View Vacancy - Biodiversity, Environment and Social Policy Officer

Main purpose of job:

To coordinate British Embassy Colombia work on Biodiversity, Environment and Social Policy affairs, including health and education. To support delivery of the Embassy’s strategy for COP26, support the team to deliver such strategy and liaise with other teams to promote commercial benefits for the UK in the green/clean growth sector.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support engagement with officials in the Colombian government on policy and operational elements to deliver UK global priorities on sustainability, education and health. This will include lobbying, advising and supporting engagement between senior officials (including the Heads of Mission) and Ministers.
• Advice London-based HMG colleagues on local sensitivities and Colombia’s priorities for different Environmental Multilateral Agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity (post-2020 framework and PreCOP in Colombia), CITES, UNEA, Minamata, Montreal, among others. Provide briefing for ministers and senior officials as required.
• Support the Climate Change Policy Officer in the implementation of the Embassy’s COP26 Strategy, including follow up activities in 2021.
• Support UK efforts to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade by promoting the IWT Challenge Fund and the Darwin Fund in Colombia and encourage activities/policies in country to tackle IWT as a serious organized crime. Work with Colombian authorities/stakeholders, relevant UK Departments and other British Embassies in the region, in the organization and delivery of the II High Level Americas Conference on IWT in Colombia in 2021.
• In coordination with other teams in the Embassy (DIT and the Prosperity Fund), leverage on UK supported programmes/projects in Colombia to promote commercial benefits for the UK in the green/clean growth sector.
• Work closely with the Embassy press team and other colleagues, to devise, plan and implement strategic communications and engagement activities with government and non-Government actors. This may include the creation of digital and audio-visual content.
• Manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK in Colombia. This could include planning and advising on visit agendas, coordinating with media colleagues, and supporting in events as required.
• 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.
• The jobholder will be expected to manage his or her own administrative tasks within the Economic, Climate and Science Team. He/she will actively participate in meetings and briefings of relevance to the role.
• To fulfil requirements of performance appraisal process, including setting a career development plan; and to identify and attend opportunities to improve existing skills and/or develop new ones.

Essential on arrival:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations, Climate and Environment Science. Applicants with a degree on Social Communication or related fields will be also considered.
• A minimum of 2 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 organizations or agencies, preferably on multilateral affairs.
• Strong understanding and of international sustainability, health and/or education policy, with relevant experience (at least 2 years) 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 lobbying and negotiation ideally around sustainability and environmental issues.
• Good network of contacts with a wide-range of 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.
• Sound judgement and ability to determine work priorities, work methods and budget allocations.