View Vacancy – Biodiversity Officer – British Embassy Lima

Main purpose of job:

The successful applicant will play a key role in shaping the UK Government’s work to help protect Peru’s rainforests with a focus on biodiversity and the country’s participation in international negotiations like the Conference of the Parties (COP) – Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This is an exciting position within the Embassy’s Climate, Nature and Infrastructure (CNI) Team (~13 staff), which works towards achieving a permanent fall in deforestation and biodiversity loss, bedding in sustainable livelihoods and respect for indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) while reducing vulnerability to environmental crime in the Peruvian Amazon. 

The post holder will provide technical and political guidance to programmes and projects managed by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London, offer expertise to the Peruvian government, private sector and other key stakeholders. The post holder will also collaborate closely with other colleagues in the British Embassy in Lima, UK embassies throughout the Amazon region and officials from the UK’s International Forests Unit and other parts of the British government in London, especially the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). That includes strategic reporting on developments in the UK, Peru, the region and globally on biodiversity, bringing together the big picture on politics, programming and policy influencing to analyse trends.

The post holder will work as an integral member of a wider team of experts, leading on our biodiversity strategy. Our strategy has three pillars: i) Implementing financial mechanisms in Peru to unlock private sector finance for biodiversity, ii) Promoting the social, economic, and political empowerment of women, youth, and IPLC, and iii) Integrating science and technology to amplify biodiversity efforts. 
 
This role will report to the Green Finance Lead in the team, identifying opportunities to use expertise or small amounts of technical assistance to mobilise private sector investment in nature and supporting the implementation of the Peru’s green finance roadmap.

Roles and responsibilities:

Implement the UK’s biodiversity strategy in Peru (30%)

• Finalise the Embassy’s biodiversity strategy (it will be updated annually).
• Identify opportunities and risks for aligning UK-supported initiatives with the delivery of wider Peruvian and regional objectives on biodiversity. For example:
  • How the UK can support Peru with the implementation of its new National Strategy for Biological Diversity and Action Plan (NBSAP) and how progress can be measured.
  • Which initiatives Peru would like to fund with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Fund (UK has contributed £55m).
  • Whether there are companies that use Digital Sequence Information (DSI) from Peru and whether they may be willing to pioneer contributions to the Cali Fund.
  • Ensure that pilots of biodiversity credits align with the IAPB Framework for High Integrity Biodiversity Credits and participate in working groups related with financial mechanisms.

Monitoring of international biodiversity negotiations and compliance with global agreements (20%)

• Follow international negotiations closely, principally COP CBD but also COP30 in Brazil in 2025, promoting the priorities of both the UK and Peru. Two key objectives are:
  • Promote the financial sustainability of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and natural protected areas.
  • Actively listen to and include IPLC in conservation efforts, drawing on the Platform to Support IPLC in Forest Action under the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP).

Oversight of existing and new biodiversity-related programmes and projects in Peru (30%)

• Contribute to the design and delivery of new embassy-led projects and centrally managed programmes (managed from London) related to biodiversity.
• Develop a strong understanding of the rules, procedures and best practices associated with programme management in the FCDO.
• Review, monitor, and coordinate DEFRA initiatives in Peru and ensure that they contribute to the embassy’s strategic objectives.

Other (20%)

• Follow up with Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM) and other actors, such as the Botanic Garden Appreciation Society on progress to develop a national network of botanic gardens.
• Follow Peru’s work on plastics and engage in a light-touch way with initiatives like DEFRA’s Oceans Fund or the Global Plastic Action Partnership.
• Create an improved database of the projects funded under the Newton-Paulet Fund.
• General tasks, including:
  • Manage Ministerial and official visits from the UK related to biodiversity in Peru.
  • Summarise meetings, missions, correspondence, and reports, and compile documents.
  • Follow and report on developments and evidence on biodiversity in Peru and globally.
  • Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy to maximise the overall well-being of staff, and to contribute to the Embassy’s response in case of a crisis.

These responsibilities will be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation. The above is an indicative outline of roles and responsibilities required of the role. The post holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Embassy. 

Resources managed:

• Potential management of small-scale project funding.

• A minimum of 2 years of experience working for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working with national or regional government, international organisations or agencies on biodiversity related policy matters or programmes.
• Strong understanding of international biodiversity policy (in connection with COP, CBD and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework).
• Excellent communication skills, including proven ability to write fluently and persuasively in English about technical and policy issues for a senior audience.
• Good team player with excellent interpersonal skills and experience of managing diverse relationships.