View Vacancy - Senior Policy Advisor, Low Carbon. (Washington DC, GEPG)

Main purpose of job:

Do you want to shape the UK’s approach to engaging with the US on low-carbon issues?

The British Embassy in Washington, DC is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to lead the UK’s US engagement on low-carbon energy policy and international climate issues.

This is a senior position within Energy and Environment team. The job holder will design and oversee a programme of work, manage one person directly, and direct a much wider network of officials across the US. S/he will need to be creative in finding opportunities for UK influence, skilful in advocating UK priorities and effective in driving implementation. The successful candidate will have a sophisticated understanding of international and US climate change policy and significant experience engaging across the political spectrum on climate issues. S/he will be a credible interlocutor with senior contacts in the US Administration, Congress, NGOs and the business community; and have ideas for how to develop and foster UK-US collaboration on this agenda, bringing benefits for the UK national interest and economy.

This is an exciting time for the UK as a world leader on climate action. The UK’s Climate Change Act was the first national climate legislation and currently the UK Government is looking to increase its ambition and is considering options to reach net zero emissions. The UK Government has a key objective to ensure that COP26 (end 2020) delivers a significant increase in ambition and working with the US will be a crucial element in delivering that goal. The UK is also playing a leading role in the UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit in New York in September 2019.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Advocate British policy interests with a range of US decision-makers, engaging proactively to identify high-level opportunities to promote UK policy interests at both Federal and State level. Develop and maintain a wide range of high-level contacts within Congress, government and industry to achieve this.
• Plan and drive forward a coordinated program of UK-US collaboration to include knowledge exchange on UK and US low-carbon policies, working creatively to broaden US domestic support for low-carbon transition, and aligning UK and US positions on international climate issues.
• Working together with Trade and Investment colleagues, identify opportunities for policy and regulatory collaboration to support UK commercial interests in areas such as offshore wind, green finance and low-carbon goods and services.
• Ensure UK policy is informed by US developments, by providing insightful reporting on US policy developments for senior officials in the Embassy and Whitehall. Contribute proactively to UK policy discussions.
• Line manage one member of staff, and oversee the work of colleagues across eight sites on the low-carbon agenda.
• Take responsibility for structuring and delivering visits to the US by senior UK Ministers and officials, and deliver on other projects and events. Handle requests for advice and information from UK Government.

Essential qualifications and experience  

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree required, a Graduate degree would be desirable.
• At least eight years of relevant experience is essential.
• A background in low-carbon policy is essential, as are existing connections to relevant stakeholders in Government, Congress, Industry, and NGOs.
• Must have experience working across the political spectrum on climate.
• Must be able to represent the Embassy at external meetings and win the confidence of senior US and UK officials, business leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication. Must be able to write quickly and engagingly for expert and non-expert audiences, and to explain complex issues simply in writing and in person.
• Proven track record in managing or directing the work of others.
• Ability to work independently, with an enthusiastic approach to work and ability to proactively identify opportunities and drive them forward.
• Flexibility in a team setting, with strong interpersonal skills, and an ability to work well with others – including remotely – to win support and deliver results.
• You must be able to demonstrate knowledge of UK policy strengths and priorities.
• Ability to travel occasionally.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A visa holders*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy.  Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.ukinusa.com. All candidates will be subject to background checks and security clearance.  

*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas. 

The FCO uses a competency framework that sets out how we want people in our organisation to work. It puts the values of honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity at the heart of everything we do, in a huge range of jobs overseas.

Competencies are the skills, knowledge and behaviours that lead to successful performance. Our framework outlines ten competencies and two international competencies, which are grouped into four clusters: Setting Direction, Engaging People, Delivering Results and International competencies.

More information on how to draft responses to UK civil service competency questions and on competency-based interviews can be found online.

Essential on arrival: This role requires a strong knowledge of the full US system on low carbon (Administration, Federal Government, Congress, NGOs, States etc). You will be required to use you knowledge of the US and think strategically and creatively to identify opportunities to drive forward the UK’s low carbon priorities. Effective communication including an ability to build a strong network of senior contacts is essential. Effective leadership is key to driving forward the UK’s low carbon agenda across a broad network of colleagues across the US. Flexibility and an ability to react quickly to requests from London or announcements is also a must in this role.