View Vacancy - CPK - Policy Advisor, UK PACT (China Green Finance Programme), B3(L)

This is a fascinating job in an energetic, fun, cross-China team comprising of roughly half British and half Chinese staff.

Reporting to the Head of UK PACT-China Green Finance Programme and First Secretary Financial Services, this position is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of the growing UK-China green finance collaboration. The job holder will be required to support the delivery of the £5m multiyear green finance technical assistance programme in China, making sure the programme implementation contributes to policy objectives of developing a commercially-driven sustainable green finance market to maximise emissions reductions in China to avoid dangerous climate change. The job holder will play an important role in shaping the China Green Finance Programme and delivering programme outputs. You will be required to support engagement with key Chinese and UK green finance stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, financial institutions, international representative bodies, leading think tanks, NGOs and academics in the field. In doing so you will have to build a strong network of contacts and good relationships with key green finance stakeholders both in the UK and China. You will use those networks to arrange meetings, lead on developing visit programmes for senior government visitors, develop policy and support negotiations in the annual UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue.

The jobholder needs to be able to develop a strong understanding of China’s green finance policies and market development, and communicate to a British audience what is happening, why and what this means for the UK’s economic, political and business interests. As such, you will be expected to lead on policy briefings, drafting relevant policy analysis, reports and provide meeting/speaking notes for workshops, events and visits.

The job-holder does not just observe China’s green finance market, but is also expected to help the UK government make a positive influence, in particular to support the UK’s leading position as a global green finance centre. You will need to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the opportunities and challenges for financial services firms in China, and support with relevant communication activities to showcase how the UK can best share expertise to influence policy and support the Chinese government and businesses to develop an open, efficient and sustainable green financial system. This will include working closely with the UK Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Department for International Trade (DIT) and other relevant sections (e.g. Economic, Prosperity and Climate Change) within the Embassy and British Consulates across the China network.

Strong written and oral English and Chinese skills are essential.

Policy development (35%): Support and actively shape projects and initiatives under the UK PACT China Green Finance Programme to deliver policy objectives to promote the greening of China’s financial system, and help strengthen the UK’s leading role as a global green finance centre for the Chinese market, including through the annual Economic and Financial Dialogue. Undertake analysis on China’s green finance developments and government priorities and help identify key opportunities for further collaboration. Provide relevant (in English) policy analysis, briefing notes and reports for meetings, workshops, events and visits, including delivering verbal briefings (in English) to visiting UK delegations.

Stakeholder engagement (30%): Maintain existing relationships with UK and Chinese stakeholders, and develop new contacts by attending meetings/conferences/events, to explore further collaboration opportunities and contribute to policy and programme goals by working closely with Treasury, Bank of England, Department for Trade, Department for International Development, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Communications (25%): Working with broader network (DIT, Comms, FCO) to organise relevant communications events and develop a communications strategy to achieve strategic policy goals and engage wider stakeholders. Provide support and ideas for outreach and public-facing aspects of the Programme. This includes working closely with Comms team and external stakeholders to deliver ‘Green is Great’ Campaign and other relevant initiatives.

Support visits/events (10%): Working with PACT and wider Financial Services team to lead on and deliver successful visits to China by UK officials in green finance, including supporting events and workshops during visits. As such domestic and international travels may be required. To do this you must be able to develop a strong network of contacts within the Chinese government and other organisations such as think tanks, universities, and international organisations in Beijing. You will be expected to operate with high degrees of autonomy. For the highest-level visits (including the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister), you will support more senior members of the team.  This requires a willingness to get stuck-in and support the wider team during especially busy periods.

• Policy awareness/acumen: a strong understanding of green finance/climate/environment/energy policies, and how this interacts with financial services firms/the market to promote green finance development in China. As such, previous professional experience in public policy/financial/environment sectors is essential.
• Strong communication skills: a self-starter able to initiate and lead conversations with senior stakeholders, diplomats across China and government officials with a tactful manner. As such, previous experience of communicating clearly and concisely in English is essential, including the ability to explain technical terms and processes to a non-technical audience.
• A team player: strong interpersonal skills to engage with different embassy sections, British Consulates across China and UK government stakeholders.