Vacancy!!! UK PACT Climate Change Officer – C4 at British High Commission (BHC) Nigeria

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, 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: UK PACT Climate Change Officer – C4

Job ID: 15/20 ABJ
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Grade: C4 (L)
Working hours per week: 36
Start Date: 28th October 2020
Type of Post: British High Commission
Type of Position: Fixed term, with possibility of renewal
Job Category: Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)
Job Subcategory: (BEIS) Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

• Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing our world, and Nigeria is both vulnerable as an emerging economy, and a significant contributor to global greenhouse emissions, ranking within the top three emitters in Africa for both fossil fuel emissions and emission from land-use change.
• As part of the British Government’s global response to climate challenge and its commitment to help deliver the aims of the Paris Agreement (UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2016), the International Climate Finance (ICF) team in UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for £2bn of UK International Climate Finance. Within ICF, UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is a £60 million technical assistance programme that has been established to support partner countries accelerate their clean growth transitions and reduce carbon emissions in line with their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
• Nigeria has been identified as a potential key strategic climate partner for UK PACT.  UK PACT could potentially play a transformative role in Nigeria increasing the capacity and capability of Nigerian institutions to deliver climate smart solutions in a range of areas.
• This new position will help shape a UK PACT intervention in Nigeria and will form part of the Climate and Energy Team at the British High Commission (BHC).  It is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of this evolving area of UK – Nigeria collaboration.
• The post holder will contribute to the development of a vision for how to grow the UK-Nigeria climate relationship and will provide direct oversight of the programme of work agreed working closely with the BEIS International Climate Finance team in London.
• This role will report to the Head of Climate Change & Energy at the BHC and will expected to develop strong links with other colleagues working on global issues across the BHC, including the Science and Innovation Network, and Department of International Trade (DIT) teams.

Roles and Responsibilities
Nigeria – Climate Change and UK PACT Strategy Development (45%):

• Working within the climate and energy team, develop clear understanding of the climate change landscape in Nigeria including previously funded activities by the UK and other donors, political economy and country demands.
• Identify, analyse and flag policy, technological and commercial developments and risks that could influence the delivery of UK-Nigeria climate collaboration.
• Identify key areas of demand where UK expertise can be aligned and UK PACT projects could support emissions reduction.
• Lead on briefings, presentations and other reporting to BEIS team in London to inform the development of relevant UK PACT opportunities.
• Manage small-scale research and knowledge gathering contracts to support the evidence base for potential UK PACT activities in Nigeria.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations on collaboration opportunities to senior management at the BHC and in London, and in support of other parallel programmes including under FCDO centrally managed funding.

UK PACT Stakeholder management (20%):

• Proactively develop, manage and strengthen the BHC network of UK – Nigeria climate contacts at all levels of seniority and in all sectors, to identify capacity building and policy influencing opportunities for UK PACT.
• Support the Head of Climate and Energy Team to scope and develop deeper climate collaboration with Nigeria, at national, provincial and local level, fostering relationships across the Government of Nigeria.
• Foster strategic, regular communications with key stakeholders in the UK, Nigeria and other target countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate best practice sharing where appropriate.
• Publicly represent the BHC and UK Government as a credible interlocutor in climate related engagements as necessary.
• Ensure coordination between UK climate programmes and initiatives supported by other donor agencies, identifying opportunities for multilateral cooperation where possible.
• Proactively seek cross-section collaboration opportunities amongst BHC teams to continue supporting a mainstreamed approach to climate change in bilateral programmes.
• Support the launch of the UK PACT Challenge Fund and market engagement with local stakeholders to identify and support the delivery of a portfolio of innovative low-carbon technical assistance projects.

UK PACT Programme management and delivery (20%):

• Work with the UK PACT delivery partners, to organise and manage calls for proposals and manage approval of projects
• Work with the UK PACT delivery partners to oversee project performance reviews and completion reports.
• Share outputs of UK PACT projects with Government and other stakeholders to ensure sharing and uptake of recommendations.
• Collate all relevant learning and share with colleagues in UK and BHC. Use learning to inform and update future strategy.
• Provide support to other ICF programmes as needed, ensuring UK visibility, coherence and complementarity with other UK government programmes.

Administration (10%):

• Lead on the preparation and coordination of high-level climate missions Nigeria, identifying opportunities for relevant dialogues to support the development and delivery of programmes, as well as supporting the planning and delivery of potential skill-sharing missions between the UK and Nigeria
• The job holder will be expected to manage his or her own administrative tasks and support the wider team on administrative tasks as and when required.

Corporate (5%):

• Play an active part in the corporate life of the BHC (including if necessary as a member of any BHC Committees) to maximise the overall well-being of staff.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Resources:  Potential management of small-scale evidence, knowledge and capacity contracts (in the £10-£100s of thousands) to build momentum with the new government, minister and ministry, coordinating discussions between UK stakeholders (BEIS regional leads, UK programme management team and UK Delivery Partners) and Nigerian partners.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to work well and have a flexible approach to work whilst under pressure and excellent interpersonal and communications skills to build strong relations within the BHC and with a wide range of stakeholders in Nigeria with the following:
• University degree, preferably in Environmental Science, Climate, Public Policy or related course;
• Minimum 5 years of work experience, ideally with Project / Programme management experience, preferably with international stakeholders
• The ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication and relationship skills;
• Be a flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems, and coordinate coherent and compelling programmes and projects;
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Experience providing administrative and logistical support;
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to adjust to different audiences;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Team player, driven by values.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Relevant post-graduate course
• Solid knowledge of Nigeria’s climate change policy, its international commitments and institutional framework
• Sound network of contacts in political arena, government, private sector and civil societies
• Candidates with prior work experience in International or multilateral  programmes will be considered as a plus
• Knowledge of financial sector
• Knowledge of low carbon / green sector
• Knowledge of infrastructure sector
• Knowledge of UK climate and energy policy, technology and commercial capabilities, and its global leadership in the subject matter

Required Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Starting Monthly Salary
NGN 827,892.98

Application Closing Date  
6th October, 2020.

End Date
28th October, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Additional Information

• Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening. Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa / work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to;
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission does not sponsor visas / work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses / partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
• Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application.

Job Title: Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer

Job ref.: 16/20 ABJ
Location: Abuja
Grade: C4 (L)
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Working hours per week: 37
Duration of Post: 24 months
Start Date: 9th November, 2020
End Date: 9th November, 2022
Type of Post: British High Commission
Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Policy & Political roles)
Job Subcategory: Communications, Press and Media

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) 
Main purpose of job:

• The British High Commission (BHC) office in Abuja is looking for creative, organised and dynamic strategic communication professional to join the UK Government’s Communications network in Nigeria as soon as possible.
• Strategic Communications is an increasingly important tool used to help deliver on the international objectives of the British Government. Building stakeholder relationships is an essential component of any skills set for this role.
• The successful applicant will work with policy and programme colleagues, stakeholders and customers from across the UK’s International Nigeria network.  This includes working with colleagues from different HMG departments.
• The successful candidate will be a confident and effective communicator and able strategist who can identify the correct audiences, calibrating the right key messages and innovatively help to shape the UK’s narrative through a range of traditional, digital and if necessary unconventional communication channels.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Working from a small but busy and fast-paced team, you will work with a large range of colleagues and partners across different UK Government departments operating in Nigeria.
• You will work with press offices of Government Departments in London and help to set the direction for the UK’s communications operation in Nigeria developing bespoke communications strategies and implementation plans to support the delivery of BHC policy and programme priorities ensuring wherever possible that all communications are effective, efficient and evaluated.
• You will lead by example to drive high-quality delivery in the Communications team.
• You will help shape and deliver strategic communications and public diplomacy objectives developed across the UK Government’s Nigeria network. You will work with British Government communications leads across the region, with the UK Government’s Communications Hub in South Africa, the Government Communications Service in London and press offices of local and international partners.
• You will develop a sound understanding of the UK’s priorities in Nigeria and, working with the relevant teams, will identify how to make best use of comms to help to deliver the UK’s international objectives.
• Using a blend of communications tools, you will help to deliver regional communications campaigns in Nigeria using OASIS model style communications strategy techniques to tailor effectively to the relevant local audience.
• You will help the team generate innovative high quality and impactful media campaigns and events that promote a positive image of the UK, and support delivery of the UK’s strategic political and soft power objectives in Nigeria.
• Working in a small team, you will help ensure that the communications effort in Nigeria is proactive and creative, including but not limited to public diplomacy events, external digital communications (increasing the size and calibration of the audience receiving UK messages to help maximise impact) and traditional media engagement.
• You will help shape programmes for visiting senior officials, Ministers and VVIPs, managing media engagements and providing sound advice on all press and public affairs elements.
• You will build and maintain an effective network of contacts across the spectrum of Nigerian and international media to ensure that the BHC has a thorough understanding of the media’s role in Nigerian society and is well placed to engage constructively. Drawing on the expertise from colleagues in Nigeria and across West Africa, you will ensure all UK Government communications is tailored to its audience.
• Acting as one of the British High Commission’s spokespeople, your responsibilities will include drafting articles, press notices, blogs, social media posts, communications briefings and OASIS model style communications plans as well as clearing and delivering appropriate media messages to local and international media as and when required.

Job Requirements
Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Qualified to at least undergraduate degree level
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English
• Highly organised, able to take initiative and to work accurately within sometimes short deadlines and with limited supervision  in a fast-paced and high profile environment
• Good working knowledge of ICT software (e.g. MS Word) in general and strong skills in digital media, including Face book, Twitter, Instagram and other social networking sites
• Attention to detail and comfortable producing accurate statements under pressure and taking direct instructions to also deliver under pressure
• Strong networking and relationship management skills towards both senior and junior staff inside and outside the British High Commission
• Previous experience in public relations, marketing or media, including developing and implementing media communication plans / media campaigns, managing events and evaluating results
• Effective management of junior staff

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Experience working in an international organisation
• Experience working  with UK government departments

Required Competencies

• Making Effective Decisions, Leading and Communicating, Collaborating and Partnering, Delivering at Pace

Starting Monthly Salary
N827, 892.98

Other Benefits and Conditions of Employment:

• Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):
• The British High Commission is proactive in supporting learning and development. There will be opportunities to attend International Communications, Digital in the FCO, online and regional training courses.

Working Patterns:

• Flexible arrangements should be discussed with the hiring manager.

Application Closing Date
16th October, 2020.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Additional Information  
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, 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:

• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All applicants must be legally able to work in the country of application with the correct visa/status or work permit.
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
• Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.
• Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
• Successful candidates not resident in Country will be personally liable for costs and arrangements to relocate, including accommodation and work permits.
• Complete the application form in full as the information provided will be used for screening purposes.
• Check your application and attachments before you submit your application, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never ask you to pay a fee or money to apply for a position.

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