View Vacancy - CQ - Senior Climate Change, Energy and Environment Officer, EO

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Economic and Prosperity

Main Purpose of Job:

A rare opportunity to hold an influential position at the heart of the UK-Southwest China climate change, energy and environment relationship. The UK and China have a strong history of working together across government, academia and industry to lower emissions, protect the environment and accelerate the transition to a lower carbon economy. 

As the energy and climate officer in Chongqing, the successful candidate will help shape UK energy, environment and climate change engagement with Chongqing, Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan, working closely with Embassy, Department of Business and Trade (DBT), Science and Technology, UK Research and Innovation and other consulate colleagues across the China network. 

Our headline priorities include mapping barriers to the implementation of China’s climate change agenda and identifying UK expertise that can help overcome obstacles and accelerate China’s policies as well as showcasing and advocating the UK’s commitment to net-zero. 

You will lead on a range of regional policy priorities, such as inter-regional power market trading, nature reserve policy, energy storage, oil and gas market reform and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). You will need to take a strategic, long-term approach to determining local priorities, ensuring that these are consistent with our own China Network Business Plan. You will demonstrate creativity and initiative to maximise impact. You will be confident in engaging senior officials and experts and have resilience to operate effectively in an often-ambiguous environment. You will need good political understanding to spot opportunities, sensitivities and synergies across policy areas. Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills are required in order to deliver effectively.

Some travel within Southwest China is required. There may also be opportunities for other national and international travel.

As a senior member of the Consulate General in Chongqing, you will be expected to play a strong and active role in the Consulate and in the broader network, contributing to a positive and effective working environment, getting involved in activities such as L&D and social programmes, and supporting visits to the region by senior officials and Ministers. 

What will the Jobholder be Expected to Achieve:

Expertise: Act as focal point for promoting UK energy and climate change policies across SW China. Engaging with senior local political figures to promote UK priorities and negotiate to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes in influencing provincial policy development and implementation.

Research: Conduct ongoing research across energy, climate and environment agenda, drawing from a wide range of sources to provide reports on key areas of interest to help inform future policy direction, implementation and project funding. You will need strong briefing (verbal/written) skills to explain complex, sometimes technical issues to non-specialists.This will require you to maintain a broad understanding of key issues, future trends and UK/China policy priorities.

Engagement: Support senior managers in engaging with local stakeholders, providing briefing and leading bilateral meetings on discussions on policy issues. Develop and maintain a wide network of senior official, business and academic contacts, leverage their support and engagement to achieve strong outcomes.

Policy: Develop new areas of activity by identifying opportunities that align with UK priorities and develop business cases to support our engagement and potentially project funding support. Lobby in support of UK priorities and report on Chinese position with recommendations for action. Take a strategic, long-term perspective to ensure that near- and medium-term objectives achieve consistent, sustainable outcomes.

Visits: Support consulate and China network in delivering senior level visits to UK and China. Act as host for visitors, provide briefing and contributions to programmes. Report on meetings and pursue outcomes. Bid for new visits with strong business case. Working with post management, contribute to visit planning for senior/ministerial visitors to drive forward policy agenda. Provide briefing (oral and written) and coordinate with colleagues to ensure mutual objectives are achieved. 

Project Management: Subject to funding availability and working closely with the Energy and Climate Programme Manager, identify, develop and deliver small-scale targeted activities and projects to advance UK objectives.

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure): 

The jobholder is likely to have access to some programme funding to support engagement activity, subject to funding and successful business case approval. The job holder will be responsible for applying for and managing any regional activity funding, and for working with local implementors to deliver projects. 

  • A bachelor’s degree or above, preferably in environmental policy, environmental science, energy, economics, international relations or another relevant field.
  • Experience working in the field of energy, environment or climate change. 

Language Requirements: English & Mandarin

  • Spoken: Excellent/Highly Proficient
  • Written:  Excellent/Highly Proficient
  • Past experience of working in an international environment
  • Past experience working with and/or existing contacts in local government and business in SW China 
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
29 March 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
12 months
Asia Pacific
China
Chongqing
British Consulate General
1
CNY
Chinese: CNY 17,208 per month | British: CNY 23,822 per month
15 May 2023

This is a 1-year full time, fixed-term contract.

We offer a competitive package which includes:

  • Gross monthly salary (before all deductions) of CNY 17,208 for Chinese Nationals paid in 13-month instalments and an abated monthly salary of CNY 23,822 per month for British Nationals and spouses/partners (all nationalities) of diplomats who are ‘W’ (diplomatic) visa holders and meet passport criteria.
  • Insurance plans such as social and housing fund (Chinese Nationals), commercial insurance package including accidental, life, medical and business travel insurance.
  • 22 days annual leave entitlement in pro-rata which increases by 0.5 per full calendar year worked up to maximum of 25 days.
  • We offer different types of compulsory leave in accordance with Chinese law, e.g., Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Marriage Leave, Parental leave, etc.
  • In addition to the above compulsory leave, we also offer other types of leaves with pay e.g., Study Leave, Volunteering Leave to support staff who undertakes volunteering activities, Special Paid Leave to deal with emergencies involving a close family member, and more.
  • Employee Assistance Programme which is a confidential service providing help, support and information to staff to resolve and manage situations causing concern whether at work or personal nature is available to staff 24/7

We are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce, and valuing difference. 

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process. To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

Conditioned working hours is 35 hours per week from Monday to Friday and flexible working can be arranged upon personal needs.

Staff recruited locally by the British Consulate General Chongqing is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment and security checks. Staff who are locally recruited by the British Embassy are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Chinese employment law.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. Any costs related to obtaining or renewing permits and visas are the responsibility of the successful applicant.

There is also plenty of opportunity to develop on and off the job and establish expertise and build capability. We are strongly supportive of the job holder continuing to develop their professional skills. The Mission encourages a blended learning culture based on the 70/20/10 model which includes e-learning, mentoring, coaching, other development activities and role-specific required trainings. This offer also includes supporting staff members to take part in a 5 days of learning activities each year.

Learning and Development Opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

HMG and the China Network provides a comprehensive L&D offer which the successful applicant can take advantage of. We offer training on leadership and management, on international relations, economics and diplomacy. We also offer bespoke L&D on specific issues such as energy and climate change priorities in the UK and China. As a member of the network you will be expected to undertake some necessary training and take part in other courses to expand your skills and expertise. 

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Note: All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.
 
Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

For inclusivity and diversity, please remove the following personal information when uploading your CV: name, address, email address, age, date of birth, gender, and nationality.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date and the successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting procedures. Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable clearances.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.