View Vacancy – Policy Advisor- Energy, Climate and Global Issues , Berlin (DEU25.100)

An overview:

The British Government in Germany is based at the British Embassy in Berlin and our Consulates in Dusseldorf and Munich. Currently, we are recruiting a Policy Officer- Energy, Climate, and Global Issues for the British Embassy, Berlin.

This demanding position offers the right candidate an exciting opportunity to help tackle some of the most serious global issues facing both the United Kingdom and Germany. In this role, you will support British Embassy activity on climate and energy policy, specifically through work on energy security, transport and global issues (primarily health and agriculture). 

The goal of this work is to help deliver the UK Government’s missions to raise living standards in every part of the United Kingdom through high, sustained economic growth and to put the country on track to at least 95% clean energy by 2030, while accelerating the transition to net zero. This will also support the government’s commitment to closer, more cooperative relationship with the EU, helping grow the economy and boost living standards.  

You will help to coordinate cooperation between the UK and German governments and help to implement partnerships projects, as well as analysing and reporting on developments in the Germany and representing UK policy in Berlin. This will require you to build and maintain a network of contacts in the German policy communities, attend relevant events and provide reports to colleagues in Berlin and London. 

You will help to deliver the goals of the UK-Germany Energy and Climate Partnership, be proactive in identifying new areas of cooperation, as well as risks to existing projects. This means working collaboratively with teams within the embassy (including in the Department for Business and Trade), and with relevant ministries in the UK and in Germany. You will need to understand the German news and policy developments that will be interest to colleagues in London and the wider Embassy team, as well as to responding to specific reporting requests. You will also be required to be agile and take on other tasks and roles as required, responding to the changing demands and pressures of an high-profile, prestigious and busy embassy.

Key deliverables:

• You will support the Germany Network in delivering its growth, energy and climate objectives, specifically through engaging with the German Government on:
   –Energy Security – including the role of critical minerals and international supply chains in the global renewables transition and in the North Sea.
   –Transport – including the adoption of zero-emissions vehicles, the decarbonisation of maritime and aviation sectors, and connectivity between the UK and Germany.
  –Global Issues – including health issues such as pandemic preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance and domestic health cooperation, as well as cooperation on agriculture and veterinary trade.
• You will also take forward special projects that support the goals of the Global & Economic Issues section, as appropriate.

To deliver on these goals, you will:

• Support Whitehall colleagues in their engagement with Germany, advising on German priorities and local perspectives, including through briefing for ministers and senior officials.
• Maintain a strong understanding of German policy debates including through the cultivation of strong political, business, academic and civil society stakeholders.
• Monitor and report on Germany’s engagement with regional partners and their influence in the EU and wider European region on relevant issues.
• Plan and implement Embassy-run events.
• Support engagement with Germany’s regional authorities and non-Government actors.
• Support Ministerial and official visits from the UK. This could include organising visit agendas, logistical tasks, coordinating with media colleagues.
• Support the Network´s wider objectives and activities, working with trade and investment colleagues and other teams.
• Contribute to wider Embassy work through corporate activity, including crisis work.

The role will need to respond flexibly according to pressures and demands on the team and the embassy, and the post holder will be expected to be agile and shift responsibilities where needed.

Our ideal candidate has:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, for instance, Public Policy, Public Administration, International Relations, Climate and Environment Science, etc.
• A minimum of 2+ 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/energy.
• Proficiency in German and English language skills (written and spoken, minimum required C1 under the CEFRL or equivalent);
• Excellent IT skills, especially standard MS Office applications (Word, Excel and Outlook).
• The ability to work independently but also with colleagues and contacts in the immediate and wider teams as appropriate.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A good understanding of German politics and policy relating to the role.
• A fundamental understanding of UK politics and policy relating to the role.