Embassy New Delhi, India and Constituent Posts - OIG - US ...

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and internal affairs unit were consolidated (as much of the global issues unit’s work involves
domestic policy), it would free a position to be transferred to the counterterrorism unit.
Informal Recommendation 7: Embassy New Delhi should consolidate the political
section’s global issues and internal units and move one officer position to the
counterterrorism unit.
Economic Section Grade Level for the Trade Unit Chief
The economic section trade unit chief supervises several American and LE professional
staff. Although the unit chief’s position is graded at the FS-03 level, the incumbent is an FS-02
officer. The unit’s portfolio encompasses numerous and complicated market access issues in
which U.S. businesses have important stakes and which engage policy-level officials at the
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department. Given the extensive trade policy
agenda and the high-level interest that it commands (for example, India’s status as a priority
country under the President’s National Export Initiative), the OIG team believes that an
experienced officer should continue to fill the position when the incumbent leaves.
Recommendation 5: Embassy New Delhi, in coordination with the Bureau of Human
Resources and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, should review the grade level of
the trade unit chief position in the economic section, which is currently graded at the FS-03 level,
to determine whether it should be upgraded to FS-02. (Action: Embassy New Delhi, in
coordination with DGHR and SCA)
Supervision of Entry-Level Officers and Professional Associates
Both the EEST and political sections have several entry-level officers (ELO) and
professional associates on their staffs. The economic section has taken the initiative to organize
seminars on drafting cables, developing contacts, lessons for control officers, and use of social
media. These seminars draw presenters from the EEST, political, management, and public affairs
sections. The political section has undertaken similar professional development activities for its
several ELOs, including guidance on outreach to Indian youth.
Despite these worthwhile initiatives and ongoing mentoring activities, ELOs,
professional associates, their supervisors, and the sections’ management articulated to the OIG
team a need for guidance on basic tradecraft. The OIG team assessed that the quality of
supervision of ELOs and professional associates varies widely and is not adequate in all cases.
The OIG team counseled both sections’ management to redouble the efforts they are making to
build the skills of their personnel and to impress upon supervisors that their responsibilities
include effective guidance and feedback to employees.
Informal Recommendation 8: Embassy New Delhi should require that mid-level
political and economic, environment, science, and technology managers devote more
time to mentoring and guidance of their personnel.
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