FJS - Pacific Climate Change Attachè, HEO

The FJS - Pacific Climate Change Attachè position at HM Government involves delivering the UK's climate change programs across Pacific Island Countries. The role includes working with local governments on climate adaptation, promoting UK climate partnerships, and engaging with various stakeholders. The position is based in BHC Suva, Fiji, and requires collaboration with UK teams and local institutions to support climate initiatives and policy development.
View Vacancy - FJS - Pacific Climate Change Attachè, HEO

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 identity, 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. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Climate Diplomacy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

The Pacific Climate Policy Attache will deliver the UK's climate change programme work and objectives across the Pacific Island Countries, working on climate issues important to Pacific Island Countries, collaborating with UK High Commission teams across the region and in the UK to provide strategic advice on UK-Pacific climate partnerships as part of an ambitious and active global network.

Based in BHC Suva, the Attache will primarily have responsibility for working with Pacific Governments to drive the UK's climate adaptation policy and programme partnerships, supporting strategic climate action and promoting the UK's global leadership in implementing the Paris Agreement.

The UK has four climate priorities in the Pacific: access to climate finance, renewable energy transition, climate adaptation and ocean resilience, and protecting nature and biodiversity. Working with the Pacific Climate and Energy Counsellor, this role has responsibilities focussing on access to climate finance and climate adaptation but will also support work in the renewable energy transition and protecting nature and biodiversity priorities.

The post holder will be responsible for a broad range of activity spanning policy and programmes, including liaising with and learning from Pacific Governments and regional institutions, representing the UK at events and supporting other senior UK representatives when they visit. They will keep pace with academic and industrial advances and science in the region, following the COP series of meetings and supporting UK and Pacific preparation, delivering some projects and carrying out monitoring, evaluation, learning and communication around these. They will contribute to policy development and advice. and build networks across a diverse range of Fiji and wider Pacific stakeholders. They will find new opportunities to engage UK expertise and offers in Fiji and across the Pacific, and work with teams in the UK to leverage UK programme offers where relevant and providing project management support to smaller UK offices across the Pacific to deliver regional climate programming. The post holder will work closely with colleagues in London to provide briefing and analysis on climate issues, and timely and accurate responses to requests requiring Pacific expertise.

We need someone who can work collaboratively as part of a regional team to deliver high quality work, meet long-term goals whilst responding promptly to diverse short term commissions. You must be passionate about climate, energy and the environment and have strong communication skills and an ability to build relationships, including remotely. The successful candidate should have strong existing knowledge of global, Fiji, and Pacific climate change issues and have a strong climate network in Fiji and across the region. You should also understand project management principles and willingness to learn the UK processes.

It would be an advantage to have experience in broader development and humanitarian work, and adaptability and willingness to support other areas of the mission.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?:

Climate Policy and Programmes
• Work as part of the UK's Regional Climate Team (a cross-site team in Suva, Wellington and Canberra) to collaborate with the British High Commissions in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea as the Pacific Climate Adaptation policy lead.
• Support the coordination of UK programme effort across the Pacific, including providing project management and strategic advice to the UK's International Climate Finance programmes and projects, particularly those focussing on climate adaptation.
• Support effective reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning of British partnerships operating across the Pacific.
• Manage relationships with existing ODI Fellows, the Climate Finance Absorption Adviser embedded within GGGI-Ministry of Finance, and other UK-supported embedded advisers across Government of Fiji, ensuring their regular engagement with the British High Commission team.
• Promote the UK's Pacific Islands-focused climate change activities to the regional audience and domestic audience, to ensure maximum impact.
• Maintain relationships with climate change bodies, including PIFS, SPC and SPREP, to support UK International Climate Engagement and climate advocacy strategies across the Pacific. This will include leading UK engagement with Fiji and other Pacific Governments in preparation for COP30.
Global climate network reporting
• Providing timely updates on climate policy development in the region to UK-based leads.
• Providing high quality briefing for Senior Officials and Ministers to enable effective communication with their Pacific counterparts at global climate events.
• Flexibly supporting other UK High Commissions in the Pacific Region on local climate issues as part of the global climate network, this will include opportunities to travel across the region.
Development policy and programme management

Whilst this role focusses on climate change, there is scope to provide support to the UK's broader development and humanitarian objectives including disaster risk finance, multilateral reform, and democratic governance. Support could include policy development, programme design and delivery, and communications.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience
• Undergraduate degree in relevant subject, or other academic study of equal standing, and / orA minimum of five years work experience in a climate, science, government or connected field.
• Knowledge of and experience working on international climate change policy and sound understanding of Pacific climate change issues
• Project management experience
• Strong climate change network within Pacific
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong relationship management skills
• Excellent research and analysis skills (including accuracy and strong attention to detail)
Desirable qualifications, skills and experience
• Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships
• Degree in a relevant field
• Knowledge of financial / budget management principles or previous financial management experience
Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

13 May 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

38

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Fiji

Location (City)

Suva

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

FJD

Salary

FJD 5,369.95 monthly

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

10 July 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

The British High Commission is committed to learning and development for all staff, placing a strong emphasis on both personal and team development.

Learning and development opportunities:

This job offers huge scope for personal and professional development. In addition, a wide range of L&D opportunities are available, with access to specialist courses and training (including UK government climate change and energy policy) and some international travel, including to the UK and regionally in the Pacific. Compulsory online training courses include diversity and inclusion.
Working patterns:

The jobholder will be expected to work full-time in the British High Commission. Due to challenges of technology and utilities, remote working is not practical. Some pre-planned flexibility can be agreed with your Line Manager on an ad-hoc basis, and when personal and family commitments demand.

This job is office-based in Suva, with regular engagement outside the Office and occasional regional and international travel.

Additional information

Please note that your application must be submitted before 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field "Application deadline."

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core behaviours listed above.

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Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. 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 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.

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