View Vacancy – Head of Climate Change and Critical Minerals Policy – Santiago

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) promotes the United Kingdom’s interests overseas, supporting UK citizens and businesses around the globe. The British Embassy in Santiago leads on diplomatic relations with Chile. This role is based within the Prosperity Team in Chile, the team that covers Climate Change, Trade Policy, Economic Diplomacy, Health, and Science and Innovation within the Embassy.

We are looking for a specialist in climate change policy, skilled at relationship management, policy development, and project design and implementation. This position will lead on climate change and critical minerals policy at the British Embassy Santiago. The jobholder will lead on diplomatic action to support delivery of climate and critical minerals objectives, including supporting the implementation of commitments made by Chile at COP29 (Climate) and COP16 (Biodiversity).

The successful candidate will lead on developing climate change policy as part of the Prosperity Section at the British Embassy Santiago. Working with the Economic Diplomacy Programme Manager, they will be responsible for overseeing a series of projects under the Prosperity Fund and Climate Diplomacy Fund, this year totalling £60,000. The jobholder will implement the climate action and critical minerals policy agenda of the British Embassy Santiago, liaising with key Chilean stakeholders and helping to support UK-Chile collaboration on long-term climate change and clean growth objectives.

The successful candidate will be fluent in English and Spanish, able to cultivate a wide range of contacts in Chile, and the UK and to design and implement successful projects that promote clean growth in Chile. The role will be based in the British Embassy Santiago and report to the First Secretary Economic and Prosperity.

Roles and responsibilities:

Climate Change Strategy (30%):

• To plan and implement engagement with non-Government actors to support an inclusive, ambitious climate strategy in Chile. This will include building relationships with working level contacts in sub-national authorities (cities, states and provinces), representatives of businesses, NGOs, indigenous communities, youth and civil society activists to assure voices from marginalised groups contribute to more inclusive climate action in the future.
• To lead work on climate change, including the line management of a Climate Change Officer.
• To design and execute the Embassy’s climate change engagement plan, building UK-Chile collaboration on climate change. This will include ensuring delivery of goals that aim to support increased climate ambition in Chile, and action towards a resilient, net zero economy in the areas of: mitigation, finance, adaptation and collaboration on priority objectives related to nature based solutions, green finance, clean growth in the private sector, and energy transition decarbonisation, including offshore wind.
• To provide accurate political and analytical reporting for colleagues in the UK.
• Lead on delivery of Non-Official Development Assistance (Non-ODA) project fund programmes in Chile to support work across priority areas for climate change, including raising climate ambition, nature/biodiversity, finance, energy, non-state actor action (i.e. youth and Race to Zero/Race to Resilience campaigns).

Critical Minerals Strategy (30%):

• Lead embassy’s work on critical minerals, especially lithium, collaborating closely with colleagues in Bolivia and Argentina and in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)  and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). This will include managing the delivery of a programme-funded report for the rest of this financial year, working closely with the Economic Diplomacy Programme Manager.
• Develop interaction between the UK and Chile in critical minerals, providing accurate political and analytical reporting for colleagues in the UK and working with other departments to strengthen links and promote awareness of UK capabilities in Chile.

Stakeholder management (20%):

• Coordinate with UK Government Department colleagues (FCDO, DESNZ, DBT, etc.) on engagement with Chile, advising on local Chilean priorities. Support events in both Chile and the UK, and visits from senior UK stakeholders, including briefing for ministers and senior officials.
• Liaise with officials in the Chile government (in particular the Ministries of Energy, Environment, Finance, Mining, and Science), on policy and operational elements of climate change. This will includ advising and supporting engagement between senior officials (including Heads of Diplomatic Missions) and ministers.
• Promote the UK’s climate, environment and clean energy policy experience, strategies and low carbon capabilities to key Chilean public, private and academic stakeholders. Represent the British Embassy by participating in Chile’s Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Action and the British Chamber’s Sustainability Committee.

Delivery and Implementation (20%):

• Support low carbon themes within the UK-Chile Trade Dialogue:
  • Promote the UK’s climate and environment policy experience and clean growth capabilities to key Chilean public, private and academic stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to generate and identify UK clean growth and circular economy business opportunities in Chile.
• Line manage the Climate change officer (who is graded executive officer; EO), supporting their growth and development. Work closely with the Prosperity Support Officer and the wider team. Contribute to the functioning and development of the wider Embassy (e.g. on an Embassy Committee or through another corporate contribution).

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Climate change officer (EO)
• Funding managed: This financial year, about £60,000 of Non-ODA (Official Development Assistance) climate related programmes with opportunities to bid for further funding.

• Must have the legal status to live and work in Chile.
• Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in a relevant field, or equivalent experience for instance, Climate and Environment Science, Mining, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations, etc.
• A minimum of 5+ years of experience working for an organisation in a relevant field, for example, working for/with national or regional government, international organizations or agencies, preferably in climate change or critical minerals related fields.
• Strong understanding of international climate change policy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience of managing diverse and senior level relationships.

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Spanish
Level of language required: Fluent