and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. The Economic Counselor is the overall coordinator. The Cluster works in close cooperation with the Consulates-General in Mumbai and Bangalore, the Netherlands Business Support Offices in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and the Honorary Consuls in Chennai, Kolkata and Lucknow. Together they form the Trade Network India (TNI), coordinated by the Economic Counselor.

Requirements for the Position

• Educated at higher professional graduate level.
• Preferably 10 years’ relevant working experience, preferably in the water sector.
• Being familiar with the sectors of renewable energy, smart cities, agriculture and innovation would be appreciated.
• Well experienced in programme management.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Indian government structure, relevant legislation, regulations and policy priorities.
• Good knowledge and understanding of current macro-economic and trade developments.
• Efficient network of contacts in Indian government and business sector, specifically in the water sector, and the abilty to strengthen and expand the network.
• Skills in independently identifying opportunities and bottlenecks and taking initiatives to exploit or resolve them.
• Skilled in translating insights and information into recommendations, plans and reports and assessing the policy consequences.
• Ability to work independently; making own choices and decisions about approach and way of working based on formulated assignments.
• Familiar with roles and functions of Diplomatic Missions in the area of economic diplomacy.
• Good verbal and written command of Hindi and English language.
• Good communication skills.
• Computer knowledge and skills (Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, E-mail, Internet).

Contacts

• With colleagues in the economic team and cluster in the Embassy as well as with the colleagues of the Trade Network India (TNI) in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
• With the wider Embassy team, in particular the Political, Public Diplomacy and Culture Department.
• With Indian and Dutch government representatives and other authorities, business organizations and business community.
• With Dutch exporters and investors, specifically in the water sector.
• With all the relevant Indian government water authorities, and institutions, knowledge centers, NGO’s and organisations in the field of water.
• With the counterparts of other EU Member States.
• With the task managers water development of the UN family and IFI’s.

Most important competences for this position:

• Good analytical skills
• Pro-active and hands-on
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Team player
• Networking
• External awareness
• Political sensitivity
• Excellent writing an reporting skills
• Integrity
• Employment conditions

The selected candidate will be offered an employment contract for one year. Upon expiry of this contract, a two-year employment contract will be offered in case of excellent job performance. On the same condition, a four-year employment contract will be offered upon the expiry of the second employment contract. Any successive employment contract thereafter will comprise four years.

Upon employment, the employee will be ranked in salary scale 8, the same as the job level. All salary scales at the Embassy comprise 16 pay numbers. The pay number assigned to the employee upon his or her employment depends on the number of years of relevant experience. After every 12 months, he or she is awarded one pay number more in case of excellent job performance in the preceding 12 months. At present, salary scale 8 starts with a gross monthly salary of INR 113.044 for pay number 0 and ends with a gross monthly salary of INR 169.565 for pay number 15. Salaries are every first of January reviewed. Every December a 13th month salary is paid, whereas, within certain restrictions, 95% of medical cost are reimbursed.

Income tax and social security premiums are withheld in accordance with Indian Law and regulations

APPLICATION

Applicants who are interested in the position and wish to apply for it can send their application by email to NDE-EA@minbuza.nl