The British Embassy is seeking to recruit a new International Climate Programme Officer on an initial 6-month basis. This is an exciting role with the opportunity to work across UK-Colombia cooperation on climate, nature, energy transition and economic growth. This role sits within the Clean Growth team within the British Embassy’s Economic, Climate, and Science (ECS) team. 

The successful candidate will support the Embassy in strengthening UK-Colombia environmental cooperation under the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth. They will deliver this through diplomatic engagement, policy analysis and development, and oversight of UK ODA programming. 

The jobs include supporting the supervision and management of several UK International Climate Finance (ICF) programmes, with a focus on the ‘clean growth’ portfolio in Colombia which includes clean energy and transport, = sustainable infrastructure, and green finance, and potentially some work on sustainable agriculture and the just rural transition. This oversight ensures that UK programming delivers on Government of Colombia priorities and is designed and delivered in line with realities in country. 
 
The jobholder, together with the team, will engage externally with the Colombian government, private sector, academia and civil society; assist the delivery of missions, visits and relevant events. This engagement will help the wider ECS team to understand the implications of our climate, nature and energy agendas and ensure the Embassy is delivering maximum impact through our large climate ODA programmes, and to support the Colombian government’s efforts to deliver a Just Energy Transition. 
 
The role holder will report to the Head of Clean Growth programmes within the Embassy’s ECS team but will also be expected to work hand-in-hand with the political and trade teams, and exploit synergies across the Embassy. The role will involve occasional travel within the region to meet counterparts in other UK Embassies and to London. The role could change over time so the job holder will be expected to be flexible. 

The exact portfolios of the role will depend on candidate interests and experience, but it will support the implementation and development of the Colombia-UK Partnership for Sustainable Growth, with an emphasis on the ‘clean growth’ portfolio. The role will include the following responsibilities:  

1.    Overseeing and promoting UK ICF programmes
•    Provide technical input to ongoing and potential ICF programmes mainly but not only in energy, transport, cities, and green finance.
•    Engage with the Colombian Government to ensure alignment of UK ICF programmes with their priorities. 
•    Utilise evidence from programme delivery to inform UK policy on clean growth in Colombia and globally. 
•    Engage with partners, including government departments, research institutes, consultants, academia and NGOs, both in Colombia and the UK, at national and local levels, to promote the programmes of clean growth and identify synergies with the work of other partners in country. 

2.    Facilitating UK-Colombia engagement on clean growth
•    Build relationships with key teams in the UK Government to understand and support their priorities in Colombia, and with Colombian Ministries such as Environment, Mines and Energy, and others.
•    Support and promote visits and engagements between Ministers and senior Government officials leading on climate cooperation in the UK and Colombia; helping shape and deliver programmes, site visits, announcements, briefings and associated communications to specific audiences.
•    Develop high quality written briefing for UK senior officials and Ministers to enable effective communication and support bilateral engagements, including in English.
•    Identify key areas of opportunity to accelerate financial climate action and clean growth in Colombia and mobilise programme and diplomatic tools to address these as appropriate.

3. Identifying private sector opportunities
•    Work with the Business and Trade team in the Embassy to identify opportunities for products within the clean growth and forest portfolios.

4. Communications
•    Support the promotion of ICF programmes and broader Embassy work through the Embassy’s official media channels, visits and events, in coordination with the Head of Clean Growth Programmes, the Communications team and the relevant delivery/implementing partners.

5. Corporate
•    Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy, participating as a member of Embassy committees (Crisis, Learning & Development, etc) to contribute to the overall well-being of staff.
•    Support broader Embassy priorities as required by senior management.

Management of own travel and entertainment budget.

Depending on candidate expertise the job holder may also be asked to provide broader economic analysis and advice to support broader Embassy and London priorities. 

The successful candidate should have the right set of skills and experience to work proactively across a broad range of issues. They will also need to be familiar and comfortable with the particular demands and sensitivities of government work. The role will require developing a network of senior and influential contacts, flexibility, leadership and creativity.
 
Essential on arrival:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, including Political Science, Public Administration, International Relations,
• Climate and Environment Science; or equivalent professional experience.
• Understanding of climate change, energy transition and nature protection. 
• Knowledge of Colombian policies and institutional frameworks. 
• Proficient level in both Spanish and English (C1 level under the CEFRL or equivalent).
• Strong analytical skills, feeling confident in using data, drawing policy-relevant conclusions, and in supporting non-experts to do so. 
• Substantial relevant professional experience, including some engagement with Colombian and international governments, private sector and non-governmental organisations to achieve results, and lobbying or influencing the development of public policy. 
• Able to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills. 
• 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.
• Ability to write persuasively in English on technical issues to senior audiences in the embassy and UK.
• Highly motivated, organised, and resourceful.  Effective team player.  Ability to deliver effectively at pace, under pressure from competing demands.