View Vacancy - Climate Issues Senior Officer, British Embassy Brasilia

Main purpose of job:

This is an important role at the heart of the UK-Brazil relationship, shaping policy on our top priority issue. The Climate team comprises 6 staff, focussed on delivering UK-Brazil collaboration in tackling the climate crisis, reducing emissions, and promoting sustainable economic and agricultural growth. This position is a central role in the team. Working to the head of the team who has overall supervision of all climate-related work, the jobholder is responsible for climate-related policy issues across domestic, multilateral and sectoral areas; and a focal point for developing new policies and initiatives. It requires intensive engagement with stakeholders in Brazilian government and civil society, providing policy advice and reports to teams both in Brazil and in London, and ensuring our positions across the full range of climate issues remain consistent and risks are managed. Within the team, the jobholder works alongside colleagues overseeing the UK’s International Climate Finance Investments in Brazil - with programmes focused on forestry, low carbon agriculture, sustainable infrastructure and cities.

During 2020 and 2021 the work will have a particularly strong focus on the UK Presidency of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).

Roles and responsibilities:

• Provide expert policy advice on the full range of climate and environment issues in Brazil. This includes: UNFCCC and Brazil’s implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Brazil’s relationships with relevant international institutions and treaties (CBD, ICAO, IWT etc), federal and state government policy on climate-related issues.
• Develop and maintain an extensive network of contacts with key stakeholders in Brazilian government and civil society.   This includes Ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture) as well as in Congress and at state level. It also includes many non-government actors – eg in NGOs and academia. In addition to personal engagement, the jobholder will support the head of the climate team, the Ambassador and other senior staff in engaging at the highest levels of government and legislatures.
• The jobholder will also need to build and maintain influence and networks within the UK government – in the region as well as in London. Colleagues in UK government departments look particularly to the jobholder and the head of team for policy advice and the jobholder can expect to have significant influence.
• Play a central role in implementing the UK’s COP26 strategy internationally and in Brazil, working with the wider climate, political, prosperity and communications teams. This will include action on a range of COP26 objectives that supports long-term decarbonisation, and resilience & adaptation objectives in Brazil, which may include clean growth, energy transition, sustainable agriculture, forestry economy, nature-based solutions and green finance.
• Work closely with other teams - particularly comms, political, prosperity and trade teams – to maximise impact and synergies of our climate-related work in Brazil.  
• Organise and support Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to COP26 and climate events in Brazil.
• To contribute to the wider work of the Brazil network, for example in areas of work aimed at enhancing our wellbeing and performance (eg Learning and Development, Wellbeing, Diversity etc).

Applicants should be aware that the exact job content and responsibilities could evolve as our climate work continues to evolve and intensify in Brazil.

Essential on arrival:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Climate and Environment Science, International Relations or Public Policy.
  
  
• Minimum of 3 years post-graduation experience working for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or state government, international organizations or agencies, preferably in climate-related fields.
  
  
• Sound understanding of both Brazilian domestic and broader international climate-related issues, policy and governance.
  
  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience of influencing at senior level.

• Experience of line management and working in multi-disciplinary teams.

Language requirements:

Language: English, Portuguese

Level of language required: Fluent