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JOB DESCRIPTION
View Vacancy – Deputy Head – Commercial AI & Innovation – Commercial Directorate, Grade – SEO, New Delhi
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
Main purpose of job:
Based at the British High Commission in New Delhi the job holder will be a member of the newly established team that will lead on the Commercial AI & Innovation to support the United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Team will be a part of the FCDO’s wider Commercial Directorate and report into the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Commercial Team located in the UK. The role of the New Delhi DDaT Team will be to lead and operate as a Commercial AI & Innovation Hub to support DDaT and FCDO key stakeholders across Diplomacy and Development.
Deputy Head – Commercial AI & Innovation will support the Head of Commercial AI & Innovation and manage the Senior Advisors – Commercial AI & Innovation (HEO) for the development, maintenance and delivery of AI & Innovation category strategies to support the wider FCDO objectives
The jobholder will work closely and coordinate, manage and support the development and delivery of AI & Innovation Commercial Insights, gathering and sharing market intelligence with the business and commercially assessing and capturing value and benefits from AI & Innovation to support FCDO.
Due to the remote management aspect of the role the job holder will require strong communication, interpersonal, and be a strong team member with the ability to interact with colleagues, customers and suppliers in the UK.
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:
The primary responsibility of the jobholder will be to support the Head of Commercial – AI & Innovation in delivering the required outputs for the AI & Innovation Hub as listed below, but not limited to:
- Develop, maintain and deliver AI & Innovation Category Strategy’s
- Analysing and delivery of Market Intelligence with the business e.g. supplier insights, and cross government approach.
- Commercially supporting FCDO dedicated in-house team for disruptive innovation and operational technology R&D (referred to as FCDOx).
- Commercially assessing and capturing value and benefits from AI/Innovations.
- Supporting the business with AI Commercial insights e.g. differing commercial models that are used.
- Lead the creation of, manage, oversee the Commercial AI Pipeline.
- Provide Commercial AI how to buy training/awareness.
- Capture and oversee Commercial AI risks.
- Monitor adherence to internal and external policies, including regulatory requirements.
- Risk Management, identifying, assessing, and mitigating commercial risks associated with AI & Innovation.
- People and capability development of the team
- Continuous improvements, lessons learning and best practice
- Ensure best in class technology and tools
- Provide monthly AI/Innovation updates to the DDaT Team, Senior Leadership Team and other stakeholders
- Working with key stakeholder across FCDO to capture and help refine business requirements
- Other duties as required
- Act as cover for the Head of Commercial – AI & Innovation
- Line management responsibilities for the HEO Senior Advisors(X2) – Commercial AI & Innovation
The jobholder will be responsible for working with owners in the FCDO and the DDaT Commercial Team to ensure that business needs are met, value for money is achieved and that Global AI & Innovation Category Plans are developed, managed and communicated to the relevant stakeholders within DDaT and the wider FCDO as required
As part of their day-to-day role the jobholder will need to manage:
- Global AI & Innovation category development with expertise and knowledge of spend, market conditions, and environments.
- Monitor and maintain portfolio risk management and mitigation.
- Other responsibilities as required.
Behaviours Expected of Job Holder:
- To display evidence of ability to deliver at pace, learning and developing on the job
- To display ability to own initiative and be an integral part of a wider team with shared goals and vision
Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
Line management duties of 2 X Senior Advisors Commercial AI & Innovation
Working Pattern:
Gross conditioned hours are 40 hours per week. Any changes with regards to work hours or working patterns, considering alignment to certain UK shift timings will be basis the operations requirements and an agreement with the line manager/ head of department.
Flexible working can be considered, a mix between office/home-based working is currently practice but increased presence in the office will be expected; with a current expectation of 4 days per week in the office.
Learning and development opportunities:
- Continual professional development through CIPS certification up to MCIPS / or CPSM – Multiple Options
- Foundation Level Contract Management Training – Government Commercial Office
Essential on arrival:
Candidates should note that the FCDO operates within a regulated sector for procurement and that training will be provided on the UK’s legal framework for conducting public sector procurement.
- Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
- Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in the required domain
- Demonstrated knowledge of AI & Innovation.
- Working Internationally – previous experience in working in a capacity which is regional/international and beyond domestic market
- Extensive language knowledge in English language
Language Requirements:
- Language: English
- Level of Language Required: Operational – Extensive
Desirable:
- Formal qualification in Procurement or Commercial or Project discipline (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply CIPS or its equivalent)
- Experience & knowledge of Hindi language
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture
25 August 2025
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
South Asia & Afghanistan
India
New Delhi
British High Commission
1
INR
INR 173,515 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation
monthly
1 December 2025
For British High Commission candidates, the Country Based Staff BHC Terms & Conditions will apply.
For other than BHC Candidates, salary will be all-inclusive of INR 173,515 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation.
Additionally, 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 which includes self, spouse/partner and children up to an age of 23 years and irrespective of age, only if with, physical or mental disability.
No relocation or any other related costs or assistance will be provided. FCDO does not pay for any travelling, accommodation & relocation expenses incurred and/or accept any financial risk, including cancellation or reschedule costs
Please note – BHC does not deduct tax at source and employees are required to ensure that any requirements of local income-tax law are complied with in full. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g., some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
FCDO operates an agile workforce. To facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as we may reasonably require. 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.
Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the complete online application form including the employment, educational details, behavioural and technical/ professional skills questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the application forms only with all the required details and the shortlisting is not basis CV/ cover letter. Forms that are incomplete in any respect will not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders will need have, or be able to obtain, a valid special work permit issued from Government of India (GOI) to work in the British High Commission (BHC). BHC will not be able to sponsor work visas or obtain/ assist with the special work permit from GOI. Offers of employment made to OCI card holders will be conditional upon candidates obtaining a special work permit.
Note: For requisite special permission to take up employment in any foreign Diplomatic Missions in India, OCI Cardholder must visit https://ociservices.gov.in
Please note – successful applicants will be offered employment on Country Based Staff (CBS) terms and conditions. This is not a permanent UK Civil Service position and does not attract diplomatic immunities and privileges (other than what an individual may already hold if they are a recognised partner/family member of a serving diplomat).
To Apply:
Please note applications without (a) and (b) will not be considered.
a) Complete the Online Application Form
b) Complete the Experience, Professional Skills and Behaviour based Segments in the Online Application Form
Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
To ensure a successful application it is important that you explain how you demonstrate behaviours and technical / professional skills, basis your experience. You are strongly advised to read the Success Profiles Civil Service Behaviours Framework, which provides a detailed guidance on how these behaviours are defined for each position.
Applicants are encouraged to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to prepare specific examples of when and how you have demonstrated these behaviours in your application, by evidencing a structured response, including your skills and experiences. You briefly describe the situation in which you demonstrated the behaviour, and then explain your task in addressing the situation, what action you took and the result of this.
Internal candidates applying for this position need to inform their current line managers, else the applications will not be considered.
We will accept only online applications by 25th August 2025 (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.
Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
Please note – “Provident Fund Transfer in and out from EPFO is not possible as BHC PF is managed by a private PF trust governed by Indian Income Tax Act, 1961. The staff still has the option to transfer out and in from a privately held PF trust which are not governed by EPFO. Any tax deduction on EPF will be in compliance with local income-tax law and must be complied with in full.”
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. Basis the scores, the candidate/s who did not score as highly as the successful candidate, might be placed on the reserve list. If during the reserve period of 12 months, the same or largely similar role becomes available, the role may be offered to the second or subsequent appointable candidates.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative and he appointment will be subject to successful clearance of 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.
Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements
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