Senior Geopolitics, Energy and Climate Lead

This is a new role at senior level at Ditchley, reflecting the increasing entanglement of energy and climate policy in geopolitics. The role will lead our efforts to widen and deepen our networks across geopolitics, energy and climate communities. Our goal is to better embed the strategy and tactics of climate action and its political delivery in the geopolitical landscape we have today, rather than the more conducive conditions we might want.

Drawing on Ditchley’s unique convening power, this role will lead on building communities that intersect geopolitics, climate and energy, including political leaders, relevant officials, leading scientists and senior figures in the private sector. A central task will be to develop a much needed and hard headed framing of climate action in the context of energy security, the de-globalisation of trade, the dependence on China on renewables, and the gap left by the US on global leadership. We aim also to help define the UK’s role in the global energy transition.

(Subject to resources, a further domestic strand of work will create networks within the UK around industrial strategy priorities, regional investment, clusters and supply chain security, as relevant to both growth and a green transition, or growth through the development of green technologies.)

The role will need to integrate and work effectively with other core Ditchley themes and senior leads, including our work on geopolitics, technology and democracy.

The Senior Geopolitics, Energy and Climate Lead will report to and work closely with the Director.

The role will engage and collaborate closely with external partners, including those supporting the programme and wider networks. The central task will be to lead on the organisation of a series of conferences and smaller discussions on agreed topics and themes. The ultimate aim will be to build networks and a wider ecosystem to further the political deliverability of the green transition.

The insights from Ditchley’s overall programme are also to be shared within the climate and energy ecosystem to deepen understanding of the new context and what that means for the deliverability of climate change.

The role will also:

• Line Manage the Climate Delivery Networks Lead.
• Collaborate with the Head of Programme Delivery to schedule and curate events within the overall Ditchley programme.
• Integrate and cooperate with the rest of the Ditchley team.

The role will be full time:

• Place of work and hours will be flexible with the expectation of joining team calls, programme management meetings and strategy meetings.
• A mandatory minimum of two days per week in person at Ditchley Park is expected.

The experience, skills and attributes needed are:

• Extensive experience and understanding of at least some of the relevant areas of geopolitics (for example the US and the Transatlantic relationship, Europe, or other regions).
• You’ll be expected to be a quick learner and to be able to develop sufficient knowledge on areas of policy less familiar to you.
• Some experience and certainly a strong interest in energy and climate policy.
• The ability to write well under time pressure, with an emphasis on action, policy and practical outcomes rather than academic exploration alone.
• Effective line management skills.
• Strong communication skills and open to collaboration with our communications lead.
• Able to work in person at Ditchley two days a week and to travel domestically and internationally (shared on-site accommodation will be available for overnight stays).
• Effective horizontal cooperation across the team will be essential.

Desirable experience and qualities would include:

• Deeper experience on energy and climate policy alongside geopolitics.
• Existing personal networks across geopolitics and climate policy.
• Understanding of energy and green technologies.
• More extensive management experience.
• Public profile in one or more areas of the role.