View Vacancy - Political Officer, C4, Chennai

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.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political

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. 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.

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 SAAD.Recruit@fcdo.gov.uk if you have any further questions.

Main purpose of job:

The job holder will work with the team in the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai and colleagues across the British government network in India, especially those in Delhi and Bangalore.  They will act as a political analyst on international and regional issues as they affect the states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, as well as the domestic politics of those states. You will need to produce high quality reporting and analysis proactively, drawing on your extensive network of contacts. The successful applicant will be expected to be self-motivated; be able to work effectively and have well-developed contact building and political analysis experience.  They will also will require excellent communication and organisational skills. This role will report to a UK member of staff and will work closely with all colleagues in the mission.

Roles and responsibilities:

The job holder will work closely with the team in Chennai, Bangalore and the Foreign & Security Policy team in Delhi, as well as with other British government diplomatic missions in the region.

They will analyse, report, and give policy advice on:

  • Proactively identifying and reporting political developments in Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry
  • Reporting on Economic and infrastructure developments in Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry
  • Human Rights and civil society analysis in the above states
  • Security and Defence issues

The jobholder will support India network activity on security and defence issues, including regional security. They will also report on counter terrorism and countering violent extremism, and other security issues with special focus on border regions.  The job holder will provide reports on Human Rights within Tamil Nadu and Puducherry including religious groups and civil society; they will also run and deliver Human Rights programmes funded by the FCDO.  The job holder will contribute to analysis of domestic politics and lead on coverage in state elections

The jobholder will act as Visits Officer for the post:  to be the first point of contact for the programmes of any government and official visitors to the region, and support India-wide major visits as required. 

The jobholder will run and deliver the FCDO Chevening Scholarship Programme for applicants residing in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Resources managed:

The job holder will not have direct management responsibilities.  However, they will contribute to the overall smooth running of the mission, and the collective effort of the team in post. 

Language requirements:

Language:  English, Tamil

Level of language required:  The job holder should be fluent in English.  They should be able to function in Tamil.

Learning and development opportunities:

The jobholder will be able to access a wide range of English language material online and face to face training delivered for the UK government in Britain and abroad. Much of the learning is on the job, which will be diverse and unusual, with a strong focus on development of a good written style. 

Working patterns: 

The British High Commission network across India is committed to providing flexible work patterns.  While standard hours are 08:30-16:30 Monday to Thursday;  08:30 to 13:30 on Fridays, with 30 minutes for lunch, the use of mobile ICT and the nature of the job means that the jobholder will be able to work different hours according to their personal circumstances. 

 

  • Post Graduate qualification with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience as a political analyst or a researcher.
  • Experience in working with organisations like diplomatic missions, larger business houses, NGO, or organisations with international links.
  • Excellent team working skills, with strong ability to build co-operative working relationships across a large network.

 

  • Experience in writing succinct, readable political analysis.
  • Experience in working in a small team where they have shown flexibility and adaptability to contribute to team goals.
  • Broad range of contacts across the political sections.
Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving
2 August 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Chennai
British Deputy High Commission
1
INR
INR 1,10,484 per month with 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation Fund
21 September 2021

Salary Package:

BHC candidates, the Local BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For other than BHC candidates, Basic Salary will be INR 110,484 per month plus 12% provident fund and 6% Superannuation Fund.

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. Notional tax will be deducted if you are not liable to pay local tax.

Please note - 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.

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 British High Commission has anywhere across the globe.  We are aiming to make it the best.

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. 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.’’

To Apply: 

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

A.    Complete the Online Application Form

B.    Complete the Motivation and Competency 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 2nd August 2021 (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.

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.