Climate Change Advisors

Tackling climate change is one of the British Government's top foreign policy priorities. We recognize that this has to be the work of many governments and other organisations, acting together over many years. The role of the United States will be central to whether we succeed in the years ahead in putting in place an effective international response to this inter-generational challenge.

Reflecting the importance of the US role, the British Embassy in Washington DC is seeking highly qualified individuals with a track record in project and policy delivery to be Climate Change Advisors for its new National Climate Change Team (NCCT). They will work with the wide range of stakeholders on this issue outside the Beltway to complement the current Energy and Environment Team in the Embassy's Global Issues Group. The Global Issues Group leads the British Government's overall engagement with the United States on climate change.

The NCCT will work with the British Government's network of nine Consulates, coordinating their work on climate change issues across all the 50 US States. The team will include two 'Constituency Managers' based in Washington DC: a 'States and Cities Manager' and a 'Civil Society Manager'.

The States and Cities Manager* will be responsible for maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at the State and municipal level including the representatives of Governors, Mayors, State governments, State Assemblies, City Councils and regional associations. Their role will be to support and build on the UK's relationships and partnerships with individual cities and States on climate change, and with regional climate initiatives in the West, the Midwest and the Northeast.

The Civil Society Manager* will be responsible for maintaining relationships across the US with a wide range of key stakeholders in the climate change debate, including NGOs, faith groups, charities, trade unions and youth (working with the British Council). Their role will be to support and build links between these organisations and their British and European counterparts, in order to further common transatlantic understanding and action on climate change.

The successful candidates will be credible interlocutors for Governor's Chiefs of Staff, state assembly representatives, the presidents of national NGO, Trades Unions and faith groups. They will be highly motivated, professional, articulate, and able to represent British policy at the highest levels. They will both be committed to tackling climate change, and pragmatic in how they do so.

- Develop and maintain a wide range of high-level contacts within the two constituencies.

- Identify opportunities for advancing collaboration with these constituencies, and manage risks.

- Design, develop and participate in visits programmes and events that strengthen links between these constituencies and their counterparts in the UK and the EU, working closely with the project and programme managers in the NCCT and the British Consulates across the US.

- Regular travel out of Washington DC to engage these constituencies, working with the British Consulates and other partners across the US.

- Provide advice and handle requests from London, and perform other duties as assigned.

- At least three to five years of federal, state-level, academic, commercial, NGO in the US and a strong climate change background essential. Good connections into the climate change community or those constituencies described above beneficial.

- Must be able to represent the British Government at external meeting and win the confidence of senior officials, businessmen, and British ministers. Prior knowledge of UK policy a plus.

- Flexibility in a team setting, with a robust team-working approach to work is essential.

- Ability to work independently, and take responsibility for initiating, and managing projects.

- Clear and concise oral and written skills, including best practice presentational skills.

- Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook and Web Access.

Under US State Department requirements, the Embassy may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or A Visa holders. If you hold a Visa other than an A Visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Embassy. All candidates must have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in the US, and will be subject to background checks and security clearance. Note: There is an expectation that the successful candidate will be travelling out of Washington DC for at least 2 working weeks every month.

The British Embassy Network offers a competitive salary and a strong benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, generous vacation and leave time, and an enriching training package.

Resume and a cover letter with salary history should be submitted in a .doc (word) file format to careers@fco.gov.uk or fax to 202.588.7622. Please note in the subject line of your email "Climate Change Advisor/States and Cities, Climate Change Advisor/Civil Society or Climate Change Advisor/States and Cities/Civil Society". Internal candidates should address their resumes through their Head of Group before applying. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.