View Vacancy - Policy Advisor, Energy and Climate

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)
Global Issues Team

Main Purpose of Job:

The British Government is seeking an Energy and Climate Policy Advisor in our Houston Consulate. The job holder will be a member of the Energy & Climate Policy Team, led from the Embassy in DC but also with colleagues throughout the US network. The jobholder will work across the full range of energy, climate and environmental issues that the team handles.  They will provide advice to UK Government departments on US developments in energy and climate policy and promote UK-US engagement around energy security and the transition to a low-carbon global economy. The Policy Advisor will provide policy advice and guidance to the Consul General and will represent the UK Government in meetings and outward-facing events.  The role will also be responsible for managing visits from UK stakeholders to the region.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, health insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme.  It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible.  In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

The jobholder reports to the Senior Policy Advisor, Climate and Energy, in Washington DC.  They work closely with the Consul General in Houston and a range of Embassy teams and with other offices in the US Network. The job holder may need to travel a number of times a year across the region, and potentially visit the UK approximately once per year.

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and utilise and build on their understanding of US environmental, energy and climate policy, both at the federal and subnational levels.  They will be a credible interlocutor with contacts in the US, specifically senior leaders in major energy corporations, investors, state and local government, and non-governmental organisations.  They will be a self-starter, proactively developing ideas and strategies to foster UK-US collaboration on environmental, energy and climate priorities.  They will also have a proven track-record in working collaboratively in a team-setting.

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Monitor and analyse US domestic environmental, energy, climate change, and low-carbon policies and initiatives, with a particular focus on subnational actors in Southern States and the Federal Government
  • Act as the Team Lead on 2-3 priority energy sectors and themes
  • Provide regular high-quality reporting (written and oral) on US developments to inform UK policy and contribute proactively to policy discussions, including advising on local sensitivities and priorities, and briefing for ministers and senior officials
  • Design and deliver projects and events to support closer UK-US collaboration on clean energy and low-carbon developments
  • Advocate British interests with a range of key US interlocutors to promote UK priorities and policy interests
  • Take responsibility for structuring and delivering visits to the US by UK ministers and senior officials
  • Develop and maintain effective and strategic relationships within leading energy corporations, state and local governments, and non-governmental stakeholders to support all of the above duties and responsibilities
  • Work closely with colleagues throughout the US network of Consulates and UK Government Offices to provide clear direction that enables others to monitor environment, energy and climate issues, as well as deliver relevant projects

Resources Managed:

This role does not involve direct line management but does require the ability to develop and lead virtual teams in order to deliver your policy priorities. Depending on the local priorities, this role could be responsible for implementing climate and energy projects where you will be responsible for delivery including monitoring spend.

  • Ability to work as part of a team spread across different posts.
  • Must be able to represent the UK at external meetings, and win the confidence of senior stakeholders, including US and UK officials and business people. 
  • Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues to diverse audiences.
  • Must be a proven self-starter with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, possess excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, and adapt to fast-paced and shifting demands.
  • Knowledge and/or interest in US energy and environmental policy including knowledge of state-level and municipal government policy landscapes.
  • Ability and willingness to travel occasionally.
  • Relevant experience is required
  • Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defense Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas. 
  • Minimum of 4 years relevant experience. A previous role focused on international and/or US climate/energy/environmental policy is preferred
  • A background in energy policy and demonstrated knowledge of climate/environmental science
  • Experience in project management and delivery
  • Interest in or knowledge of UK policy strengths and priorities
  • Event management experience 

Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Working Together
2 April 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Houston
British Consulate
1
USD
$69,700
22 May 2023

Learning and Development Opportunities:

The US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.)

Working Patterns:

This role is full time (approx. 40 hours per week) and may require occasionally working longer hours and/or working outside of core office hours. There is an opportunity for a flexible working pattern.

The US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing flexibility to work from home when required.  We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly. 

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed. The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.
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.