View Vacancy - Forests and Land Use Officer

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.
Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Climate change, Environment & Sustainability

Main purpose of job:

To support, oversee and maximise the potential of the Forest and Land Use programmes of the International Climate Fund (ICF) in Colombia (£134 million) and to ensure the effective delivery of the UK’s forest investments. To work under the International Forest Unit, in close coordination with BEIS, FCDO and DEFRA, collaborating closely with other relevant ICF and non-ICF teams in the Embassy and in London, to ensure the coherence of the forest and land use investments in Colombia.

The current UK Forest and Land Use Portfolio includes different flagship programmes and projects in Colombia to support its NDC implementation and deforestation reduction, including:

1.    REM-Amazon Vision: Colombian strategy that seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon through five pillars: environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.
2.    Biocarbono Orinoquia (ISFL): promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases caused by the agricultural and forestry sector in developing countries, and the growth of best land use and sustainable agricultural policies and practices.
3.    Partnerships for Forests – P4F: an initiative that seeks to catalyse investments where the public and private sectors, civil society and local communities can achieve a shared profit of sustainable forest management and its derivative uses.
4.    Territorios Forestales Sostenibles – TEFOS: seeks to support the Colombian government in the implementation of the multipurpose cadastre, promote environmental rule of law and provide sustainable economic alternatives; aiming to reduce deforestation in conflict-affected areas.
5.    Sustainable livelihoods strand-UKPACT: provides strategic technical assistance to reduce GHG emissions while supporting activities that value standing forests (i.e. ecotourism, bioeconomy) and promotes climate smart practices through projects on cattle ranching and agroforestry. 
6.    Other F&LU initiatives supported by UK in Colombia: UK works actively with Colombian stakeholders on initiatives involving NGOs, IPLCs, private sector, and subnational governments. These are aimed to promote better agricultural practices (i.e. Tropical Forest Alliance, FOLU), high environmental integrity in carbon markets (i.e. VCMIi, LEAF) and international pledges on forest conservation (i.e. Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use).
This position is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of a growing area of UK-Colombia collaboration. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the Forest and Land Use Team in effective delivery of the programmes and strategic thinking for forward planning to continue to position the UK as a key partner in Colombia, and the forest agenda as a key political issue. The role will also support the International Climate Fund programming for Colombia to make a successful transition to a low carbon economy in line with its NDC, and engaging external stakeholders including UK and Colombian government agencies, private sector institutions, think-tanks, academics and NGOs, among other relevant stakeholders.
The role will report to the Head of ICF Forest & Land Use Programmes and the TEFOS Programme Coordinator in the British Embassy, working closely with Political, Security, Economic, Prosperity and International Trade colleagues across the Embassy, as well as liaising with other relevant FCDO, BEIS and DEFRA sections, to ensure successful delivery of the UK-Colombia Partnership and whole ICF portfolio.
This position is advertised on a fixed-term basis for one (1) year. Subject to confirmation of future funding, it is expected that the position could be extended.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Forest & Land Use (85%)
•    To support the Forests and Land Use Team in local oversight of specific ICF programmes, such as REM-Vision Amazonia, Biocarbono Orinoquia, Partnerships for Forests and other F&LU activities financed by other HMG funds (i.e. UKPACT). 
•    To support the scoping and development of major new UK climate investments in the forest sector in Colombia, actively engaging national and subnational authorities, environmental research institutes, IPLCs, civil society and private sector.
•    To provide technical steer on carbon markets engagements, promoting a high environmental integrity approach in line with UK initiatives such as VCMIi and scoping opportunities to strengthen this agenda. 
•    To lead the strategic communications of the Forest and Land Use portfolio of the ICF in Colombia.
Policy advocacy (10%)
•    Working closely with political, climate & biodiversity policy, prosperity, trade and communications colleagues, to maximise the impact of the Forest and Land Use portfolio. This will include building relationships, and lobbying when required, with political and technical level contacts in government, sub-national authorities (cities, states, provinces), representatives of businesses, academia and civil society
•    To support London-based colleagues on engagement with Colombia on the Forest and Land Use agenda, on local sensitivities and how to respond to Colombia’s priorities in this portfolio.
•    To support environmental diplomacy engagement, when required, on Forests and Land Use international commitments ahead of conferences such as COP or CDB.
•    To manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to the forests and land use portfolio in Colombia. To plan and advise on visit agendas, coordinate with media colleagues, and support/lead specific events.

Management/Corporate (5%)
•    To play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, including where relevant as a member of Embassy committees (crisis, L&D, Brilliant Bogota) to maximise the overall well-being of staff.
•    To manage administrative tasks as required within the Economic, Climate & Science Team, and actively to participate in meetings and briefings of relevance to the role.
•    To carry out other tasks as required by Embassy senior management.

Essential on arrival: 

•    Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations, Climate and Environment Science etc., or equivalent professional experience.
•    A minimum of two years of experience working in a strong, collaborative team environment for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or regional government, international organisations or agencies, specifically in climate change and forests.
•    Strong record of delivering international climate change and F&LU policy and programming, with relevant experience including from university and/or preferably from previous professional work experience.
•    Strong background and track record of success in programme management and strategic communications on climate & forests.
•    Experience of negotiation ideally around climate or environmental issues.
•    Well-developed organisational, policy and influencing skills, especially in forest and land use issues. Wide network of contacts including relevant climate stakeholders both internally and externally: national and local government, private sector, NGOs.
•    Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships.
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people both orally and in writing; good judgement to inform decisions and provide advice.
•    Ability to research, organise and analyse facts and data, and the ability to turn them into compelling presentations.
•    Sound judgement and ability to determine work priorities, work methods and budget allocations. 

Must have the right to work and reside in Colombia.

Desirable: 
•    Knowledge on forests and land use policy, financial / budget management principles or previous financial management experience
•    Master’s Degree in a relevant field
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
28 September 2022
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Embassy
1
COP
$6,304,317
7 November 2022
7 November 2023

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

•    Compulsory online training courses including Diversity and Inclusion.
•    Courses offered on UK government climate change and programme management.
The British Embassy has an active L&D Committee and offers a wide range of in-house training and funding for external training on policy, programme work and leadership skills

The candidate must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia. The job position is located at the British Embassy in Colombia. 

The jobholder must be prepared to undertake work-related national and occasional international travel, including for learning & development purposes.

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. 

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.