View Vacancy - Climate Ambition Coordinator (Partnership) (BEIS)

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)
(BEIS) Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Main purpose of job:

To drive forward, deepen, document, promote and evaluate all aspects of the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth. To be responsible for leveraging maximum enhanced Colombian climate ambition from the UK International Climate Fund (ICF) programme funds delivered under the umbrella of the Partnership. To be a focal point for engagement with Colombian partner organisations. Working under the Forest & Land Use Team in BEIS London and the Partnerships & Capabilities Team, and closely with other relevant ICF teams, to ensure the coherence of the Partnership with wider ICF and related programmes.

The UK International Climate Fund (ICF) is a £5.8bn portfolio of Official Development Assistance activity (covering the period 2016-21) which includes innovative private sector pilot projects and innovative financial approaches to shift conditions and perceptions of risk in investments in low carbon activities in developing countries, including support to implement National Determined Contributions (NDCs, as agreed at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015) through meaningful policy frameworks and investable plans that provide a credible pipeline of projects for investors.

The UK Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has £2bn of international climate finance to support mitigation activities. The Forest and Land Use Portfolio develops different flagship programmes in Colombia to support its NDC implementation, including:

a) Amazon Vision: Colombian strategy that seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon region by 2020. This goal will be reached through five pillars: environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.

b) BioCarbon Fund: it 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. In Colombia it focuses in the Orinoquía region.

c) Sustainable Cattle-Ranching Project: it seeks to reduce effective greenhouse gas emissions, improve the living conditions of small rural producers, protect the local forests and increase biodiversity in cattle-ranching farms, promoting silvopastoral systems.

d) Partnerships for Forests – P4F: an initiative that seeks to catalyze 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.

e) Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020 – Colombia Chapter: global public-private partnership in which partners take voluntary actions, individually and collectively, to reduce tropical deforestation associated with the productive chains of raw materials like palm oil, soy, beef, and paper pulp. The UK participates in this platform as a founding member of the Colombia chapter.

The UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth also encompasses other ICF programming and activities in Colombia, in the areas of energy, transport, sustainable cities, technical assistance, and finance, including the:

-          Sustainable Infrastructure Programme (SIP);

-          Climate Leadership in Cities (CLIC) programme;

-          Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA); and the

-          Partnership for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK-PACT).

This new 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 shaping the way International Climate Fund programming   supports 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 in the British Embassy, working closely with Political, Economic, Prosperity and International Trade colleagues across the Embassy, as well as liaising with other relevant FCO sections, to ensure successful delivery of the 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?

Policy and Partnership (75% approx)

  • To coordinate, develop and deepen implementation of the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth, ensuring that the Partnership supports our low-carbon transition and resilience & adaptation objectives in Colombia, including in deforestation, clean growth, energy transition, transport and industrial decarbonisation, nature-based solutions and green finance – all in line with COP26 objectives.
  • Working closely with political, climate & biodiversity policy, prosperity, trade and communications colleagues, to devise, plan and implement Partnership-related strategic communications and engagement activities with government and non-Government actors. 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 advise London-based HMG colleagues on engagement with Colombia, on local sensitivities and how to respond to Colombia’s priorities for the Partnership; including briefing for ministers and senior officials.
  • To be the focal point for officials in the Colombian government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, National Planning Department, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science, among others) on policy and operational elements of delivering the Partnership. To lobby, advise and support engagement between senior officials (including the Heads of Mission) and Ministers.
  • To manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to the Partnership and related climate events in Colombia. To plan and advise on visit agendas, coordinate with media colleagues, and support/lead specific events.

Forest & Land Use (15%)

  • To support the Forests and Land Use Team in local oversight of specific ICF programmes as required. To support delivery arrangements for a major new climate investment in the forest sector in Colombia, and support UK’s COP26 strategy for the F&LU sector for Colombia.

Management/Corporate (10%)

  • To deputise for the C5 Head of Forest & Land Use programmes when required.
  • 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.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Responsible for local management of ICF Partnership engagement budget.
  • 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, preferably in climate change.
  • Strong record of delivering international climate change 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 strategic communications planning and delivery.
  • 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 with a 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.
  • Language: Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish.
  • Minimum level required C2 (under the CEFRL or equivalent).
  • Knowledge of financial / budget management principles or previous financial management experience.
  • Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
5 October 2020
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
35
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Colombia
Bogota
British Embassy
1
COP
COP$9,231,557
23 November 2020

Learning and development opportunities:

  • Compulsory online training courses include Diversity and Inclusion.
  • Courses offered on UK government climate change and energy policy.

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

Working patterns:

The Embassy encourages flexible working and welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements. Most team members work from home one day a week and hot desking/virtual team working is encouraged.

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

Must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia. 

Due to COVID-19 we are unable to confirm any start date of employment but will continue to monitor progress and developments, and will advise applicants of any significant changes throughout the recruitment campaign.

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.