Job Opportunity for Senior Policy Officer, Economic Department at Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in New Delhi

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Website Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands

Job title: Senior Policy Officer, Economic Department

Department/mission: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Delhi

Job grade: 8

Number of working hours per week: 38

GENERAL FEATURES OF JOB

  • The Economic Department is responsible for the sectors Energy/Climate, Water and Trade & Investment. The Head of the Economic Department coordinates the economic cluster, that comprises of the departments of Economy, Innovation, Agriculture and Health. Further, the Head of Economic Department coordinates the Trade Network India (TNI), comprising all employees that work in the economic domain in the Netherlands’ representations in India: New Delhi (Embassy), Mumbai and Bangalore (Consulates General), Hyderabad and Ahmedabad (Economic Offices) and Kolkata, Chennai and Lucknow (Honorary Consulates).
  • The Netherlands and India enjoy a long-standing bilateral cooperation in the field of water, agriculture, climate/energy, innovation and health, which are the focus areas.
  • The bilateral cooperation on energy/climate will be intensified. A new MoU with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will be signed this year. The cooperation will focus on clean hydrogen, off-shore wind, urban e-mobility, solar and climate financing.
  • The Senior Policy Officer will be the acting sector lead for climate/energy awaiting the selection and appointment of a sector lead next year. As acting sector lead the senior policy officer will chair the energy team comprising of policy officers from the economic and innovation departments and will give guidance to the development of the programme in the field of climate change and energy transition.  

DUTIES AND RESULT AREAS

Policy support

  • Supporting and contributing to the formulation, development and implementation of the bilateral climate/energy programme, including policy and strategy development. 
  • Identifying political, economic and societal developments relevant for climate change mitigation, adaptation and energy transition. Policy advise is formulated accordingly;
  • Coordination of all policy level G2G contacts and activities of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Affairs with the Indian line ministries of MNRE, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Coal and Power;
  • Coordination of contacts and activities with Indian thinktanks in the field of climate/energy, like NITI Aayog, TERI and CEEW;
  • Exploring and identifying new avenues for cooperation, including climate financing, in the field of climate mitigation, adaptation and renewable energy, in close cooperation with the innovation department, local partners, the IFI’s, Dutch development bank and Dutch line ministries. Given the scope and rapid development of the energy transition in India (as well as worldwide), it will be of crucial importance to build new coalitions/partnerships in the field of the energy transition.     

Implementation support

  • To support the on-going projects and activities developed under the Statement of Intent with Niti Aayog;
  • On the trade and business development side, the Senior Policy Officer will respond to trade and investment inquiries of Dutch climate/energy sector;
  • Pro-actively informing the Dutch climate/energy sector, related businesses and relevant stakeholders on market access, as well as economic and commercial developments in the Indian market;
  • Identifying, developing and communicating business opportunities; identifying bottlenecks and contributing to solutions;
  • Preparing, planning and organizing trade and strategic missions to India and the Netherlands, as well as trade fairs, seminars, business-to-business meetings and networking events.

Networking

  • Developing, maintaining and making use of a relevant network among the Dutch and Indian climate/energy sector, such as private sector companies, knowledge institutions, government organisations and line ministries.  

Reporting

  • Reporting on the relevant area of operation based on studying literature, attending seminars, formal and informal meetings. 

WORKING 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.

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&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.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION

  • Educated at higher professional graduate level;
  • Preferably 8-10 years relevant working experience, preferably in the climate/renewable energy sector. It would be a strongly appreciated asset, if the candidate has a proven track-record in building, and expanding, new coalitions/partnerships in the field of the climate and energy transition, including with for example government agencies, (commercial and development) banks, companies, knowledge institutions and NGO’s.  
  • Being familiar with the sectors agriculture and innovation would be appreciated; 
  • Well experienced in programme management;
  • Good knowledge and understanding of Indian government structure, relevant legislation, regulations and policy priorities;
  • Efficient network of contacts in Indian government and business sector, specifically in the energy sector, and the ability to strengthen and expand the network; 
  • Skills in independently identifying opportunities and bottlenecks and taking initiatives to exploit or resolve them.
  • Ability to translate insights and information into recommendations, plans and reports and assessing the policy consequences;
  • Ability to work independently; making own choices and decisions about approach and way of working based on formulated assignments;
  • Familiar with roles and functions of Diplomatic Missions in the area of economic diplomacy;
  • Good verbal and written command of Hindi and English language;
  • Good communication skills;
  • Computer knowledge and skills (Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, E-mail, Internet). 

CONTACTS

  • With colleagues in the economic team and cluster in the Embassy; the 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;
  • With Indian and Dutch government representatives and other authorities, business organizations and business community;
  • With Dutch exporters and investors, specifically in the climate/energy sector;
  • With all the relevant Indian government authorities, and institutions, knowledge centers, NGO’s and organisations in the field of climate/energy;
  • With the counterparts of other EU Member States;
  • With the task managers climate/energy of the UN family and IFI’s.
  • Basic knowledge about climate financing.
  • Most important competences for this position:
  • Good analytical  and conceptual skills;
  • Pro-active and hands-on;
  • Creativity;
  • Flexibility;
  • Team player;
  • Process management;
  • Networking;
  • External awareness;
  • Political sensitivity;
  • Excellent writing an reporting skills;
  • Integrity.

 EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS

The selected candidate will be offered an employment contract for one year. Upon expiry of this contract, a two-year employment contract will be offered in case of excellent job performance. On the same condition, a three-year employment contract will be offered upon the expiry of the second employment contract. Hence, the maximum duration of the employment period is fixed at maximum 6 years.

The position carries salary scale 8, which comprises of 16 pay numbers. The number assigned upon employment depends on the number of years of relevant experience. After every 12 months of service an additional pay number is awarded in case of excellent job performance in the preceding 12 months. At present, salary scale 8 starts with a gross monthly salary of INR 113,885 for pay number 0 and ends with a gross monthly salary of INR 170,827 for pay number 15. Salaries are reviewed every first of January. Every December a 13th month salary is paid. The employee will be covered by a medical insurance, that within certain restrictions, reimburses 95% of medical costs incurred.

Income tax and social security premiums are withheld / to be paid by the employee in accordance with Indian Law and regulations. 

APPLICATION

This vacancy is also published internally within the Diplomatic, Consular and Business Support network of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of India. Internal candidates, if found suitable, will have priority. 

Applicants who are interested in the position and wish to apply for it can send the motivation/cover letter along with their resume via email to NDE-EA@minbuza.nl before 15 September, 2022.

To apply for this job email your details to NDE-EA@minbuza.nl

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