View Vacancy - Head - Ecosystem Development, D6, UK-India Tech Partnership, UK Trade Economics and Prosperity - Bangalore & Pune

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.
Department for International Trade roles (DIT)
Technology, Information and Digital Transformation

Main purpose of job:

In April 2018 Prime Ministers Modi and May declared a strategic UK-India Tech Partnership. This is a world first, and these two, senior roles are key to turning their vision into a reality that supports jobs, innovation and growth in both the UK and India.

As an initial strand of work, the UK had dedicated £9m to nurturing new ‘tech clusters’ in India by promoting links with international counterparts and centres of excellence, including the UK. We are starting with the AI/Data Science cluster in Karnataka, and the Future Mobility cluster in Maharashtra, and we’ll be nurturing them in three ways:

  • Offering Innovative Challenge Funds to consortia of Indian and international researchers which address tech research and development gaps in the sector.
  • Enhancing Cluster Connectivity by facilitating missions of researchers and business leaders to India, and from India to the UK, promoting formal academic exchanges, and providing intra-cluster support services.
  • Building Business Growth by setting-up landing pads abroad for Indian start-ups and spin-out companies; facilitating thematic roundtables on market challenges and opportunities; offering supported, tailored exchange; showcasing Indian innovation; and providing opportunities to win investment.

 It will be the role of the Heads of Eco-system Development to lead on the design, prioritise and implement these plans.

Your skills and knowledge

As Head of Eco-system Development in either Bangalore or Pune, you will put these plans into action by drawing on your deep knowledge of the sector and local eco-system (AI/Data in Karnataka OR Future Mobility/ Maharashtra). You will maintain an informed picture of the barriers to sector growth and the weaknesses in the eco-system through your excellent network of relevant businesses leaders, investors, tech incubators, academics and thought leaders, government representatives and regulators, and use your creativity and interpersonal skills to build problem-solving partnerships and initiatives.   You will also use your first class communications skills to represent the British government and the Tech Partnership initiative, promoting the UK-Indian tech collaboration as a match made in heaven.

How the role fits in to the rest of team

You will have an Eco-system manager to support you in all of the above, plus a dedicated programme manager to look after the budget and reporting, ensure activities are hitting milestones and outcomes, and guide you on complementarity with other activities under the Tech Partnership. While much of your daily interaction will be with others working on UK-India trade in your office in Bangalore or Pune, you will answer formally to the Head of the Tech Partnership in Delhi and will also have regular interactions with her deputy, as well the senior programme manager (both also Delhi). Some knowledge sharing with your equivalent in Bangalore or Pune would also be appropriate.

An ability to work as part of a network team, to collaborate with a range of colleagues, and to find synergy rather than duplication or competition with others is therefore essential, as well as supportive line management skills.

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

The programme is in ‘start up’ phase and as such there is a high degree of responsibility and opportunity to shape one of the new Tech Clusters projects in India.

Tech Cluster Management

You will lead one of the pilot Clusters, based in either Pune or Bangalore. This will include:

  • Ensuring successful delivery of the Tech Cluster project and development of the cluster; informed understanding of the barriers to cluster growth, and comparisons to relevant clusters in in other part of India and abroad, will be the key to making expert and evidence-based proposals for interventions.
  • Overseeing the Innovation Challenge Fund, such as managing the Expert Panel who set the problem statements and sift the bids, overseeing the peer review and due diligence processes, remaining alert to any issues which may delay the research team’s delivery, championing research excellence throughout the project;
  • Designing and implementing further activities which encourage more scale-ups and start-ups to form international partnerships, including with the UK, either in terms of selling their products and services, attracting foreign investment, or collaborating on R&D. This might include setting up international workshops, delegations to conferences, pitch sessions, market access seminars, hackathon or rocket-ship type competitions,
  • Leading horizon-scanning activities which help the team maintain a understanding of the latest trends and opportunities appearing throughout the wider tech ecosystem;
  • Acting as ad-hoc specialist consultant, providing day to day advice on the sector and eco-system to British government teams working on connected initiatives.
  • Working collaboratively with other teams across the Tech Partnership and wider UK-India Tech Network to ensure that country-level strategies are implemented effectively, and that the Tech Clusters programme aligns with wider HMG objectives;
  • Ensuring the Tech Clusters programme is in line with the Prosperity Fund’s strategic objectives and ODA guidelines, including actively supporting the Prosperity Fund’s ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty-reduction;
  • Management of the Tech Cluster staff: 1x C4 Ecosystem Manager, who will directly support the jobholder in developing projects tailored to the local ecosystem and facilitating participation of the tech sector, and 1x C4 Programme Manager, who will coordinate financial and project management, analysis and impact measurement for the Tech Cluster.

Stakeholder Management

You will facilitate cross-sector participation and broaden the Tech Cluster local networks by:

  • Building strong relationships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem.   This will be in service of the clusters, but also so others working on the Tech Partnership can access the knowledge, skills and resources of researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, mentors, universities, corporations, service providers and industry promoters to deliver their part of the initiative;
  • Working with British High Commission colleagues to engage and influence stakeholders, including government and regulations, (Government of Maharashtra for the Future Mobility Cluster and Government of Karnataka for the AI/Data Cluster) in support of the development of the local cluster, helping to mitigate issues emerging for start-ups and SMEs.
  • Designing, implementing and leading the Tech Cluster landing pads in order to provide real opportunities for start-ups and scale-ups to learn from established companies and industry experts, including how to navigate local regulations and business culture, negotiate access to investment, access third-party services, and refine their marketing approach.

Communications

You will raise the profile of the Tech Clusters and enhance their impact by:

  • Collaborating with communications and marketing colleagues and teams in the wider UK-India Tech Network to organise a coherent message about the Tech Partnership and UK tech around your events.
  • Alongside the Tech Cluster Programme Manager, delivering proactive and timely communication of results to internal customers and external stakeholders.
  • Drafting impact stories and other communications products matched to audience: diplomatic telegrams, letters to senior stakeholders, press releases, social media stories, which showcase the programme’s success

Wider Team contribution

As with all officers in our nine high commission offices across India, the job holder will be expected to contribute to cross-cutting projects and events, for example visits by British Ministers and other VIPs. As a senior member of staff, the job holder will also take a role in setting corporate strategy, ensuring compliance with office administration and security practices, mentoring and training of more junior staff, and in general acting as a role model for UK civil service values: honesty, integrity, impartiality, and objectivity.

The Head of Ecosystem Development will be required to travel regularly between Pune and Mumbai. Both Heads will need to travel occasionally to Delhi and potentially the UK.

Broader context

UK-India Tech Partnership: The partnership is designed to bring together some of the best minds in India and the UK working in tech to unlock its future potential and deliver high-skilled jobs and economic growth in both countries. The Tech Partnership will:

  • present the UK and India as global thought leaders on tech
  • pair businesses, universities and others from different regions in the UK with States in India
  • focus on fast growing sectors including: cyber security, AI/data, future mobility, digital manufacturing and healthcare
  • provide access routes for British and Indian entrepreneurs and SMEs to each other’s markets
  • encourage broader innovation and productivity by helping businesses in the UK and India to develop mentoring relationships, collaborate and exchange staff

Prosperity Fund

Funding behind the Tech Clusters initiative: The cross-government Prosperity Fund (PF) was established under the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with the primary aim of supporting growth in recipient countries and thereby reducing poverty. As such, it represents a key component of the prosperity pillar of the UK Aid Strategy. But the Fund uniquely focuses on promoting growth in ODA-eligible middle income countries, which are home to nearly 70% of the world’s poor and where the development challenges remain significant, but at the same time are important business partners and drivers of prosperity. By delivering high impact, strategic multi-year programmes, across high opportunity countries, regions and sectors, the Fund will help create opportunities for international business, including UK companies. As the UK leaves the EU, an even more outward-looking global Britain investing and trading with the fastest growing markets will become increasingly important.

Around 25 multi-year programmes have so far been endorsed by the Ministerial Board. These cover trade, anti-corruption, infrastructure, business environment, health, future cities, education, financial services, energy and outward investment. For more information, see the Prosperity Fund Annual Report 2017/18.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Responsibility for delivery of part of £9 million FCO Prosperity Fund Tech Partnership programme spend between 2019-20 and 2021-22. Oversight and line management responsibility for two staff, 1x C4 Ecosystem Manager and 1x C4 Programme Manager.

Essential on arrival:

  • Post-graduate degree in relevant subject;
  • Minimum two years of experience of working in the relevant tech sectors in the cluster area (Future mobility/Maharashtra OR AI and Data/Karnataka); and a further eight years of working in future tech, high tech, either in a business, academia or research, and/or business growth initiatives.
  • Experience of working with third party delivery partners;
  • Experience of cross-sector stakeholder management
  • Experience of event management and delegation planning
  • Ability to work autonomously and proactively.

Desirable:

  • Experience of working in the international development field.
  • Experience of managing research grants
  • Communications including social media
23 September 2019
Grade 7 (G7)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Bangalore, Pune
British Deputy High Commission
2
INR
INR 201,201 per month together with a 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowance
15 October 2019

For BHC candidates, the Local BHC Terms & Conditions will apply. For other than BHC candidates, Basic Salary will be INR 201,201 per month together with a 12% provident fund and 6% Special Allowance.

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 FCO has anywhere across the globe.  We are aiming to make it the best. 

Any other information:  

As Head - Ecosystem Development, you are expected to act as a gender champion in your leadership role. This means ensuring Gender Equality Act (2014) compliance and support implementation of gender policy and guidance so that, at the least, no harm is done and gender inequality is not worsened. It will also involve actively supporting PF ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through your team.

Learning and development opportunities:

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training, and to identify and meet training needs for your team as a whole. Besides formal training opportunities, this role provides an excellent opportunity to hone one’s leadership skills, and gain development programme management experience. 

To Apply: 

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

A.     Complete the Online Application Form

B.     Attach a detailed CV

C.    Complete the Motivation Segment in the Online Application Form

Internal candidates applying for this position need to upload their appraisal forms for the previous 2 years (if applicable) and also inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 23rd September 2019 midnight.

Please Note:

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.

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.

This opportunity is closed to applications.