View Vacancy – Strategic Communications Manager (Defence and Security, Migration and Soft Power), Grade – HEO, New Delhi

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

UK Mission

Job Subcategory

Communications, Press and Media

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

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:

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic communications professional who will work with colleagues across the UK in India to bring greater coherence and structure to our communications.

This will mean working with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across the UK in India Network to deliver on some of the UK’s top priorities. The job holder will work closely across the India Network, including with policy colleagues and other internal stakeholders, to implement Vision 2035 – our ambitious, future-focused UK-India partnership for the next decade.

You will lead on strategic communications and campaigns focusing on Defence and Security, Migration and Soft Power. Your job will be to explain what these priorities are and why they are important – capturing examples of our partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life. While the role may evolve over time, the person specification will not – we are looking for someone with impeccable news and communications judgement, exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

You will be part of the Communications team at the British High Commission New Delhi, which provides a fast-paced, engaging and rewarding work environment. This will require you to deliver at pace and manage a variety of competing priorities.

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 role:

This is an exciting role sitting at the heart of the UK in India network communications team.

As Strategic Communications Manager, you will be responsible for being the go-to person on your policy areas. This will mean collaborating closely with policy leads in other departments and working with a wide range of colleagues across the India Network to promote the Defence and Security, Migration and Soft Power elements of Vision 2035.

Your job will be to explain what these are and why they are important – capturing examples of this partnership and finding innovative ways of bringing them to life. You will:

• Develop and then deliver strategic communications plans for Defence and Security, Migration and Soft Power. This includes working with key stakeholders and developing and maintaining a set of key messages and a forward look plan of activities.
• Be the communications point of contact and maintain a virtual network of colleagues, to ensure a clear understanding of relevant activities, find stories, create up-to-date and compelling content, and maintain an awareness of potential sensitivities. Support colleagues on presentation and identifying sensitives and opportunities.
• Advise colleagues and partners, developing written communication materials to showcase the UK’s work, and helping to manage media issues.
• Plan content and stories linked to your themes working closely with the News and Digital team, to place both on UKinIndia digital channels, and in mainstream media.
• Establish processes to gather audience insight and key perceptions to create a baseline against which to measure the effectiveness of your plans and conduct regular evaluation.
• Maintain flexibility, supporting colleagues working on other themes, and take on additional responsibilities as required (for example during Ministerial visits, or when responding to emerging issues).

You will be required to work in close collaboration with a team of communications specialists, working in multiple locations.

You will also take on wider responsibilities as part of the Press and Communications Group, inputting into insight and evaluation activity, providing mentoring and training for others, and taking the lead on some corporate issues.

The job holder:

You will need to be proactive, organised and great at building productive relationships. You will need to spot opportunities and think creatively about how to improve our communications, even where there is minimal budget. Where appropriate, you will need to be able to deliver results quickly and to a high standard independently.

You will be familiar with how to deliver effective strategic communications campaigns from start to finish and have a sound understanding of campaign planning, being able to think creatively about how to tackle issues, change perceptions and get your audience’s attention.

You will have impeccable news and communications judgement and a proven ability to influence others to achieve positive outcomes.

Exceptional interpersonal skills are essential in this role. The successful candidate will uphold our values and have a proven record of maintaining positive working relationships and contributing to a positive working environment.

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

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

You will line manage the team’s Marketing and Events Manager.

Learning and development opportunities (if any):

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.

Language requirements:

Language: English & Hindi

Level of language require: Full professional fluency in written and spoken English. Fluency in Hindi is desirable but not essential.
A written test will be included as part of the recruitment process.

Additional information – Specific local Post requirements, if any.

The work of a diplomatic mission can cover a wide variety of subject matter, ranging 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, and be comfortable working a desk as well as being out in the field.

The UK is one of the largest and more active foreign missions in India, and it represents the UK’s largest overseas network. The Press and Communications Group is at the heart of this network, working closely with the High Commissioner and engaging regularly with the various government departments represented in India. Despite its size, it is a warm and welcoming team.

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.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Essential on arrival:

• At least 5 years of communications experience in a relevant field.
• Previous experience in media, marketing, public relations, or campaigning in India. Either as a journalist in traditional or digital media, campaign manager or in the wider communications field.
• Solid understanding of campaign planning and experience in designing and delivering a campaign.
• Excellent written communication skills, to be able to draft press releases, communications materials, and proof-read.
• Familiarity with different digital platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn) and ability to communicate professionally and evaluate digital impact through these.
• Proven ability in writing and editing, with strong English language drafting skills.
• IT proficiency – particularly MS Office, including Outlook and PowerPoint.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Desirable:

• Experience working on defence and security and/or migration
• Experience working on soft power
• Degree in communications, journalism or a related field
• Prior experience of working in an international, multicultural organisation.
• Experience in generating digital content, working closely with photographers, video makers and others to produce material for digital media.
• Experience building the capability and capacity of others to deliver effective communications products

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

3 June 2026

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

South Asia & Afghanistan

Country/Territory

India

Location (City)

New Delhi

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

INR

Salary

INR 125,179 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation Fund

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

3 August 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

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 125,179 per month plus 12% Provident Fund and 6% Superannuation Fund.

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 25 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.

Additional information

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 staff applying for this position must have prior approval from their current line manager and should not be on an active formal written warning, else the application will not be considered.

We will accept only online applications by 3rd June 2026 (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 tentative and the appointment will be subject to successful clearances including background verification, references, educational, and professional checks. ”

We welcome all applications irrespective of age, race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, caste, or creed. We are also open to applications from people who want to work flexibly.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.