Main purpose of job:
The British Embassy in Washington, DC is seeking a Policy Advisor to join the Energy and Climate Team within the Embassy’s Global Issues Section. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, working across the full range of energy, climate and environmental issues that the team handles with a particular focus on leading the team’s nature policy portfolio.
The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.
The Policy Advisor provides advice to UK Government departments on US developments in environmental, energy and climate policy and promotes UK-US engagement around nature-based solutions and the transition to a low-carbon global economy. The Policy Advisor represents the UK Government in meetings and outward-facing events. The candidate is also responsible for managing visits from UK stakeholders to the US.
The jobholder reports to the Senior Policy Officer, Climate and Energy, in Washington DC. They work closely with a range of Embassy teams and with other offices in the US Network, as well as other departments including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for International Trade (DIT), and Energy teams. The job holder may need to travel a number of times a year across the region, and potentially visit the UK approximately once per year.
The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker and utilise and build on their understanding of US environmental, energy and climate policy, both at the federal and subnational levels. They will be a credible interlocutor with contacts in the US, specifically congressional staff, business and investors, state and local government, and non-governmental organisations. They will be a self-starter, proactively developing ideas and strategies to foster UK-US collaboration on environmental, energy and climate priorities. They will also have a proven track-record in working collaboratively in a team-setting.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
This role does not involve direct line management but does require the ability to develop and lead virtual teams in order to deliver your policy priorities. Depending on the local priorities, this role could be responsible for implementing climate and energy projects where you will be responsible for delivery including monitoring spend.

Desirable:

• 
  A background in environmental and/or energy policy and demonstrated knowledge of climate science
• Demonstrated experience in project management and delivery
• Interest in or knowledge of UK policy strengths and priorities
• Events management experience
• A minimum of a bachelor's degree is desirable; advanced degree is also desirable, with economic, policy, or environmental focus preferred.

This role is full time (approx. 40 hours per week) and may require occasionally working longer hours and/or working outside of core office hours. There is an opportunity for a flexible working pattern.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing flexibility to work from home when required. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.