Climate Change, Environment & Energy Officer (AUT24.420)

View Vacancy - Climate Change, Environment & Energy Officer (AUT24.420)

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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Climate Diplomacy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Who are we?

The British Embassy Vienna is part of a network, representing British political interests overseas. We are currently looking for a Climate Change, Environment & Energy Officer who is a dynamic self-starter with excellent communication skills, to cover a period of maternity leave for the jobholder.

Main purpose of job:

The successful candidate will lead the British Embassy's work on climate, environment and energy-related business, a priority mission for the UK government. Delivering high quality insight and analysis on domestic climate and energy developments in Austria, this role presents an opportunity to connect with a wide range of stakeholders, driving forward the UK-Austria bilateral relationship in these areas.

Duties will vary, but will include: engaging and lobbying on UK priorities; leading on the delivery of public diplomacy events; strengthening relationships with relevant stakeholders; visits and social media profiling of the embassy's climate, nature and energy work; pursuing UK objectives in relation to the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; and engaging collaboratively with colleagues from across the embassy - in particular colleagues in the Department for Business and Trade and the Science and Innovation Network - to deliver green growth objectives.

The policy environment is dynamic and evolving but as a priority area of work for the Foreign Secretary, this is an important and high profile role within the embassy. The job requires resilience and flexibility and in return, the embassy offers an inclusive and supportive workplace culture where individuals and teams thrive.

Roles and responsibilities:

Working in the political team, the job-holder will be responsible for:

• Reporting to colleagues in the embassy and across the network on Austrian policy developments, advising on local sensitivities and priorities e.g. efforts to diversify away from Russian gas imports and how the new government approaches the green agenda;
• Lobbying Austrian officials on UK policy developments and initiatives e.g. building a Global Clean Power Alliance. This will include advising on and supporting engagement between senior officials (including Ambassadors) and Ministers, and engaging with the Austrian government to promote UK priorities;
• Coordination with colleagues from a range of UK government departments on opportunities to deepen our relationship with Austria where our interests align e.g. clean power and green tech. This includes identifying how climate and energy can cut across our other priorities such as health, defence and gender equality;
• Broadening the embassy's network by building relationships with a range of local stakeholders, including working level contacts in sub-national authorities, businesses, academia and civil society (including think-tanks and NGOs);
• Conceptualising and organising public diplomacy events, with project funds, on climate and energy, often in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade and/or the Science and Innovation Network;
• Providing support to the UK's multilateral missions to the UN and OSCE as required;
• Supporting the work of the political section and taking on corporate responsibilities within the wider embassy as required, eg as part of the crisis response team.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

Our Ideal Candidate shows:

• Full professional proficiency in German and English (written and spoken, minimum of C1 level for CEFR framework*);
• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Climate and Environmental Science, Climate Diplomacy, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations etc;
• A minimum of 2+ years of experience working for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or regional government, international organisations or agencies, preferably in affairs relating to climate and energy;
• Strong understanding of international climate change policy, with relevant experience including from university or previous professional work experience;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

Nice to have:

• Knowledge of financial / budget management principles or previous financial management experience;
• Knowledge or experience of project management and relevant skills.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

15 December 2024

Grade

Executive Officer (EO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed Term

Working hours per week

35

Duration of Post

12 months

Region

Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia

Country/Territory

Austria

Location (City)

Vienna

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

EUR

Salary

€ 4633 per month

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

15 April 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

This is a country based staff position at the British Embassy in Vienna; it is not a diplomatic designated position. The position is subject to the terms and conditions of British Embassy employees.

This is a full-time (35 hours per week) fixed-term contract, to cover a maternity leave period, until the current job-holder returns to the role. This is anticipated to be a duration of 12 months.

Working hours are flexible and staff are entitled to time-off-in-lieu for extra hours worked. The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per year pro rata and the Embassy also enjoys 14 Austrian / UK public holidays per year and we are committed to ensuring a work / life balance. Flexible working is supported, within operational constraints and in line with the flexible working policy.

The cost of the Vienna yearly transport ticket is reimbursed (prorated for months in the role),

The monthly salary will be €4633 gross, payable 14 times a year. You will receive your salary minus social insurance deductions and are expected to comply with Austrian tax obligations through completion of a tax return to the Austrian authorities. However, in some cases you will receive an abated salary where dual taxation agreements apply. Further information will be given at the recruitment stage.

The successful candidate will be subject to confirmation of a background check and security clearance. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure they are legally able to work in Austria. The Embassy is not able to assist with any visa or sponsorship arrangements.

Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions service according to Austrian employment law.

Visa / Passport requirements: Candidates must currently hold the independent right to live and work in Austria and be prepared to ensure that right remains throughout the scope of the contract. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the legal requirements to live and work in this country.

Learning Opportunities:

The British Embassy has an active L&D Committee and offers a wide range of development opportunities. A blend of learning opportunities will be available including shadowing, mentoring, and both formal and on the job training. Compulsory online training courses include Diversity and Inclusion, data protection, safeguarding and security. Additional online courses offered via the UK International Academy on Programme Delivery, Leadership and Management, Corporate Skills and on Europe and the UK government.

Additional information

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline".

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the British Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a position.

*Please note for more information on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment levels please click on the following link . Please bear in mind in case you are invited for an interview your language skill is going to be assessed.

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.