View Vacancy - Personal Assistant to the British High Commissioner, B3, New Delhi

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 (Operations and Corporate Services)
Private Office

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. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please read the additional information section for eligibility requirements before applying.

Main purpose of job:

To support the High Commissioner.

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

  • Overseeing the High Commissioner’s programme on a daily basis in New Delhi and the regular visits across India. This involves steering and directing colleagues to ensure government objectives are being met effectively. Liaising with the Private Secretary, Senior Management and colleagues across the mission to ensure smooth running of the High Commissioner’s programme. (25%)
  • Coordinating, quality-checking and managing deadlines on high-level, classified briefings and speeches for the High Commissioner. (20%)
  • Providing a single Point of Contact for most internal and external engagements with the High Commissioner and UK contacts, including ministerial, security, government liaison as well as business, political, cultural and defence.(15%)
  • Secretary for the quarterly India Board of Management, weekly Senior Management strategy meeting and weekly Delhi coordination meeting. (15%)
  • General office admit duties including formatting letters, answering phone calls, distribution of incoming correspondence and electronic registry. (10%)
  • Composing creative 6-month strategies for the High Commissioner’s engagements across India. Working with senior colleagues to comprehensively assess invitations and key events in the UK-India calendar. (5%)
  • Assisting with note taking and post meeting outputs from the High Commissioner’s meetings. (5%)
  • Deputising for the Deputy High Commissioner’s Personal Assistant as required. (5%)

This is a key job supporting the High Commissioner in one of the UK’s most important and high profile missions.  The job can be done part-time or full-time depending on the candidate.
The job will appeal to a self-motivated individual who will take the initiative to avert problems before they arise, improve work flows, help the High Commissioner deliver his objectives, and work cooperatively in a busy team. The ability to prioritise your workload is essential, along with the ability to change priorities at a moment’s notice. The job holder should be able to clearly determine in advance the needs of the High Commissioner and provide the required papers, assistance etc. A calm, polite, capable and patient telephone manner is needed as the job holder is the first point of contact a caller will have with the High Commission and/or High Commissioner. 
The job requires a high standard of organisation and communication skills, not least excellent drafting and attention to detail as preparing public and private correspondence will be a crucial part of the role.  This includes good IT skills; absolute attention to detail in administrative work, including financial details; and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams inside and outside the office. The job holder will need confidence to work with minimal supervision (but not be afraid to ask questions). Previous PA experience would be useful but an ability to be organised under pressure is essential. The job holder would also need the ability to adapt to a changing pace of work as priorities change on a daily basis and to also have self-motivation and be good at problem solving. 
A professional, discreet and confidential manner is absolutely essential in this role.  The job is one of trust and staff both in the BHC and around India need to know that anything sent to the High Commissioner or his office remains confidential.

Essential on arrival:

  • Very high quality of English, both written and oral, is essential for the job.
  • 2-4+ years of relevant experience, experience of writing/editing/drafting.
Good quality Hindi would also be helpful.
23 January 2020
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term
40
24 months
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
New Delhi
British High Commission
1
INR
INR 62,826 per month together with 80% Security Allowance and Additional Allowance of 18% in lieu of Provident Fund and Superannuation Fund
15 February 2020

SALARY PACKAGE

Length of Contract : 2 Years

Employment Type : Part-time or full-time

The basic salary of INR 62,826 topped up with additional allowances:

  • Security Allowance of 80% of basic pay
  • In lieu of Provident Fund and Special Allowance/Superannuation Fund 18% of basic pay

 A full breakdown of salary will be provided.

Additionally (if applicable) 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.

The following amounts may be deduced from your pay each month:

  •  Notional tax at a flat rate of 20% of gross salary will be deducted by the BHC if you are not liable to pay local tax. This applies to all spouses and partners of UK-based officers posted to India.
  • Staff who are not spouses or dependants of UK-based officers are liable to pay local tax. In these circumstances tax is not deducted at source and staff must make their own arrangements to pay tax in accordance with Indian tax regulations.

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 force 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.

Security clearance required:

Please note:  The role will involve access to and handling of classified or sensitive information. All applicants must therefore be able to achieve the UK’s SCE level of security clearance or already hold it.

Because of the security clearance requirement mentioned above, only nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply:

UK, EU, EEA, Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand. British citizens must have been resident in the UK for at least two of the previous 10 years.

TO APPLY-

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. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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

(a)    Completed the Online Job Application Form

(b)    Complete the Motivation segment in the online application form (In not more than 600 words)

(c)    Complete the Competency segment in the online application form (In not more than 600 words)

We will accept only online applications. Please send in your online applications by 23rd January 2020 (Midnight) 

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 application will not be considered. 

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, 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.