View Vacancy - UK-India Tech Hub Deputy Director, International Tech Hub Network, C5, Bengaluru/ Hyderabad

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)
Economic and Prosperity

‘’Note : All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, motivational segment and competency 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:

This is an exciting opportunity to support the establishment and success of a new, innovative and high-profile Tech Hub in India that will aim to develop the Indian tech ecosystem, deliver digital skills programmes, and build links between tech businesses in the UK and India. We are looking for a dynamic, well-networked individual from the Indian tech scene for this role, to initiate and pursue new strategic opportunities for the Hub across a number of sectors

This role will put you at the heart of the UK’s bilateral relationship with India. The UK-India Tech Partnership is a world first, and your role will be vital to turning the vision into a reality that supports jobs, innovation and inclusive growth in both countries.

The UK-India Hub is a critical pillar of the UK-India Tech Partnership, a Prosperity Funded programme to drive greater digital access in countries like India. New and innovative, the Prosperity Fund (PF) represents a step change in HMG’s approach to promoting economic development and prosperity overseas.

The 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.

The Deputy Director role will be based in Bangalore and Hyderabad, with some travel across the country (particularly Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore where other staff will be located), which will be required to maximise the success and outputs of the hub across India. There may also be some overseas travel, including to the UK.

The UK-India Tech Hub is part of a global network of international tech hubs developed by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to build digital ecosystems that will facilitate sustainable economic growth and development.

The successful candidate will be part of a small team of locally-engaged staff, based within the British High Commission, and will support the Director of the Hub to develop its strategy, and then be responsible for helping to deliver that strategy. They will also manage the hub’s day to day operations. The Tech Hub Network is funded as part of a cross-government, Prosperity-funded programme, so collaboration across departments will be a critical success factor in this role.

The Hub will have three main aims:

  • Deliver tailored interventions to cultivate digital skills responding to the needs and opportunities for inclusion in the local tech sector. This could include, for example, promoting opportunities for youth and women in the local tech sector;
  • Support tech entrepreneurship through partnerships with local digital ecosystem stakeholders including incubators, accelerators and Indian private sector firms, Indian government departments and agencies and non-profit organisations.
  • Facilitate partnerships between local tech firms (including tech startups) and international companies (across all sectors) in the form of commercial partnerships or joint ventures.

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

Responsibilities will include:

  • Supporting the Director of the Hub in their development of a strategy to establish and make this hub succeed in the Indian landscape;
  • Supporting the Director to initiate and pursue new strategic opportunities for the Hub, cultivating new leads, understanding business and innovation needs across all sectors and convincingly presenting the opportunities for collaboration via the Hub;

  • Providing leadership on the management of the Hub’s ongoing projects, as well as the development of new ones. This will include budget development and management;

  • Working in collaboration with DCMS and other government departments, taking responsibility for delivering delegations (both inward and outward) and events that support the development of the local tech ecosystem;

  • Developing and managing relationships with local tech firms, startups and wider tech sector stakeholders, using these to support the development of new partnerships and programmes;

  • Collaborating with the other Hubs in the global network to develop the network offering;

  • Leading on selected operational management responsibilities, including potentially: project oversight, budget management, impact assessment (monitoring and evaluation), HR supervision, or as further defined according to need in order to support the work of the Hub’s Director and new strategic directions for the Hub;

  • Deputising for the Director in various leadership roles within the team, including representing the Hub and the British High Commission externally in some circumstances (media, speaking opportunities, event representation).

  • Acting as a gender champion in your leadership role.  Ensure 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. Actively support PF ambitions on women’s economic opportunities, inclusive growth and poverty reduction through your team.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

The post-holder will report to the UK-India Tech Hub Director. The postholder will be required to work closely with the DCMS Tech Hub network team; other government departments, including Department For International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Trade, as well as the other Tech Hubs in the network.

Essential on arrival:

This role will suit individuals with experience of the UK/India tech and startup scenes. The applicant would ideally bring a network of business contacts in India, using this to expand the Hub’s network.

  • Experience in, and knowledge of, the tech sector and startup scene within India

  • Well networked within the tech sector (private sector firms and/or startups); knowledge of, and experience with the India business landscape

  • Track record of leading successful delivery in either industry or government

  • Ability to engage credibly with senior government and senior industry stakeholders

  • Proven track record of developing and running programs and partnerships from the ground up

  • Proven project management and budget management skills

  • Willingness to travel frequently within India, and to occasionally travel to the UK and other locations

  • Strong organisational skills

  • Highly motivated, passionate about innovation and technology

  • Open and clear communicator, excellent networking skills including across international environments

  • Entrepreneurial experience in the tech sector can be an advantage

  • International Business Development experience preferred

  • Understanding of Go-To- Market Strategies

  • Ability to create and communicate value propositions

21 January 2020
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
Bangalore, Hyderabad
British Deputy High Commission
2
INR
INR 138,068 per month plus 12% provident fund and 6% Special Allowance
1 April 2020

For British High Commission (BHC) candidates, the Local Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply. 

For other than BHC candidates, salary will be INR 138,068 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Special Allowance. 

Additionally the BHC offers a great benefits package that includes annual domiciliary medical cover, plus a Group Hospitalisation Scheme with Rs. 500,000 floater cover for your immediate family.   

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 is 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.

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

We place a strong emphasis on learning and development. You will be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in corporate activities. This role provides an excellent opportunity to build up programme knowledge and expertise and gain exposure to working across government. You will have access to existing and new Project & Programme Management L&D as well as wider job-relevant L&D and support for your own personal development.

‘’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 Job Application Form.

b) Complete the motivation segment in the Online Application Form and the competency questions.

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

We will accept only online applications by ­­“21 January ’20” midnight. 

  • 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. 

‘’Please note that all the applicants will be required to strictly adhere to the security guidelines for British High Commission.‘’

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.