View Vacancy - TNT - North Africa Climate Officer (SEO)

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 (Programme Roles)
Climate Diplomacy

The British Embassy Tunis invites applications for the position of North Africa Climate Officer, job grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO), on a fixed term contract for one (1) year, with a possibility of extension until 31 March 2025.

This is an exciting role to lead on climate, environment, and energy (CEE) issues across North Africa.  The role will be based in the British Embassy Tunis, but will involve working closely with British Embassy Algiers and other North Africa countries, splitting duties between Tunisia (40%), Algeria (40%), and Libya, Egypt and Morocco (20%).

The role will require expert climate change knowledge from a global, Tunisia, and Algeria context and will require strong coordination, engagement, and influencing skills, working closely with the central MENA CEE team in London and Climate Attachés at our Embassies in North Africa countries to ensure a joined-up approach on UK climate and energy policy across region.

The role offers the opportunity to bring together development and diplomatic expertise to deliver UK climate and energy objectives; as well as to lead on specific aspects of programming, including the North Africa delivery of the UK’s PHENOMENAL (Pioneering a Holistic approach to Energy and Nature-based Options in MENA for Long-term stability) programme, a 5-year International Climate Finance programme of up to £60m. 

 

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Support climate and environment engagement and programming policy across Tunisia and Algeria, including working with Climate Attachés in British Embassies in North Africa and regular visits to Algeria, but also Libya, Egypt, and Morocco.
  • Provide expert advice on how best to engage the Tunisia and Algeria system on issues of importance to the UK, including advising on Tunisia and Algeria priorities and local sensitivities.
  • Build a network of trusted relationships with Governments of Tunisia and Algeria, key donors, civil society, and implementing climate partners to maximise the impact of the UK’s climate diplomacy and programming.
  • Co-ordinate with Posts/ Embassies on energy security engagement across North Africa, including liaising with key government and business stakeholders.
  • Provide expert advice on renewables trade opportunities in the region, support mobilisation of private sector investment in energy transition and provide diplomatic engagement on energy trade.
  • Lead on the delivery of the £60m PHENOMENAL climate programme in partnership with MENA Energy, Climate and Environment Team, 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.
  • Support visits to North Africa by UK Minsters and Senior Officials to further climate ambition.
  • Support the development of North African Countries mitigation/low carbon, adaptation/climate resilience policies, programmes and green finance mobilisation.
  • Support countries in North Africa to engage with the Egyptian and UAE presidencies to deliver increased ambition at COP28 in the UAE.
  • Develop and maintain strong relations with key contacts both in UK government departments (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [FCDO], Department for Energy Security and Net Zero [DESNZ], Department for Business and Trade [DBT], Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA]) and with government, business, media, and civil society across North Africa.
  • Support countries in North Africa to access climate finance and other resources through international as well as regional initiatives covering the North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.
  • Keep track of vertical funds footprint across the region and provide ad-hoc technical advice to governments on their planned CEE proposals prior to approval.
  • Report on progress on implementation of North African climate and energy work plans/ results.
  • Work with Communications Teams at post to raise the profile of climate issues in North African countries and highlight the impacts of UK support for climate action in North Africa.

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:

Applicants must already have the right to work and reside in Tunisia.

  • Experience working in climate or a related field, ideally for at least three years. Relevant experience working in either Tunisia or Algeria, and ideally in both.
  • 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. 
  • Native/ Near native Arabic language skills and excellent/ highly proficient English and French 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).
  • Knowledge of and/ or experience of working on North Africa CEE issues.
  • 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
40
12 months
Middle East & North Africa
Tunisia
Tunis
British Embassy
1
TND
7,957
1 June 2023

The British Embassy in Tunis offers an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role. Initial salary will be TND 7,957 per month while on probation. Salary after probation is TND 9,867. However, staff who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary (i.e., UKBS spouse/ partner) may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.

This position is for a full-time employment on a fixed term for one (1) year, with a possibility of extension until 31 March 2025. The successful candidate will be subject to a three-month probationary period that can be further extended up to six months. The appointment is also be subject to satisfactory local and UK security clearances.

Conditioned working hours are 40 hours gross per week (inclusive of breaks). Standard working hours are from 08:00-16:30 from Monday to Thursday and 08:00-13:00 on Fridays. 

The jobholder will be required to travel extensively within the North Africa region and particularly to Algeria (up to four multi-day trips per month should be anticipated).

As a result of the pandemic, the British Embassy operates on a hybrid in-person and remote working model. Unless authorised (and unless pandemic rules determine otherwise), we expect staff to be physically present in the Embassy several days per week. A flexible working pattern may be possible depending on operational requirements and agreement with the line manager, and in line with FCDO and Embassy policies. The jobholder will also be required to be flexible in their approach to hours worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working out of hours (evening/ weekend).

In line with the Tunisian Government requirement for a ‘passe sanitaire’ to enter most public places, the Embassy also requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or an authorised exemption.

The jobholder will have opportunities to benefit from a range of Learning and Development (L&D) initiatives. There is great opportunity for learning and development ‘on the job’. We also have an active L&D Committee, which promotes different ways of learning and to which applications can be made for specific, funded learning activity. The jobholder will also be required to undertake a number of mandatory training courses as part of their role.

The International Academy (IA) is the home of L&D for the FCDO. It covers a wide range of essential as well as job-specific subjects; and is designed to ensure that all staff can access high quality learning products. The jobholder will also have access to the FCDO’s Diplomatic Academy. Our staff are given responsibility and autonomy (and support), allowing them to develop skills and confidence through delivery.

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 (Tunis 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 Tunis 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.