UK PACT Nigeria Officer – Nature Lead SEO at British High Commission November, 2023

Roles and responsibilities:

• The post holder will be the second UK PACT Officer in Nigeria, focused on the nature sector to reflect ambitions to expand the portfolio.
• The role will complement the existing UK PACT Officer who has an energy sector focus.
• The successful candidate will manage the existing portfolio of nature projects, whilst proactively identifying opportunities to grow the portfolio.
• This position will help deliver the UK PACT Strategy’s goals for NBS, refresh objectives and interventions based on in-depth knowledge of the sector in Nigeria, while ensuring that all UK PACT activities fit with BHC’s Country Business Plan.
• The post holder will share responsibility for overall programme management reporting and administration, working closely with the UK PACT team in the UK.  

Specific responsibilities are set out below:

Oversee the Nigeria Nature portfolio

• Proactively manage ongoing UK PACT nature-based solutions projects, overseeing delivery partners for timely delivery and mitigating any risks;
• Draw on the existing portfolio to continuously co-develop the UK PACT strategy with FCDO, BHC leads and relevant counterparts and identify key areas of demand where future UK PACT support on nature can drive climate ambition and support emissions reductions;
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of the nature and climate landscape in Nigeria;
• Proactively develop, manage, and strengthen the High Commission’s network of relevant stakeholders working on nature and climate;
• Lead on briefings, presentations, and other reporting to the FCDO team in London to inform the development of nature-related UK PACT opportunities.

UK PACT Programme Management and Delivery

• Work collaboratively on cross-cutting UK PACT tasks, including project monitoring, expenditure, reporting, risk management, document preparation and stakeholder engagement. This will involve working closely with the UK PACT Delivery Partner and London team;
• Collaborate across BHC to support a mainstreamed approach to climate change. Ensure coordination between UK climate programmes and initiatives supported by other donors.

Strategy and future portfolio and pipeline  

• Proactively build a portfolio of nature-based solution projects and wider climate mitigation-focused projects, skill shares and secondments;
• Refresh UK PACT strategy’s goals for nature-based solutions;
• Provide evidence-based recommendations on project opportunities.
• Resources managed (staff and expenditure):
• No direct reports. Projects totalling £1-3m in total.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience 

• We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to take a flexible approach to working whilst under pressure, and excellent interpersonal skills to build strong relations within the British High Commission and a wide range of stakeholders in Nigeria, with the following:
• University degree in Environmental Science, Climate, Public Policy, or related course (preferably with Nature, Forests and/or Land Use focus, which may be substituted for sufficient, relevant work experience).
• Minimum 5 years of work experience with extensive Project/Programme management experience, preferably with international stakeholders.
• Demonstrable interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to deliver high profile outcomes at pace, with competing deadlines, working in an agile way to changing demands.
• Be a flexible and creative problem-solver, able to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems and coordinate coherent and compelling programmes and projects.
• Strong reporting writing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience 

• Experience running grant-based technical assistance/capacity building projects in Nigeria.
• Knowledge of Nigeria’s climate mitigation context and commitments, along with forestry, nature and land-use policies, its international commitments, and institutional frameworks.
• Network of contacts in political arena, government, private sector, and civil societies.