A. BASIC DETAILS OF THE JOB
Job title: Senior Advisor, Economic Diplomacy
Mission: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at New Delhi,
Job level: 08
Number of working hours per week: 38
B. GENERAL FEATURES OF THE JOB
The position is based in the Economic Department of the embassy in New Delhi. The global economy suffered a massive impact due to the COVID pandemic and geopolitical unrest. The importance of developing resilient and secure value chains, especially in critical sectors like energy, critical materials, semiconductors, etc. is now more evident than ever before. The Dutch government is looking to scope, engage and invest in value chains to support its economic security. Also, the Dutch government aims to sustain international trade that is robust, technologically forward, secure, flexible regarding demand–supply fluctuations, geopolitical unrest, labor shortages, and impact of climate change.
India, with new policy mechanisms targeted towards boosting domestic production, trade, infrastructure and foreign investment, represents a promising ecosystem to develop such a sustainable supply chain. There is a need to better map government initiatives, specific value chains of critical materials, associated investment opportunities, pathways and risks to support decision making and drive investments from the Netherlands, as well as to forge future bilateral economic partnerships.
The Economic Diplomacy Lead will:
- Implement a project on Economic Diplomacy, adopting an integrated approach to consider aspects like energy transition, availability and access to resources, secure logistics and monitoring, standardization, education and skill development, ethics in international engagement, etc;
- Undertakes data gathering, research and stakeholder engagement to develop an understanding of the current state and evolution of various essential supply chains that India is part of and has the potential to be a part of;
- Scope investment opportunities for the Dutch private sector in India and provide support to enable engagements where relevant;
- May be assigned other duties as indicated by the management of the Economic Department;
- Handles work related matters in a professional and objective manner, not influenced by personal interests or interests of third parties.
C.1 DUTIES AND RESULT AREAS
Description of Duties:
- The economic diplomacy lead is primarily responsible for mapping the current and forthcoming economic value chains in India and identify potential for investment opportunities across the supply chains;
- Assessing through open sources the security and resilience of current essential Indian supply chains (like semi-conductors and critical materials), including policy, lifecycle analysis, the main players, international trade inflow/outflow and key trends;
- Data gathering through open sources and interviews on geo-economic trends, strategic dependencies, looking into bilateral policy on protect and promote (of tech and innovation) in India;
- Assessing bilateral policy on industry politics and also knowledge security in India;
- Identify potential gaps and challenges in the Indian value chains, such as access to raw materials, manufacturing capabilities, sustainability, market demand and export capability, partners and pathways;
- Monitor through open sources, investment flows into India in development of essential value chains;
- Inform the Dutch private sector on promising investment opportunities and enable matchmaking and engagements.
Implementation role:
- Efficient network of contacts in Indian government and business sector, specifically in the economics sector, and the ability to strengthen and expand the network;
- With internal policy officers and senior policy officers, on developments in the policy area and experience with programmes and policy;
- With senior and other staff on procedures, working methods and progress of programmes, as well as explanation and interpretation of legislation;
- With colleagues of the Trade Network India (TNI) in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai; the Honorary Consuls in Chennai, Lucknow and Kolkata;
- With the wider Embassy team, in particular the Political, Public Diplomacy and Culture Department and the Defense and Security Department;
- With Indian and Dutch government representatives and other authorities, business organizations and business community.
C.3 KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS / JOB REQUIREMENTS
Level of education: at least higher professional post graduate level in Economics/ Sustainable Development / Resource management;
Level of experience: At least 5 years
Knowledge:
- Proven track-record in analysis of research and developments in existing and emerging value chains like semiconductors and critical materials;
- Being familiar with the economics of Water – food – energy nexus would be appreciated;
- Good knowledge and understanding of Indian government structure, relevant legislation, regulations and policy priorities;
- Knowledge of general training methods and techniques for drawing up project plans and performing evaluations, and skill in using them;
- Being updated on the latest developments in economic security concerns, policy, partnerships and the associated role of energy transition in India;
- Understanding of relevant ministerial frameworks and legislation in the policy area concerned;
- Familiar with roles and functions of Diplomatic Missions in the area of economic diplomacy;
Skills:
- Seeing the big picture across the various economic value chains and analysing risks at short, medium and longer term;
- Ability to translate insights and information into recommendations, plans and reports and assessing the policy consequences;
- Skills in independently identifying opportunities and bottlenecks and taking initiatives to exploit or resolve them;
- Ability to work independently, making own choices and decisions about approach and way of working based on formulated assignments and targets;
- Excellent and effective written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi;
- Knowledge of and skilled in using Windows, MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other internet based applications.
Competencies:
- Ability to think analytically
- Ability to anticipate;
- Creativity;
- Ability to network;
- External awareness;
- Integrity (standard competency)
Experience
- Preferably 5 years of relevant working experience, in public policy, resource economics, statistics, lifecycle assessment and sustainability;
D. WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Brief description of the Mission and the physical work environment
The diplomatic, consular and business support network in the Republic of India of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises the Embassy in New Delhi, Consulates-General in Bangalore and Mumbai and Netherlands Business Support Offices (NBSO’s) in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and Honorary Consuls in Chennai, Kolkata and Lucknow.
The Embassy in New Delhi has around 70 staff members. The Chancery of the Embassy is located within the diplomatic enclave at 6-50/F Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, 110021 New Delhi.
Brief description of the Economic Department:
The team of the Economic Department comprises the Economic Counsellor, the Second Secretary, and three Senior Policy Officers. The Senior Policy Officers report to the Economic Counsellor. The Department plays a key role in the Dutch government efforts to strengthen bilateral economic relations.
The Economic Cluster constitutes of the Economic Department and the Departments of Life Sciences and Health, Agriculture, Science and Technology and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. The Economic Counsellor is the overall coordinator. The Cluster works in close cooperation with the Consulates-General in Mumbai and Bangalore, the Netherlands Business Support Offices in Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and the Honorary Consuls in Chennai, Kolkata and Lucknow. Together they form the Trade Network India (TNI), coordinated by the Economic Counsellor.
E. TYPE OF EMPLOYEE REQUIRED
A committed, self-driven and proactive team player with excellent research, critical thinking and analytical skills. A great sense of humour is an added value.
F. EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
The selected candidate will be offered an employment contract for one year. Upon expiry of this contract, another one year employment contract will be offered in case of excellent job performance. As financing for this position is for only two years, no more employment will be offered thereafter.
Upon employment, the employee will be ranked in salary scale 8, the same as the job level. All ten salary scales at the Embassy comprise 16 pay numbers. The pay number assigned to the employee upon employment depends on the number of years of relevant experience. After every 12 months, the employee may be awarded one additional pay number depending on his or her job performance in the preceding 12 months. At present, salary scale 8 starts with a gross monthly salary of INR 134,186 for pay number 0 and ends with a gross monthly salary of INR 201,278 for pay number 15. Salaries are adjusted every year as per the 1st of January based upon the outcome of a salary survey among five markers. Every December a 13th month salary is paid, whereas, within certain restrictions, 95% of medical cost are reimbursed. Employees are encouraged and supported to seek further training and education to improve their skills and broaden their employability. This is paid for by the employer.
Income tax and social security premiums are to be paid by the employee in accordance with Indian Law and regulations.
APPLICATION
Applicants who are interested in the position and wish to apply for it can send their motivation letter and resume by email to nde-ea@minbuza.nl no later than 20 July 2023.
