Foreign & Commonwealth Office Hiring for Head of Visits, Grade – HEO, New Delhi at New Delhi Full Time

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:

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

This is an exciting role in the Political and Bilateral Affairs team which sits at the heart of the India network. The position of Head of Visits has an interesting and varied high profile portfolio. Past visits have included the UK Prime Minister, the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Strong personal impact, delivering through others and creativity will be critical to your ability to deliver.

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

To deliver high quality ministerial and senior official visit programmes for incoming British visitors to India. This will include:

• Managing and delivering through your team of 2 LE officers.
• Collaborating with stakeholders to creatively design and research visit programmes which meet both the visitor’s and BHC’s objectives.
• Owning and delivering high standard visits, managing relationships, using your creativity to plan events, finding solutions to problems and thinking on your feet.
• Identifying and cultivating new contacts (both in the UK and in India) to develop strong working relationships and ensure our objectives are met.
• Ensuring all visits administration is well organised e.g., visas, protocol, liaising with the visits and movements team on hotel, room and transport bookings.
• Leading on-the-day visits organisation, implementing the visit programmes and ensuring they run smoothly.
• Proactively producing an upcoming HMG visits grid which lists inward and outward visits, and maintaining records of previous visits, to provide up-to-date high-level visits statistics.
• Delivering high standard immersion programmes through your team, meeting colleague and network objectives
• Robustly managing visit and immersion budgets
• Helping to prepare and quality control Ministerial and official briefing packs.
• Drafting and sending official letters to Indian authorities
• Chairing and producing minutes of British Commission visits organisation
• Working with colleagues to develop creative visit events.
• Stakeholder management, developing your expertise on how best to engage with UK and Indian government’s departments, organisations and businesses.
• Producing visit briefing for senior readership.
• Supporting the wide range of Political and Bilateral Affairs work

Security Clearance Level required: Applicant must already hold a minimum of the UK’s SC level of clearance or be able to achieve it.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply UK, Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand or any of the European Union (EU) countries?

What we do:

The British High Commission (BHC) in India works to enhance UK-India ties (www.gov.uk/world/india). The Political Department within the BHC is responsible for political relations between the UK and Indian Governments. It is based in the BHC in Delhi but works in support of our wider network of Deputy High Commissions (DHC) across India.

The British High Commission organises a significant number of Ministerial and senior official visits to India and the UK. Ensuring that all elements of these visits are delivered to an exceptionally high standard is vital. The Political Department is responsible for the overarching co-ordination of these visits, delivery of the cross-cutting VIP visits, and supports different parts of the British High Commission and wider network to organise sector or issue-specific visits.

Further information

The Political and Bilateral team is looking for an English-speaking individual, who either has or is entitled to suitable security clearance being granted. This role would be well suited to someone who has previously worked in government and/or has experience of delivering high profile events. The role requires someone who has a good knowledge of the UK – its institutions, strengths and networks.

The successful candidate should have a proven track record in outstanding organisation skills, be confident in drafting, have excellent people skills, an ability to think creatively to solve problems and be enthusiastic and adaptable. The successful candidate will need to have a flexible approach to working, for example be prepared to work alongside different teams for short periods of time to help deliver visits including occasionally visits that take place outside Delhi.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• 
  Managing 2 LE officers.

Language requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of language required: Fluent.

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

In house training and mentoring will be given.

Working patterns:

If the job is suitable for flexible working patterns, please provide details: We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly, including arrangements around childcare e.g. during school holidays.

Essentials on arrival:

See skills requirements above.

Security Clearance Level required: Applicant must already hold a minimum of the UK’s SC level of clearance or be able to achieve it.

Nationals of the following countries are eligible to apply UK, Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand or any of the European Union (EU) countries.

Desirable:

Previous visits experience

For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.

For candidates other than BHC candidates, salary will be all inclusive of INR 110,484 topped up with additional allowances:

• INR 88387 Security Allowance
• 18% of the basic in lieu of Provident Fund and Special Allowance/Superannuation Fund

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.

If you are a spouse of a staff member already employed with British High Commission, you will be covered under the family medical cover of your spouse.

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

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE REVIEWED / SCREENED IN LINE WITH THE MANDATORY UK SECURITY CLEARANCE THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AND ANY APPLICATION THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE. Please note that Indian nationals would not obtain the mandatory UK security clearance due to the sensitivity of handling Indian visa applications.

ALL applicants must have permission to work in India by either holding a valid visa, be the recognised partner/ family member of a serving diplomat from other countries or hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN ANY VISAS FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA ABOVE. Evidence of your nationality and permission to work in India must be sent with your application form, for example, photocopies of the details page of your passport and/or visa/ OCI along with pre-employment questionnaire. Please attach this in the attachments section or in the CV section.

Employment will be offered only after appropriate level of UK standard security clearance is obtained, an interview for which will take place in New Delhi. Successful completion of training and mentoring is also essential and as noted above will be held in New Delhi.

Applicants who do not meet the above criterion will not be considered.”

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.’

To Apply:

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

A. Complete the Online Application Form

B. Complete the Experience, Behaviour and Technical/ Professional skills-based questions segment in the Online Application Form

C. Complete this duly filled Pre Employment Questionnaire

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 20th February (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

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. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

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.