View Vacancy - JOA - Levant Climate Officer (SEO)

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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles)
Climate Diplomacy

The British Embassy Amman has a vacancy for Levant Climate Officer, job grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO), on a fixed term contract until 31 March 2025.

This is an exciting role to lead on climate, environment, and energy (CEE) issues across the Levant. The role will be based in the British Embassy Amman, but will involve developing a deep regional knowledge and working closely with relevant British Embassies on CEE in Jordan, Lebanon, Israel/OPTs, Iraq, and Syria.

The role will require expert climate change knowledge from a global and regional context and will require strong coordination, engagement, and influencing skills, working closely with the central MENA CEE team in London and our Climate Attachés at our Embassies in the Levant to ensure a joined-up approach on UK climate and energy policy across the region. The role offers the opportunity to bring together development and diplomatic expertise to deliver UK climate and energy objectives.

The jobholder will also be responsible for supporting the delivery of the UK’s PHENOMENAL (Pioneering a Holistic approach to Energy and Nature-based Options in MENA for Long-term stability) programme in the Levant. This is a 5-year International Climate Finance programme of up to £60m. It will deliver green growth/ clean energy transitions in EBRD Partner Countries (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon and OPTs); enhance water security in Jordan, OPTs, and Egypt through the integration of Nature Based Solutions; and increase quality, accessibility, and use of weather and climate information services in MENA to strengthen disaster risk reduction and early warning systems across the Levant. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Support climate and environment engagement and programming policy across the Levant, including working with Climate Attachés in British Embassies in the Levant and regular visits across the region.
  • Co-ordinate with Posts/ Embassies on energy security engagement and oversee energy policy across the Levant, including liaising with key government and business stakeholders in the region.
  • Support visits to the Levant by UK Minsters and Senior Officials to further climate ambition.
  • Support countries in the Levant in developing their mitigation/ low carbon, adaptation/ climate resilience policies and programmes, with consideration of water-food-energy-ecosystem linkages.
  • Support green finance mobilisation in the countries of Levant and their access to climate finance and other resources through international as well as regional initiatives.
  • Support countries in the Levant to engage with the Egyptian and UAE presidencies to deliver increased ambition at COP28 in the UAE.
  • Support delivery of the £60m PHENOMENAL climate programme, including developing strong relationships with programme implementers, links to country government counterparts, and possible financiers to scale up investment in climate services, nature-based solutions, and low carbon growth.
  • Develop and maintain strong relations with key contacts both in UK government departments (including Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [FCDO], Department for Energy Security and Net Zero [DESNZ], Department for Business and Trade [DBT], and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA]) and with government, business, media, and civil society in across the Levant.
  • Support mainstreaming of climate across the FCDO portfolio and diplomatic work streams.
  • Report on progress on implementation of Levant countries climate and energy work plans/ results.
  • Provide ad-hoc consultation and technical assistance to governments in the Levant on their planned CEE proposals prior to approval.
  • Work with Communications Teams at post to raise the profile of climate issues in Levant countries and highlight the impacts of UK support for climate action in the Levant, based on sound evidence. 

The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other tasks as required.

 

Key behaviours required:

  • Leadership - Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
  • Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
  • Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
  • Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
  • Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Key technical skills required:

  • Climate change impacts, adaptation and resilience – and its implications for programming
  • Climate mitigation and low carbon development – including green project development
  • Climate economics and finance – including how to attract and deploy climate finance at scale.

Eligibility:

If you are selected for this position, we will be able to employ you as long as:

  • You have the right to live and work in Jordan; and
  • You receive the appropriate level of security clearance.
  • Experience working in climate or a related field, ideally for at least three years.
  • Experience in policy development, finance management, programme delivery, and partner management.
  • Experience in high-level advocacy and policy engagement. Ability to maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Embassy, including with key government and international partners. 
  • Experience working in or understanding of Levant regional politics and governance.
  • Excellent Arabic and English language skills. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication. Able to simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand.
  • Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. Proven track record of delivering results to a high standard to tight deadlines.
  • Excellent organisational ability. Proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload.  Proactive approach to problem solving.
  • Holds at least a bachelor’s degree, ideally in climate, environment or energy related subject.
  • Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

In addition, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Objectivity
  • Impartiality
  • Demonstrable understanding of Levant countries' national contexts, water resources management, climate change impacts, climate vulnerability, natural resources management, and related issues
  • Experience with natural resource management and/or water resource management.
  • Experience of fostering collaboration on common CEE issues in the region.
  • Relevant programme delivery or research experience.
  • Strong communications experience in a climate or environment related subject.
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together
4 April 2023
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
37
18 months
Middle East & North Africa
Jordan
Amman
British Embassy
1
JOD
3,533
1 June 2023
31 March 2025

The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role, including a non-negotiable gross salary of JOD 3,533 per month based on 37 hours per week.

Salary will be paid gross and you are expected to comply with your tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the local authorities. If exceptionally you are not liable to pay Jordanian tax, you will receive a net salary, which is minus the deduction of an equivalent level of local tax. Further information on this will be provided at interview if necessary.

This role is for a full-time employment on a fixed term basis until 31 March 2025. The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-days probationary period (as appropriate). The appointment is subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances. The selected candidate must have the right to live and work in Jordan.

Normal working hours at the Embassy are from Sunday to Wednesday from 08:00-15:30 and Thursday from 08:00-15:00. The Embassy operates a flexible working policy that allows staff to work different hours as well as allowing staff to work from home one day a week, based on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies. The jobholder should be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will also be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evenings/ weekends).

The jobholder will be required to travel extensively within the Levant region (up to three multi-day trips per month should be anticipated).

The package includes a good level of health insurance and a friendly, English-speaking work environment. We offer opportunities to develop professional skills through our Learning & Development offer. Leave entitlement is 25 days (on pro rata basis) plus 14 public holidays.

The Embassy follows a 70-20-10 model of learning. Your Line Manager will help you develop a personalised L&D plan and will share opportunities, resources and guidance to ensure you continue your learning and achieve your full potential. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to undertake developmental training and get involved in BE Amman corporate activities that offer an opportunity for professional development.

Application process:

Interested candidates must include in their online application form 1) an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) specific examples, in the relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key behaviours and skills required.

Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.

Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (Amman local time) on 04 April 2023.

Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

The start date mentioned 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 and maintaining suitable clearances. 

 

The British Embassy Amman is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.

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.