View Vacancy - COP 26 Climate Attaché (PRT21.148)

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)
Political, Climate Diplomacy

Due to COVID-19, you may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.

The British Embassy in Lisbon is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking to recruit a Climate Attaché.

In the year of the UK’s co-Presidency of COP26, to energise and deliver the UK’s climate action priorities in a Portuguese context. Contributing to the delivery of the Embassy Climate Strategy, through engaging key stakeholders and public diplomacy activities, and using a wide range of communication channels and events.

Main responsibilities will include:

  • Stakeholder Engagement, expanding the Embassy network of contacts beyond central Government, notably non-state actors, municipalities and businesses (in coordination with Department for International Trade section), to deliver messaging and drive engagement on the core UK COP 26 campaigns, with focus on adaptation and resilience, zero emission vehicles, and energy transition. . Understand and scope opportunities for delivery/engagement on UK climate objectives alongside Portugal in third countries. (40%);
  • Work with the communications team to design and deliver a strategic and comprehensive communications plan for COP26. Ensuring all Embassy communication output supports core climate narrative and is tailored to the Portuguese context for maximum impact, to reach and influence opinion formers and policymakers.  Amplifying central HMG and COP26 communications, and coordinating the delivery of Portugal specific comms products. (20%);
  • Support UK Government funded climate programmes and projects, alongside B3 Prosperity Officer, in the delivery of policy/comms objectives, ensuring high standards of project delivery, reporting, and evaluation (30%);
  • Support the Climate & Environment policy leads to engage with Government stakeholders to deliver high levels of Portuguese engagement with the COP26 agenda (10%).
  • Full professional proficiency in English and Portuguese (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
  • University degree in relevant field (e.g. international relations, climate change and energy policy)
  • Understanding of global UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change);
  • Climate/sustainability knowledge/expertise;
  • A minimum of 2 years of experience working for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or regional government, international organizations or agencies, preferably in climate change;
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
  • Proven ability to work in a team.
  • Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships;
  • Knowledge or experience of project management and / or communications work;
  • Budget management experience.
23 May 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Fixed Term, Full-time
35
8 months
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Portugal
Lisbon
British Embassy
1
EUR
42,525.00 gross
1 July 2021

The British Embassy in Lisbon has an active Learning & Development Committee which seeks to ensure that all staff have the tools they need to do their job effectively. There are plenty of opportunities to undertake formal training courses, work shadowing and other, more informal activities to support professional development. There is also a supportive global network for climate and energy attachés, which provides specialist learning on a regular basis.


This is a full-time fixed-term contract until 31st March 2022 (35 hours net per week) subject to a 240 day probation period.

The British Embassy in Lisbon aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role of €42,525.00 gross annual salary paid in fourteen instalments; plus a monthly meal allowance of €134.00. This salary is payable if the successful candidate is subject to individual income tax (IRS) in Portugal on the employment income in question. If the successful candidate is not subject to individual income tax (IRS) on their employment income in Portugal, and/or is not taxable elsewhere on such income, he / she will receive the above salary minus a reference amount approximate to the level of Portuguese tax that would be applicable if the income were subject to tax locally. Further information on this will be given to candidates during the recruitment process.

All staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Portugal are subject to local Portuguese employment law as well as internal regulations in force at any given time.

The successful candidate will be subject to a professional background and security clearance and must have pre-existing work authorisation for Portugal in order to apply.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Portugal. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

The Embassy will not consider applications from existing staff who have not successfully completed their probation period or, in the case of staff on temporary contract who have not yet completed two thirds of their contract.

Visa / Passport requirements:

Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Portugal and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

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.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

Please note Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment  indicates Level C2 as Mastery or proficiency Level which comprehends that a person can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read; can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation; can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations. For more information please click on the following link CEFR. Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your languages skills are going to be assessed.

Additional Information (due to Covid 19):

  • You may experience some delay in the progress of this recruitment campaign and we are working hard to minimise any disruption;
  • Interviews will be done remotely if the existing situation determines this to be the right course of action;

  • Starting date may be delayed depending on circumstances at the time and it will be agreed with the selected candidate.

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.