View Vacancy - Head of Newsdesk, Grade – HEO, New Delhi

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment and educational details, experience-based segment and the behaviours and technical/ professional skills-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.

Main purpose of job:

To lead the British High Commission New Delhi’s media engagement strategy, in support of the UK’s work in and with India. Ensure that we are responding effectively to media enquiries and developing stories and help promote positive perceptions of the UK in Indian media. You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong working relationships with a broad range of Indian news organisations and journalists. As a senior communications resource, the role also provides strategic oversight and support for colleagues across the network, including the British Deputy High Commissions.  

We reserve the right to review, revise or amend the roles and responsibilities from time to time reflecting the changing needs of business.

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

You will join the ‘News and Digital’ team, within the wider Communications team in Delhi, which leads on all press and social media activity for the British High Commission. This role requires a strong attention to detail and an in-depth understanding of the benefits and limitations of different channels of communication – along with the ability to successfully leverage these to maximise our impact and outreach. Work is challenging, fun, and fast-paced and you will have an opportunity to get involved in the full range of activities relating to the UK’s work with and in India.

As Head of Newsdesk, you will own and implement our media calendar, including planning and organising press interactions for the High Commissioner and other members of the senior leadership team. A key part of your role is providing expert advice on the Indian media landscape and evaluating the effectiveness of our media engagement; you will be responsible for delivering media insights, recommendations, and high-quality briefing to a range of senior officials on their press engagements, including the High Commissioner, visiting Ministers and VIPs. You will also support media training and upskilling for senior colleagues and the wider communications team.

The jobholder works closely with policy and communications colleagues to design effective media engagement strategies and to develop creative and catchy stories for mainstream and specialist media, including vernacular outlets. You will monitor emerging media trends and developments, identify opportunities to promote the UK’s activities, and learn who is interested in the positive stories we have to share about UK Government priorities. You will know what makes a compelling story, and will work with colleagues to craft them and proactively pitch them to interested journalists.

The role requires a solid understanding of what makes effective written and verbal communication, an excellent grasp of the English language, and the ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences on diverse subjects. The Head of Newsdesk leads on the production of the full range of media products for the High Commission, including press releases, briefings, statements, op-eds, articles, and speeches.

The UK is often prominent in the news and as Head of Newsdesk you will need to react quickly to breaking stories and complex geopolitical issues. Knowing how and when to deploy appropriate media interventions will be key, including utilising conventional briefing mechanisms to inform reporting and reaching out to your network to correct inaccurate information. You will lead on activities that require a quick and responsive approach – for example, crisis communications and managing reputational risks. The role is varied and challenging; you will need to establish strong contacts throughout the High Commission, in London, and with journalists, to make sure you get the best results.

The role may require occasional travel within India to support high profile visits. You will line manage one Newsdesk Officer and report to the Head of News and Digital.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

1. Staff: One EO Newsdesk Officer.
2. Budgets: Support the Head of News and Digital in preparing an annual budget forecast for managing media subscriptions, and any other ad hoc expenditure.

Language requirements:

Language: English and Hindi

Level of language required:  The jobholder must have full professional fluency in English with good working knowledge of written and spoken Hindi. Knowledge of additional languages of India is also desirable.

A written test will be included as part of the recruitment process.

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

The jobholder will be able to access a wide range of online and face-to-face training delivered for the UK Government in Britain and abroad. They will have opportunities to access specialist training for government communicators. Much of the learning is on the job, which will be diverse and varied.

Working patterns:

The British High Commission network across India is committed to providing flexible work patterns. 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. 

The High Commission is committed to ensuring employees enjoy a good work-life balance. It is a stimulating place to work where we value diversity and inclusion and care about the development of our people.

The nature of this particular role will require the successful candidate to work in the office for the majority of the time. In addition, the job holder will on occasion be required to work irregular hours, including (but not limited to):

• Early morning/late evening shift patterns for news monitoring around important developments.
• Weekend duty officer for urgent media requests and news monitoring on a rotational basis.
• Occasional evening and weekend working, as required, during high-level events and visits.

Any other information (or specific local Post requirements):

The work of a diplomatic mission can be unusual, and the subject matter can range from trade and investment, to defence and security to education and visas. The jobholder should be able to hit the ground running, learning quickly about a wide range of issues.

The job holder may be called upon to support the wider communications team when necessary, so a degree of flexibility is required.

The jobholder

You will be an articulate, confident communicator who is a cool head in a crisis, works well under pressure, can shift quickly between issues and produce top quality content to tight deadlines (you will be drafting statements, press releases and lines often at short notice). You will need to be highly motivated with excellent judgement and be able to combine problem-solving with an acute awareness of the geopolitical context.

You must have an in-depth understanding of the Indian media landscape, and the key players within it – covering both English language and vernacular media.  You will need to be familiar with the opportunities and challenges of all forms of media, including digital, print, and broadcast. You will be good at building relationships – with policy colleagues, other comms specialists and journalists alike – and be a real team player.

Qualifications: Graduate/Postgraduate from reputed University.

Essential on arrival:

• At least 8 years of experience working in media, either as a journalist or in media relations.
• Solid understanding of the Indian media landscape, including knowledge of latest media trends, and strong contacts in the Indian news industry.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication.