Position: Programme Officer – Health, Food & Agriculture
Type of employment: Full time position  
Starting date: As soon as possible 
Location: Royal Danish Embassy, 33-B, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi -110021
Deadline for application: Friday, 18 September 2026
Reporting to: Sector Counsellors and Team Lead

The Embassy is seeking a motivated, proactive, and well-organised Programme Officer to support the bilateral Indo-Danish sector collaborations in Health/Food & Agriculture.

Denmark and India cooperate across a growing range of sector policy areas under the Green Strategic Partnership. As programme officer, you will support the Embassy’s work to develop and implement cooperation with Indian and Danish authorities, institutions and other stakeholders in the Health and Food & Agriculture sectors.

You will be part of the Embassy’s Sector Policy Department and report directly to the two relevant Sector Counsellors as well as the Head of Sector Policy. The Sector Policy team manages Denmark’s bilateral cooperation with India across sectors such as energy, water, maritime, IPR as well as health and food & agriculture, among other thematic areas of interest.

The position combines programme coordination, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and practical support for bilateral activities, such as planning, logistics and reporting in cooperation with the Danish Authorities. The implementation and development of these Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) projects is core to the position, and emphasises effective coordination with the relevant Danish and Indian authorities, as well as identifying opportunities for engagement with relevant private sector, research, and civil-society stakeholders.

The position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of diplomacy, public policy, and technical sector cooperation and to contribute directly to strengthening the Denmark-India partnership.

Main tasks and responsibilities of Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) Programme Officers: 

• Assist in planning and executing delegation visits by politicians, officials and experts to and from Denmark, including preparation of meetings, workshops and technical exchanges.
• To be the main partner for sparring, analysis and coordination for the Health/Food & Agriculture Sector Counsellors on project implementation, strategy and local context.
• Develop a network with relevant stakeholders, including in the relevant Indian ministries, agencies and other stakeholders.
• Monitoring and analysing relevant Indian policy and regulatory developments within health, food & agriculture. An understanding and interest for One Health is an advantage.
• Preparing background material, briefings, meeting notes, minutes, presentations, reports and other written inputs for the Embassy, Ambassador and Danish authorities.
• Supporting programme administration, including work plans, budgets, reporting, documentation and follow-up on agreed activities.
• Identifying opportunities for stronger bilateral cooperation and synergies across the sectors as well as across government-to-government engagements and Trade Council activities.
• Mapping and engaging relevant stakeholders from government, industry, academia, international organisations and civil society.  
• Support record keeping and administrative procedures, including filing in the Embassy’s system.
• Produce content for social media and public diplomacy in collaboration with the Strategic Communications Department.

Required qualifications

• An academic Master’s degree in political science, international relations, public health, agriculture, food science, economics, development studies, life sciences or another relevant field;
• Good understanding of the Indian institutional and policy landscape. Experience working with Indian government authorities would be an advantage;
• Good analytical skills and interest in relevant policy areas (including, but not limited to, health and food & agriculture).
• Ability to understand and communicate complex policy and sector issues;
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate activities involving multiple stakeholders; strong practical/logistical skills with attention to detail and ability to keep an overview and juggle multiple tasks at the same time;
• Flexible team player with inter-cultural understanding: strong interest in and willingness to share knowledge with – and learn from – colleagues;  
• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to establish professional relationships and represent the embassy in a professional manner when engaging with external partners;
• Proactive with an ability to work independently and efficiently, and to deliver in stressful situations;
• Excellent computer literacy and MS Office skills;
• Fluency in English.  
• Fluency in one or more Indian languages is an advantage.

We offer

• We offer a dynamic international working environment at the centre of the growing partnership between Denmark and India. You will:
• Work directly with Danish and Indian government authorities and sector experts;
• Gain experience with bilateral diplomacy, policy cooperation, and project implementation;
• Work across several important areas of the Denmark-India partnership;
• Become part of a collaborative and interdisciplinary team at the Embassy and in the Sector Policy Department;
• Have opportunities to develop a broad professional network across government, research, industry, and international organisation.
• Be part of an exciting, inter-cultural and dynamic work environment with a wide range of diverse tasks
• Have opportunities for further development of your professional and personal competences

Employment conditions

• You will be offered full time employment on a local contract based on the relevant legally binding labour market rules of India
• 13th month salary
• Your salary will reflect your qualifications, relevant experience and proven work-related results in accordance with the Salary Policy of the Embassy
• You will be entitled to 25 days of paid holiday per year
• As part of your salary, you will be enrolled in the EPF-scheme
• Standard working hours are 37 hours per week
• Medical coverage (80:20, where 80% of the medical expenditure is reimbursed by the Embassy)  
• Willingness to travel for work is required.

Application and recruitment process

To apply for the position, please send your application (cover letter, CV, proof of relevant education, recommendations and 2-3 references) in English to the Recruitment Team at [email protected] marked “SSC Programme Officer” no later than Friday, 18 September 2026.

The Embassy is obliged to follow EU-rules of handling personal information (GDPR) when we receive and process job applications. Our processing of personal information will rely on your consent (art. 6, no. 1 litra a). Please read the privacy policy of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs before applying (http://um.dk/en/about-us/organisation/contact-information/the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-ofdenmark-personal-data-policy). By sending your application, you actively consent to our processing of your personal information. In the above-mentioned policy you can read more about your rights (among others your right to withdraw your consent), how we process your data and how to complain about our processing of your personal data.

The Embassy attaches great importance to equal opportunities for all and therefore welcomes applications from all qualified persons regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Selected candidates will be invited for interviews – expected to take place in late September and October. 

The chosen candidate must present a “No Criminal Record” and pass security clearance by the Danish authorities prior to appointment.

Questions 
 
For any questions regarding the position, please contact Mr. Emil Støvring Lauritsen, Ms. Erika Torres Luquin and Ms. Cecilie von Fyren Kieler Hansen at [email protected].

About us

The Danish Embassy is part of the Danish Foreign Service. The Embassy covers India and the concurrently accredited countries of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. The Embassy is an ambitious, high-paced and dynamic workplace with approximately 70 employees, 18 of whom are posted from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy has a flat management structure.