Head Of Forests And Land Use

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. Job Category Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles) Job Subcategory Climate Diplomacy Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job :


The British Embassy is seeking to recruit a new Head of Forests and Land Use to lead a dedicated and enthusiastic team managing the UK's Forests and Land Use programmes in Colombia.

This is a high-profile, senior role within the Embassy.

Under the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth, the successful candidate will be expected to advance the UK's International Climate Finance (ICF) Forests and Land Use programmes to stop the loss of vital tropical forests in Colombia.

This will involve working with the Head of the Economic, Climate and Science team to oversee successful delivery of UK's investments in the forest agenda, working with the International Forest Unit;

the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and collaborating closely with other teams in the Embassy to ensure the coherence of the forest and land use investments in Colombia.

This includes overseeing our flagship Territorios Forestales Sostenibles (TEFOS)
programme as well as coordinating the current UK Forest and Land Use Portfolio, including :

- REM-Amazon Vision : seeks to reach zero net deforestation in the Amazon. This goal is reached through five pillars : environmental governance, the sustainability of the sectors of development, agri-environmental activities, indigenous governance and enabling conditions.
- Biocarbono Orinoquia (ISFL) : promotes the reduction of greenhouse gases caused by the agricultural and forestry sector in developing countries, and the growth of best land use and sustainable agricultural policies and practices.
- Just Rural Transition (JRT) : provides strategic technical assistance to reduce GHG emissions while supporting activities that value standing forests (i.

e. ecotourism, bioeconomy)
and promotes climate smart practices through projects on cattle ranching and agroforestry.

Other F initiatives supported by UK in Colombia : UK works actively with Colombian stakeholders on initiatives involving NGOs, IPLCs, private sector, and subnational governments.

These are aimed to promote better agricultural practices (i.e. Tropical Forest Alliance, FOLU, NISCOPS), high environmental integrity in carbon markets (i.

e. VCMIi, LEAF, AIM4Forests) and international pledges on forest conservation (i.e. Glasgow Leader's Declaration on Forests and Land Use).

Finally, as a senior member of the Embassy, they will work closely with other key donors in Colombia particularly Germany, Norway and the US to ensure complementarity between programmes and to coordinate political engagement with the Colombian government.

Roles and responsibilities :


The jobholder will oversee the implementation of the UK's active forest programmes (TEFOS, BioCF, Amazon Vision, UKPACT / JRT, NISCOPS, AIM4Forests) in Colombia.

They will provide strategic advice to the Head of the Economic, Climate, Science (ECS) team, as well as engaging with the implementing partners to ensure they are delivering the agreed strategic objectives and in turn value for money for the UK.

A significant portion of the role will involve leading the Embassy's interaction with the UK's International Forests Unit.

They will guarantee senior level buy-in from the unit in London to the Embassy's work, reflect UK priorities in the Embassy's forest programmes and develop the ICF forest and land use portfolio in Colombia.


The latter will involve helping shape the UK's £300m Amazon Pledge announced at COP26 and incorporating a Colombia element into the successor programme to Partnerships for Forests.

As a senior member of the Economic, Science and Climate (ECS) team in the Embassy the jobholder will also contribute to the team's external engagement with the Colombian government, private sector and civil society.

In addition they will have an important role to play in building and cementing the Embassy's relationship with key stakeholders across the Government, particularly in the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture.

Last but not least, they will be responsible along with the Head of ECS for external engagement with other donors in Colombia, coordinating and reflecting UK priorities in political lobbying and ensuring complementarity of UK programmes with those of other donors.

Finally,
the jobholder will be responsible for providing leadership for and strategic direction to the Embassy's high-performing Forest and Land Use team.

They will be expected to exhibit the highest standards of leadership encouraging and developing the talent within their team.

As well as contributing actively to Embassy Governance and corporate structures, ensuring the Embassy delivers the highest standards of financial, programme and people management.

Resources managed : 5 members of staff

5 members of staff

Supervision of team travel and entertainment budget

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

- Bachelor's or Master's Degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent professional experience;
- At least 4 years of experience working, lobbying and influencing governments, private sector and non-governmental organisations on climate and forest issues.
- Strong track record of relevant programme delivery;

- Strong knowledge of Colombian climate, forests and development policies and related institutional frameworks;
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and relationship skills;
- Ability to develop and work through a strong network of national and international stakeholders;
- Sound judgement in taking decisions without direct supervision, and working effectively in a team environment;
- Proven ability to write fluently and persuasively in English about technical and policy issues for a senior UK audience.
- The right to work in Colombia.

Language requirements :

Language : English and Spanish.

Level of language required : High level of fluency in both.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

- Experience working with the UK on climate and forest issues;

- Experience of working with international and national media, along with a good understanding of UK Government.
- Previous Line management experience
- Previous budget management experience

Required behaviours Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture Application deadline 6 October 2024 Grade Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Type of Position Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal Working hours per week 35 Region Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean Country / Territory Colombia Location (City) Bogota Type of Post British Embassy Number of vacancies 1 Salary Currency COP Salary COP 15,064,086 Type of Salary monthly Start Date 18 November 2024 Other benefits and conditions of employment

There will be opportunities to travel both within Colombia to monitor the implementation of UK funded projects and to the UK to meet with key stakeholders.

The successful candidate will be able to access learning and development opportunities with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's International Academy.

Subject to funding, there may also be opportunities to take external courses related to the role.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate

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

Candidates must have the legal status to live and work in Colombia