Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassy Riyadh has a vacancy for a Gulf Climate Officer, job grade
Senior Executive Officer (SEO), on a fixed term contract until 31 March 2025.
This is an exciting role to lead on climate, environment, and energy (CEE)
issues across the Gulf. The role will be based in the British Embassy Riyadh
and the jobholder will develop CEE expertise in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar,
Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, working closely with the British Embassies in these
countries.
The role will require expert climate change knowledge from both a global and
Gulf context, and will require strong coordination, engagement, and
influencing skills, working closely with the central MENA CEE team in London
and Climate Attaches at our Embassies in the Gulf to ensure a joined-up
approach on UK climate and energy policy across the region. The role offers
the opportunity to bring together development and diplomatic expertise to
deliver UK climate and energy objectives.
The jobholder will also work with the UK's PHENOMENAL (Pioneering a Holistic
approach to Energy and Nature-based Options in MENA for Long-term stability)
programme, a 5-year International Climate Finance programme of up to £60m.
Duties and responsibilities:
* Support climate and environment engagement and programming policy across the Gulf, working with Climate Attach es in British Embassies in the Gulf and travelling regularly to UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
* Coordinate with UK Government colleagues in the Gulf on energy transition/ security engagement (including on renewables and hydrogen), liaising with government, energy, and business stakeholders.
* Build strong partnerships with key UK government departments (including Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office [FCDO], Department for Energy Security and Net Zero [DESNZ], Department for Business and Trade [DBT], and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [DEFRA]).
* Support visits to the Gulf by UK Minsters and senior officials to further climate ambition, including ahead of COP28 in the UAE.
* Engage regional partners on climate mitigation/ low carbon, adaptation/ climate resilience and mobilising green finance.
* Identify partners for climate services, nature-based solutions, and low carbon growth through the UK PHENOMENAL programme.
* Support mainstreaming of climate across the FCDO portfolio in the Gulf.
* Report on progress on implementation of UK Gulf climate and energy work plans.
* Proactive public communications, working with Communications Teams at post to raise the profile of climate issues in the region.
The above list is not exhaustive and the jobholder will be required to be
flexible and take on other tasks as required.
Key behaviours required:
* Leadership - Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
* Delivering at Pace - Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
* Seeing the Big Picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
* Communicating and Influencing - Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
* Working Together - Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
Key technical skills required:
* Climate change impacts, adaptation and resilience - and its implications for programming
* Climate mitigation and low carbon development - including green project development
* Climate economics and finance - including how to attract and deploy climate finance at scale
Eligibility:
The position is available to Saudi Nationals and to current holders of valid
Saudi residence permits or transferable iqama. The successful candidate will
be required to transfer their sponsorship to the British Embassy.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* Experience working in climate or a related field, ideally for at least three years.
* Experience in policy development, finance management, programme delivery, and partner management.
* Experience in high-level advocacy and policy engagement. Ability to maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Embassy, including with key government and international partners.
* Excellent English language skills. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication. Able to simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand.
* Ability to drive delivery of outcomes and overcome obstacles, especially when working with and through others.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
* Flexible, resilient, decisive, and calm under pressure. Proven track record of delivering results to a high standard to tight deadlines.
* Excellent organisational ability. Proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload. Proactive approach to problem solving.
* Holds at least a bachelor's degree, ideally in climate, environment or energy related subject.
* Strong IT skills and literacy in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* Arabic language skills, both written and spoken.
* Experience working in climate and energy fields in the Gulf region.
* Knowledge of and/ or experience of working on CEE issues in the Gulf region.
* Relevant programme delivery or research experience.
* Strong communications experience in a climate or environment related subject.
Required behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Leadership, Communicating and
Influencing, Working Together
Application deadline Application deadline - day Application deadline - month
Application deadline - year
4 April 2023
Grade
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position
Fixed Term, Full-time
Working hours per week
35
Duration of Post
18 months
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
Saudi Arabia
Location (City)
Riyadh
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
1
Salary Currency
SAR
Salary
29,113
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
1 June 2023
End Date End Date - day End Date - month End Date - year
31 March 2025
Other benefits and conditions of employment
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role.
Monthly salary details:
* Base Salary including Eid bonus - SAR 22,971
* Housing Allowance - SAR 5,743 (subject to eligibility)
* Travel Allowance - SAR 400 (subject to eligibility)
* Total - SAR 29,113
* Allowances are not payable to staff who receive official provision for such expenditure in some other form.
No accommodation nor relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.
This position is full-time, based on 35 hours per week. Normal working hours
for the Embassy are from 08:00 to 15:00 from Sunday to Thursday, with core
working hours from 10:00-15:00. Core working hours is the period of the day
that employees are required to be at work. The working day outside of the core
hours is a flexible period, which allows employees to choose when they work,
subject to operational needs.
The jobholder will be required to be flexible in their approach to hours
worked as these will be dictated by operational needs and may involve working
out of hours (evening/ weekend) during visits and events.
The jobholder will also be required to travel extensively within the Gulf
region (up to three multi-day trips per month should be anticipated).
The jobholder will have opportunities to benefit from a range of Learning and
Development (L&D) initiatives. There is great opportunity for learning and
development 'on the job'. The jobholder will also be required to undertake a
number of mandatory training courses as part of their role.
The International Academy (IA) is the home of L&D for the FCDO. It covers a
wide range of essential as well as job-specific subjects; and is designed to
ensure that all staff can access high quality learning products. The jobholder
will also have access to the FCDO's Diplomatic Academy. Our staff are given
responsibility and autonomy (and support), allowing them to develop skills and
confidence through delivery.
The successful candidate will be subject to a 90-day probationary period.
Additional information
Application process:
Interested candidates must include in their online application form 1) an
updated Curriculum Vitae (CV); 2) a covering letter/ motivation essay stating
how you meet the requirements of the role; and 3) specific examples, in the
relevant sections of the online application form, of how you meet the key
behaviours and skills required.
Applications that do not include this information will not be considered.
Closing date for applications is at 23:55 (KSA local time) on 04 April
2023.
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those shortlisted for
the next step in the recruitment process will be contacted.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful at interview may be placed on a
'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of six (6) months the same or a
largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second
or subsequent candidate.
The start date mentioned in the advert is an assumed start date and the
successful candidate will be required to undergo security-vetting procedures.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the candidate achieving suitable
clearances, medical clearance and reference checks.
The British Embassy Riyadh is an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to
inclusivity, a diverse workforce and valuing difference.
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.