Head of Internal Communications

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  

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

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 internal communications. 

This will mean working closely with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across the UK in India Network. You will lead on designing and delivering strategic internal communications and employee engagement strategies for the UK Government’s India Network of eight offices. 

As Head of Internal Communications, you will be responsible for ensuring employees working for the UK Government in India receive information that helps them achieve our organisational objectives and drives an organisational culture based on our values: respect, include, and excel. You will also work to communicate Vision 2035 – our ambitious, future-focused UK-India partnership for the next decade.
We are looking for someone with impeccable 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 UKinIndia network communications team. 

As Head of Internal Communications, you will be responsible for being the go-to person on staff engagement. This will mean collaborating closely with policy leads in other departments and working with a wide range of colleagues across the India Network to communicate to colleagues across the Mission, showcase our organisational values, and explain the work we do on Vision 2035.  

You will:

• Develop and then deliver strategic internal communications plans. This includes working with key stakeholders and developing and maintaining a set of key messages and a forward look plan of activities and a regular drumbeat of high-quality content. 
• Manage the High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner’s regular interaction with employees, including through organising and moderating monthly all staff meetings, working closely with senior leadership teams to ensure they are relevant and well attended. Support the internal communications requirements of senior visitors in Delhi. 
• Plan content and stories linked to internal communications, to place both in UKinIndia internal channels, FCDO central IC, and occasionally for our digital channels
• Ensure the timely delivery of the weekly internal newsletters and other content. Work closely with the network of internal communication champions and teams across India to generate and curate a regular drumbeat of high-quality content across our internal communications channels.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to teams across the network on internal communications best practice to increase staff engagement. Develop and embed clear guidelines to inform and educate employees on using internal communications to support their objectives, organising all staff meetings, and to set a high bar for content submissions.
• 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. 
• Serve as the main point of contact for the Global Internal Communications and Engagement Team, providing expertise of the local environment and supporting them in delivering wider UK Government campaigns in India.
• Coordinate with the FCDO team in London for the annual People Survey in India, including providing support on translations, liaising with survey coordinators in the Deputy High Commissions, and overseeing the collection of results in Delhi.
• Liaise with the IT and Information and Digital Directorate to help streamline the India network’s knowledge and information management systems.
• Provide effective line management of the A1 Press Support Officer, supporting them in managing the Press and Communications team’s annual departmental budget, as well as any ad-hoc budgets and expenditure.
• 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 and internal 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 Press Support Officer and the communications department budget (resources).

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.

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 internal communications experience in media, marketing, public relations, or campaigning in India. 
•    Excellent written communication skills, to be able to draft a wide variety of communications materials.
•    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.

Language requirements:

Language: English & Hindi

Level of language required:  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.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience  

Desirable:   

•    Experience managing internal communications and driving employee engagement campaigns for large teams.
•    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.
•    Confident public speaker with an ability to work well in large teams. 
•    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  

13 October 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

Type of Salary  

monthly

Start Date  

2 November 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.