New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) As part of its move for lateral recruitment, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has issued an advertisement to hire consultants on contract basis for its policy planning and research division.
The salary would be negotiable, and the travel allowances at par with Group-A officers.
The selected candidates are expected to work as International Relations Expert and their duties will entail “regular monitoring of specific geographical or thematic areas relevant to foreign policy formulation, and providing knowledge-based inputs for the same”.
They will also be “required to summarise and analyse published material in the areas assigned to them, as it appears in media or academic journals”.
They will also be required to attend important seminars and conferences relevant to the division, and submit reports. From time to time, they may also be asked to undertake historical research on specific foreign policy related subjects.
The selected candidates would be required to work in the MEA premises like South Block, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Patiala House, Indian Society of International Law (ISIL) Building, which are located in the heart of New Delhi.
But depending on the precise nature of duties assigned to the consultant from time to time, he or she “may be asked to work from their own premises and submit periodic reports to the ministry”, according to the advertisement issued by the administrative division of the MEA on June 29, 2015.
The appointment of the consultant will initially be for three years which could be extended. But the government can terminate the contract “immediately” by paying one month’s salary in lieu of notice period, the advertisement said.
The applicants must have an M.Phil degree in international relations from a recognised university in India or abroad. But extra credit will be given for a doctoral qualification, and for experience of work in a reputed university, publication, think-tank or research organisation in the area of foreign policy or international affairs.
The selected candidate will be paid an “all-inclusive mutually agreed upon monthly remuneration”, depending on qualifications, past experience, and his or her performance in the interview.
The employment will be strictly contractual.
The last date of application is July 15.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, had tweeted earlier: “MEA will advertise posts for academics & pvt sector candidates to apply for jobs in PolicyPlanning&Research. Good 2 let new thinking into MEA.”
The application form can be downloaded the MEA website. The ministry has approximately 600 officers manning around 162 Indian missions and posts abroad as well as various posts in the ministry at home.