View Vacancy - CPK - Head of Energy and Low Carbon Economy Programme, C5(L)

This is a unique opportunity to lead the programme at the heart of the UK-China bilateral energy and low carbon relationship. China is undertaking a series of fundamental and complex reforms across its energy system. The £20.5 million Energy and Low Carbon Economy Prosperity Fund programme represents the key tool for UK engagement on these issues with China. The successful candidate will lead on managing that programme.  The job holder will be supported and steered by senior policy and DIT staff who will help set the strategic direction for the programme, ensure alignment with wider priorities and provide ongoing advice.  The job holder will also be supported by the Prosperity Fund central team, who will provide operational support and oversee coordination and coherence across the seven programmes that collectively make up the China Prosperity Fund portfolio.

The jobholder will be responsible for:

• Delivery of the £20.5m Energy and Low Carbon Economy Prosperity Fund programme, ensuring it is in line with all Prosperity Fund objectives and any relevant policies/guidance;
• Leading a team of two programme managers to oversee and manage contractual, operational and financial aspects of programme implementation over the entire programme cycle;
• Management of delivery partners’ and (together with policy and DIT teams) government and non-government stakeholders in China and the UK;
• Collaborating with colleagues across the HMG China network, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and other HMG stakeholders to ensure alignment with wider UK objectives.

Ideally this position requires an individual with a good understanding of the UK and Chinese energy/low carbon sectors and proven project and programme management capability. The individual will also ideally have experience with aid programming, understanding of public and private sector motivations and an ability to communicate persuasively in written and oral English.

Programme design and strategy (35%)

• Working with HMG Steering Group and Expert Advisory Committee to set the direction of the programme, continuously drive standards higher and manage risks effectively.
• Support key events and visits such as the UK-China Ministerial Energy Dialogues and the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogues at which the Programme features.
• Coordinate and collaborate with a range of policy and commercial leads across the Embassy, the wider China network and with relevant Whitehall Departments to ensure alignment with wider priorities.

Programme management and delivery (40%)

• Identify, develop and oversee a targeted and highly impactful portfolio of energy and low carbon economy themed projects with policy colleagues on an annual basis
• Lead a team of two Programme Managers to balance a variable workload across the programme cycle.
• Take overall responsibility for programme impact attainment
• Support dissemination of programme impact and successes, working closely with Prosperity Fund communications colleagues.

Stakeholder management (25%)

• Support policy and DIT colleagues to build, maintain and protect relationships with key internal stakeholders, UK centres of expertise and key businesses, influential policy entities within Chinese Ministries, provincial authorities, state-owned enterprises and research institutes. Leverage UK contacts to deliver expertise into the Chinese system.

• Knowledge and understanding of Chinese Government structure and China’s energy system
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a programme or project management role, including in the design of projects, defining specific outputs, outcomes and indicators, evaluating and monitoring projects, and managing risks.
• Strong experience of procuring programmes or projects from the market and managing budgets and activities over the programme cycle.
• Strong interpersonal skills, representational ability and stakeholder management experience.
• A university degree in a relevant field.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.