Main purpose of job:

The UK Government’s Mission to the United Nations (UKMIS) in New York has an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven person to join the Sustainable Development and Economic (SDE) Team in the Humanitarian, Development and Peacebuilding (HPD) Section, as a Policy Officer on Climate and Environment. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and advances UK’s priorities on international climate and environment issues in the United Nations (UN) through implementation of the UK Government priorities, lobbying and contributing to complex UN negotiations in order to make a real difference globally.

This is a chance to contribute directly to expanding the UK’s influence within the UN. The jobholder will undertake work on climate and environment, primarily in the UN General Assembly (especially Second Committee), and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as other fora. They will be expected to build and maintain a network of contacts; represent the UK in negotiations, provide policy advice and written/oral briefing to UK Ministers, the UK Permanent Representative and other senior representatives, along with other tasks as required. The jobholder will work in a team with the policy lead for climate and environment and alongside colleagues working on broader sustainable development and economic issues.

This is a critical time to be working on these issues at the UN as its Member States focus on how to put the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and agreements under the Rio Conventions (particularly the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)) into action. You will be working for a government who cares about this issue as a top priority, whose views are influential, and whose thought leadership and convening power are respected. The role of UKMIS is critical in supporting delivery of a wide range of UK government department views and objectives at the UN.

UKMIS offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility, which enables people to better maintain wellness through a work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including some remote working and flexible hours, where possible. In this role, you would be working in a diverse international environment working with UK diplomats and other country-based staff, armed forces personnel, UK government officials based in the UK and across the UK overseas network, foreign diplomats and UN officials.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate their abilities in working with others, delivering results at pace, communicating and influencing, strategic awareness, and problem solving and judgement. There will be scope for the portfolio to grow as the jobholder gains experience in the role. You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities, including outside your portfolio, as needed.

Roles and responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, those outlined below. The successful candidate should be prepared to work flexibly across a range of tasks, including:

• Work with the Climate & Environment Policy Lead and others in the SDE Team to drive UK strategy and engagement on climate and environment issues at the UN, aligned with the Integrated Review 2023 and Sustainable Development Goals (incl. climate, energy, nature, biodiversity, water, oceans, wildlife, forests, agriculture, food security, sustainable consumption and production, plastic pollution, zero waste, disaster risk reduction)
• Act as focal point across climate and environment policy at UKMis, coordinating short-and long-term climate and environment engagement priorities, and scoping and planning opportunities in the UN / international calendar to help deliver UK objectives through meetings, events, and receptions
• Take a day to day lead role on a number specific topics within the climate and environment policy, including nature and biodiversity
• Work with a network of colleagues across UK government departments and posts (including DEFRA, DSIT, DESNZ, Geneva, Nairobi), UN bodies (including UNEP, UNFCCC, FAO, UNEA), and other Member States to understand and report on stakeholder priorities, develop UK positions, and help advance collective action on international climate and environment issues
• Represent the UK at UN meetings on climate and environment issues and lead negotiations on resolutions in the General Assembly Second Committee and others (including International Wildlife Trade, International Negotiating Committee and a new UN treaty on plastic pollution by 2024)
• Develop expertise on UN and member state perspectives, processes, systems and procedures to advise colleagues across the UK Mission, FCDO and other government departments
• Support UK Ministerial and Senior Civil Servant engagement and visit programmes, briefing and reports, including for key upcoming UN events (including SDG Summit 2023, COP28, UN Environmental Assembly 2024, SIDS Summit 2024, CBD COP16, UN Oceans Conference 2025)
• Engage in wider cross-mission visits, events, engagements and corporate activities