View Vacancy - NZW - Kaitohutohu Matua, He Huringa Āhuarangi | Climate Change Lead Adviser, HEO

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)
Climate Diplomacy

Te Aronga Matua o te Mahi | Main purpose of job:

This is a fixed term role, to cover the remainder of the UK’s COP 26 Presidency through to December 2022. We are open to considering a secondment. 

COP 26 in Glasgow represented a defining international moment for addressing climate change, finalising the Paris Agreement “rulebook” after five years of negotiations. With the Glasgow Climate Pact in hand, the world now needs to accelerate action to reduce emissions and adapt to the consequences of global heating that are already occurring. 

The UK has an ambitious plan for the remainder of its COP 26 Presidency to turn pledges into action and this role will sit at the heart of delivering that in the Pacific. 

The Climate Change Adviser will have responsibility for working with New Zealand (NZ) to maximise the UK’s partnership to support domestic climate action in NZ, as well as promote our global leadership in implementing the Glasgow Climate Pact, and Pacific regional priorities. The Adviser will spend around 30% of their time working directly on climate issues important to Pacific Island neighbours, working with UK teams across the Pacific as part of a virtual Pacific hub and a highly ambitious, active, global climate network.  

The Adviser will help drive forward the UKinNZ climate change strategy across the teams in the British High Commission (BHC) in Wellington and the British Consulate General in Auckland, working to the Climate, Pacific and Development Adviser. It is a holistic strategy covering policy, prosperity, science and innovation, and regional considerations. It has inclusive approach recognising tangata whenua, tangata moana and the diversity of perspectives of all of Aotearoa New Zealand. 

The Adviser will represent the UK at events, often presenting, and help to build internal expertise; will lead on policy development and advice; and build networks across a diverse range of NZ and wider Pacific stakeholders. They will lobby the NZ Government as appropriate, and will also harness programme funds, events and communications to help deliver their objectives.
   
They will sit within the Global Issues Team in the BHC Wellington, working closely with Trade, Science and Innovation, Pacific and Development colleagues, Communications colleagues, and our Māori Advisor. Alongside colleagues at the British High Commission Suva, you will be a core member of the Pacific Climate Change Cell, a virtual team bringing together climate expertise from UK teams across the Pacific. Your relationship with BHC Suva will be key, as will your ability to build trusting, responsive, collaborative relationships with colleagues in the UK.

This is a great job for a climate change expert passionate about delivering a successful COP to significantly increase global ambition, spotting and maximising opportunities across the region.  We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running and bring their own expertise, developed relationships, and initiative to make an impact in a short window.

The role will suit someone who can work collaboratively as part of a virtual team to deliver high quality work, aiming high to meet long-term goals whilst responding promptly to diverse short term commissions. Strong communication skills and an ability to build relationships while working remotely will be essential. The successful candidate should have strong existing knowledge of global, NZ, and Pacific climate change issues and have a strong climate network in NZ. Adaptability and willingness to provide surge capacity to other areas of the mission is also required.

Ngā Wawata o te Tūranga | Roles and responsibilities/what will the jobholder be expected to achieve:

  1. COP 26 initiatives: UK in NZ (70%)
    • Lead implementation of the COP 26 Glasgow Compact and broader outcomes in New Zealand.  This will include ensuring that delivery of COP 26 objectives supports long-term decarbonisation, and resilience & adaptation objectives, including clean growth, energy transition, transport and industrial decarbonisation, nature-based solutions and green finance.
    • Lead external engagement on COP 26 with New Zealand Government, civil society and other diplomatic missions.
    • Work with the Climate, Pacific and Development Lead Adviser to deliver specific work streams of the UK in NZ Climate strategy.
    • Additional discrete work streams as part of the UK’s and NZ’s broader climate and biodiversity ambition.
  2. Regional coordination (30%)
    • Work with the Suva-based Regional Climate Change Cell to coordinate UK effort across the Pacific.
    • Promote the UK’s New Zealand-focused climate change activities to the regional audience, and within New Zealand, promote Pacific-focused efforts to the domestic audience, to ensure maximum impact.
    • Build and develop relationships with key NZ and Pacific regional climate change bodies.
    • Lead internal capacity building, championing climate change expertise across UK in NZ and the Pacific network.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Likely to include management of some project funds.

Ngā Herenga Reo | Language requirements: 

  • Language: English
    Level of language required: Fluent
  • Desirable: Understanding and appropriate application of Te Reo Māori. 

Essential on arrival:

  • A minimum of five years relevant work experience
  • Knowledge of and experience working on international climate change policy
  • A sound understanding of New Zealand climate change policy
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills  
  • Strong climate change network within NZ
  • Strong relationship management skills
  • Project management experience
  • Excellent research and analysis skills (including accuracy and strong attention to detail)
  • Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships

Desirable:

  • Experience working across the Pacific
  • Master’s degree in a relevant field
  • Knowledge of financial / budget management principles or previous financial management experience
  • A working knowledge of Te Reo Māori me ōnā Tikanga (Māori language and customs).
Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
22 May 2022
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term
36.25
6 months
Asia Pacific
New Zealand
Wellington
British High Commission
1
NZD
Up to NZ$10,000pm or NZ$120,000pa plus up to 5% employer superannuation contribution subject to an equal or greater employee contribution
1 July 2022
31 December 2022

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

The British High Commission is committed to learning and development for all staff, placing a strong emphasis on both personal and team development.

This job itself offers huge scope for personal and professional development, with the unique opportunity to work as part of the most ambitious ever COP Presidency. In addition, a wide range of L&D opportunities are available, with access to specialist courses and training (including UK government climate change and energy policy), our annual L&D camp and some international travel, including to the UK and regionally in the Pacific. 
Compulsory online training courses include diversity and inclusion.

Working patterns:

Full Time with some working from home.

Appointment is subject to a 90 day trial period and gaining and maintaining Posts security clearance requirements.

Open to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and partners/dependents of UK-based diplomatic staff currently posted in New Zealand. Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. Candidates must have or be able to obtain work authorisation for New Zealand in order to apply.

Staff recruited locally by the High Commission are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local New Zealand employment law.  Only short-listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process.

For more information on the work of the British High Commission, visit our website - http://www.gov.uk/government/world/new-zealand.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

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.

All applications must be received before 23:55 on the specified 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.

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.

The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative start date. Indicated start date is provisional and subject to successful completion of reference and security checks.

We regret to advise that we will only be contacting shortlisted candidates. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. To those applicants not short-listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the British Government as a potential employer.

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.