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:

You will be one of the senior members of staff in the UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) team of the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (India), working to identify and develop export and partnership opportunities for UK business. The team focuses on building opportunities for the UK defence, security, cyber, disaster relief, and fire sectors, and is responsible for dealing with high value opportunities in the Indian private sector and with the Indian government. As the team’s representative in Bengaluru, you will be focusing on opportunities in Southern India, whilst supporting the broader work of the team.

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

 Defence and Security Sector (70%)

• Lead on the Defence and Security sector within UKDSE India team for the region while promoting the development and delivery of sector opportunities in India. This includes supporting the Head-UKDSE in designing and delivering strategic sector campaigns to achieve this.
• Support the UKDSE team in promoting the homeland security and Cyber Security sector opportunities in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Lead on the coordination/delivery and tracking progress of the biannual UK-India equipment talks between UK and India and work closely with the UK Co-Chairs, key stakeholders to support the resolution of issues as well as promote collaboration.
• Develop and manage relationships with the Department of Defence Production, Industry, Defence Public Sector Units, DRDO agencies and other Defence sector stakeholders in the region. Focus on creating high quality networking platforms for collaboration between Indian and British companies.
• Provide expertise and insight into the sectors, supporting UK companies as they seek to exploit them.
• Ensure knowledge of the sector is up to date and ready to provide authoritative advice to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely at the Post level to support wider sectoral activity in the region as the Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) or Deputy Head of Mission (DHM), including providing key inputs/ high-level briefings for ministerial/senior internal stakeholder visit programmes in the region.

Corporate (30%)

• Work closely with the various departments of the British High Commission (BHC) team to deepen the UK’s commercial relationship in Southern India
• Support the business of the wider Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and BHC networks as necessary in helping to organise and deliver major events.
• Develop and maintain engagements with UK based companies, through various DBT services and business plan activities, resulting in their being significantly assisted to move forward on their India business plans.
• Maintain a good in-depth knowledge about the full range of business and related political issues across India, so that the jobholder can speak authoritatively to external stakeholders.

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

The British High Commission in India and the Department Business and Trade offer excellent training opportunities to employees. A successful candidate will be asked to complete an induction course and further training will be offered tailored to individual needs. The candidate will need to travel within India and internationally, with opportunities to travel to the UK for sector related events and training courses.

EDUCATION: A degree or equivalent qualification, or the ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and skill /experience in the required sectors – Defence or Security.

EXPERIENCE: 3 – 5 years relevant experience of working in a corporate/office environment.

• Previous experience in/knowledge of either Indian Defence or Security market.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work as a reliable member of a team.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to communicate locally within an office based team and wider to colleagues across the India and Global (particularly UK Network)
• Efficient with excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to plan and organise timetables or diaries for others.
• Good attention to detail.
• Effective English written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work both on own initiative and under supervision.
• Good all round IT skills and ability to set up administration systems reflecting good practise.
• Responsive, motivated and ability to ‘get things done’.
• An interest in working with international delegations, UK company visitors and organising itineraries, meetings and briefings.
• A willingness to learn to learn about the work of UK Defence and Security market.

Language requirements:

Language: Excellent English Speaking (mandatory), Proficiency of Hindi and regional language of Peninsular and Southern is also desirable.

Level of language required: Excellent