AUH/DXB - COP28 Liaison Officer - SEO

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)
The British Embassies in Abu Dhabi / Dubai have a vacancy for a COP28 Liaison
Officer. This is for a full-time contract until 31st December ‎2024.
The jobholder will lead on key aspects of the UK's preparations for the 28th
Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) in December ‎2023 in the UAE. The successful candidate will be
the embassy's policy expert at the heart of planning and delivering UK
priorities and objectives for COP28.
Duties and responsibilities:
Strategy and coordination
* Develop the embassy 's COP28 and net zero work plan, working closely and collaboratively with colleagues in UK government departments including the FCDO and BEIS and across the embassy teams which include science and innovation, trade and investment, political, development, communications, programmes and corporate delivery teams to ensure the plan reflects the breadth of UK work on climate change whilst focusing on a set of clearly defined priorities. You will need to make sure the work plan supports efforts towards long-term decarbonisation (net zero by ‎2050), resilience and adaptation objectives and mobilisation of finance, with the UK working in partnership with the UAE to implement and build on the achievements of COP26 in Glasgow.
* Contribute to UK policy development for COP28 through research, analysing and explaining UAE climate and energy trends and policy developments, identifying potential issues and providing expert advice on campaigns, programmes and submissions for ministers.
* Take a leading role in the embassy's COP28 and Net Zero Taskforce and internal embassy coordination to ensure cohesive and complementary 1HMG efforts across the post.
Policy engagement
* Lead on UK policy engagement on climate change with the UAE system, including engagement with the incoming Presidency team on joint priorities and campaigns for COP28 that build on COP26 and COP27, and maintain high-level engagement after COP28 to follow up on delivery of outcomes.
* Develop and maintain strong relations with key stakeholders including in the UAE government, business, media and civil society, UN and other diplomatic missions, and represent the UK in external meetings and networks.
* Develop a stakeholder engagement plan for COP28, considering how to leverage engagement with ministers, the embassy's senior leadership team and other policy and commercial leads and how to work with like-minded partners to influence most effectively.
* Develop and maintain strong relations with key contacts in the UK government, acting as a focal point for climate policy requests from UK government departments.
* Provide expert advice on how best to engage the UAE system on issues of importance to the UK including advising on UAE priorities and local sensitivities.
* Support UK - UAE dialogues and working groups.
Visits and projects
* Facilitate visits by UK Ministers and senior officials to the UAE in support of UK climate objectives, working with others to design and shape programmes that make best use of time to support policy, commercial and communications priorities, contributing to briefing packs and oral briefings, and providing timely reporting and analysis after the visits.
* Facilitate participation of UK delegations in high-profile events in UAE in the build-up to COP28 and during the UAE 's Presidency year.
* Working with the UAE Climate Change Policy Manager, Science and Innovation Officer and other colleagues, design and develop projects in support of UK climate change objectives, drawing on the FCDO's Gulf Strategy Fund and Climate Diplomacy Fund.
Communications
* Work with communications teams to raise the profile of climate issues, UK climate action and partnerships with the UAE in the run up to COP28.
Regional engagement
* Work with the UK 's MENA Regional Climate Attaches to encourage countries to approach COP28 with high ambition.
COP28 capacity building, logistics and delivery
* Share UK experience to support the UAE with developing its Presidency expertise.
* Work closely with the embassy 's visits and corporate teams to provide logistical support to the UK delegation for COP28.
* Provide advice and support to teams leading on planning, logistics and delivery of the UK Pavilion at COP28 to ensure that the pavilion and its programmes are aligned with the UAE vision for COP28 and effectively support UK objectives.
Line Management responsibilities
* Line Management arrangements are to be defined but it is possible that the COP28 Liaison Officer will also take on line management of the UAE Climate Change Policy Manager and through that have oversight of bilateral engagement on climate change and the environment beyond the UNFCCC context including delivery of the UK-UAE memorandum of understanding on climate and environment collaboration.
The above list is not exhaustive, and the job holder will be required to be
flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required, including participating
in the Embassy emergency planning and any response to a crisis.
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.
Seeing the bigger 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.
C ommunicating 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.
Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality
results with focus and drive.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* Minimum ‎3 years' experience working on climate change and energy policy issues, with in-depth knowledge of the international climate system and at least one of the following: UAE climate change and energy policy, UK climate and energy policy, or UNFCCC processes.
* Ability to see the big picture, to see and describe climate change issues in the UAE and across MENA at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
* High level advocacy and policy engagement experience, with ability positively to engage senior political and policy thinkers on climate change issues and gain commitment for action.
* Ability to manage a varied and complex workload to deliver high quality outcomes, prioritising work to meet tight deadlines.
* A team player, who is able to bring others with them and to work with a diverse range of colleagues and external contacts (e.g., government, academic, civil society and business groups) to build consensus on common action.
* Experience working in an international context including on large international events.
* Strong working knowledge of IT including Microsoft Office applications (Teams, Word, Excel and Outlook).
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
* Experience of multilateral negotiations (e.g., UNFCCC)
* Project management experience or qualification
* Experience of working for the UK or other governments in a policy role
* Experience of working in the UAE
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
‎1 February ‎2023
Grade
Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Type of Position
Full-time
Working hours per week
‎38
Region
Middle East & North Africa
Country/Territory
United Arab Emirates
Location (City)
Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Type of Post
British Embassy
Number of vacancies
‎1
Salary Currency
AED
Salary
‎30,656
Start Date Start Date - day Start Date - month Start Date - year
‎1 March ‎2023
End Date End Date - day End Date - month End Date - year
‎31 December ‎2024
Other benefits and conditions of employment
Working hours and remuneration:
The Embassy aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration
package for this role, which includes ‎25 days of leave per annum (calculated
pro-rata).
Salary is at AED ‎30,656 per month. This is a full-time contract until ‎31
December ‎2024.
There are no other allowances payable as part of this package. No
accommodation and relocation expenses are payable in connection with this
position.
The Embassy is open from Monday to Friday, from ‎07:30 to ‎18:00. Conditioned
working hours are ‎38 hours per week (including breaks), and specific working
hours for this role will be confirmed at a later time.
The jobholder will be required to travel frequently between Abu Dhabi and
Dubai and will be expected to attend the UNFCCC COP28 at Dubai Expo in
December ‎2023.
The successful candidate will be required to transfer their visa under the
Embassy's sponsorship.
Additional information
How to apply:
Interested candidates must attach the following in their online application
form:
* an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
* a brief covering letter/ motivation essay stating your motivation and how you meet the requirements of the role.
* 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 UAE local time on 1st February
‎2023
Applications received after the stated deadline will not be considered.
Process:
The recruitment process, including security clearance, is expected to take
around two months. You may experience some delay in the progress of this
recruitment campaign, and we are working hard to minimise any disruption.
Due to the large number of applications, we receive, only those shortlisted
for the next step of the recruitment process will be contacted.
The start date mentioned in the job advert is a tentative 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.
Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a 'reserve
list'. If during the reserve period of ‎6 months the same or a largely similar
role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent
candidate".
The British Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are 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.