View Vacancy – Global Development Advisor

Main purpose of job:

This is an exciting role, based at the British Embassy in Brasilia, which will put the successful candidate at the heart of some of the most important global development issues, at a time when the international spotlight is on Brazil. As a Higher Executive Officer, you will have substantial responsibility leading and shaping our bilateral development relationship with Brazil alongside the First Secretary Development, and possible line-managerial responsibilities.

This role will work to strengthen the UK’s bilateral development work with Brazil, including working with colleagues based in London and other UK posts to design and implement programmes, deliver various components of the UK’s engagement with COP30 in Belem, and support the Embassy’s bid for future ODA funding. The successful candidate will work across a range of topics covering multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but likely with a particular focus on social inclusion, adaptive social protection, land governance, sustainable agriculture, trilateral cooperation, global health and development financing. The successful candidate will build strong networks within the Brazilian Government, other Embassies, the UN, NGOs, and private sector organisations and use this platform to build development policy. They will have an understanding of the UK’s priorities and objectives in Brazil/Latin America, and will deliver against these.

The post holder will support the preparation and delivery of the UK’s engagement with Brazil ahead of COP30, and build on the legacy of its G20 Presidency, including supporting the Hunger Alliance. Lastly, a key component of this role will be leading on visits, working with others in the Development Team to ensure continued senior and Ministerial interest in Brazil, and ensuring that these visits support our key objectives.

As well as employing your development knowledge and representational skills for the UK in Brazil, you will also gain first-hand experience working at the cutting edge of the UK’s new and evolving international development policy, helping to shape outcomes in real time. You will advise your peers and seniors in the Brazil Network on issues within your portfolio; you will work with colleagues from multiple UK government departments; and you will join a fun, collegiate and inclusive team in a challenging role which will provide many opportunities for personal and professional development.

The UK’s Brazil Network and Development Team

The FCDO Brazil Network works to deepen bilateral relations with Brazil across a wider range of areas including Political, Trade, Climate, Development, Economics, and Science & Innovation. Our Teams are based across 5 locations, with our Embassy in Brasilia and Consulates in Belo Horizonte, Recife, Rio De Janeiro, and Sao Paulo. 

The Development Team is made up of seven people based across Brasilia and Sao Paulo, led by a Team Leader and overseen by the Prosperity Counsellor (both based in Brasilia). Four of our Team are concentrated on Digital Access and associated policy initiatives, with three staff overseeing other strands of development policy and programming. We lead a busy calendar of ministerial and official engagements, policy events, and programme cycles, with plenty of opportunity for personal L&D and chances to represent the UK at conferences related to our development initiatives in Brazil, the UK, and further afield.

Roles and responsibilities: 

While some flexibility will be needed, you can expect to:

• Lead discrete strands of our bilateral development relationship with Brazil. Lead on programmes and policy initiatives that assist Brazil in tackling poverty, assisting marginalised groups, and becoming an international leader in Global Development. These may include (although they are not limited to): trilateral cooperation, global health cooperation, adaptive social protection, land governance and sustainable agriculture, development financing and MDB reform, global and domestic food security, and social welfare policies.
• Build strong relationships with the Brazilian government across a range of ministries and deploy these to maximum effect on development issues and related topics. Use the resulting insights to advise the Embassy on our global development portfolio, and our input into the FFD4, COP30, UNGA and other major international milestones.
• Build and develop new development-focussed support mechanisms for Brazil. This means having existing understanding of Brazil’s development needs, and bringing new, innovative ideas on what the UK can do to support domestic development across a range of different budget scenarios. It will require being aware of political and social changes in Brazil and advising the UK to adapt our work accordingly. Additionally, you should expect to work with various teams based in King Charles Street and the UK more broadly.
• Help to oversee delivery of a high volume of incoming visits related to COP30 (senior officials and government ministers, up to and including the UK Prime Minister), working with colleagues across the Network to ensure these run smoothly and, where appropriate, are accompanied by an impactful bilateral side-programme. Oversee COP-related spend, ensuring this is tracked and logged and value for money is pursued at all times.
• As a member of the Network’s leadership cadre, contribute to the internal leadership and management of the UK Network in Brazil, and take a role in our programme to make the UK in Brazil an excellent place to work. Uphold and role-model our values of Respect, Excellence and Teamwork.

Resources managed: 

Line management of one Development Officer.
Support the management of our Development Team budget, and ensure wider value for money across the team.

• Experience of working on international development issues, or equivalent social development topics (including UN, NGOs, Brazilian government or development research organisations)
• Experience managing development initiatives or programmes, achieving real impact alongside implementors and stakeholders
• Deep knowledge of the Brazilian development context
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a ‘can-do,’ enthusiastic approach and a desire to keep improving and developing
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to manage multiple workstreams at one time
• Political understanding and an ability to handle complex information to make independent and nuanced judgements in a fast-paced policy environment

Language requirements: 

Language:  English and Portuguese 

Level of language required:  Fluency in both (spoken and written).