UK PACT Officer, HEO at British High Commission (BHC) Nigeria

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, 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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: UK PACT Officer, HEO

Location: Abuja
Type of Position: Fixed Term
Working hours per week: 35
Start Date: 1st May 2025
Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Type of Post: British High Commission

Main Purpose of Job

• Nigeria is both highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and at risk of significantly increased emissions as its economy and population grow.
• The United Kingdom launched Nigeria-UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) in 2021. This is part of the global UK PACT programme – active in over 10 countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. UK PACT supports partner countries with Technical Assistance across multiple sectors to improve the capacity and capability of key institutions to reduce emissions, mitigate climate change and foster inclusive economic growth in line with their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), increasing climate ambition and creating sustainable livelihoods in the process.
• UK PACT has a Nigeria Country Fund through which we deliver grant funding, and expert deployments. The fund launched in September 2021 and has delivered 15 projects (including extensions), totalling approximately £7.4m across: Clean energy transition (CET), Nature based solutions (NBS), Green finance, and Climate policy & Governance. The portfolio currently consists of two grant projects (in Nature and Energy) and a direct-to-government ‘expert deployment’ in climate policy, with a growing pipeline. Our current Clean Energy Transition (CET) project is supporting innovation in the renewable embedded generation sector and contributing to increased energy access. Our live Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) project addresses mangrove rehabilitation and creates sustainable livelihoods. This is an exciting time to join the PACT programme in Nigeria as the successful candidate will help shape a new portfolio to be delivered over the next two years.
• The successful candidate will work flexibly across the UK PACT Nigeria programme on climate mitigation-focused projects, expert deployments, including cross-cutting programme management responsibilities such as financial and evaluation monitoring and reporting, alongside coordinating across the UK’s ODA portfolio and the wider donor landscape.
• The successful candidate will be an integral part of the Nigeria-UK PACT team, sitting within the Sustainable Economic Transformation team at the British High Commission in Abuja.  The role reports to the Climate Team, supporting UK climate objectives in Nigeria by setting up and overseeing the UK PACT projects and expert deployments that can help deliver these, while working closely with the UK PACT Delivery Partner and Implementing Partners to do so, alongside International Climate Finance teams across the UK Government from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK.  UK PACT has a number of reporting structures between BHC, FCDO London and UK PACT Delivery Partners, so experience in matrix management structures and the ability to report to different audiences is welcomed.
• It is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of this evolving area of UK – Nigeria collaboration. The post holder will contribute to the development of a vision for how to grow the UK-Nigeria climate relationship, building on the existing UK PACT portfolio and identifying new areas for support. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be the second UK PACT team member in Nigeria, being activity managed by the UK PACT programme manager (SEO) providing climate expertise across the portfolio, and programme management support.  The role will support the existing UK PACT Senior Officer. The successful candidate will provide technical advice to all three sectors as well as coordinating expert advice from the wider BHC team, nature, climate policy and governance, and energy, whilst proactively identifying opportunities to grow the portfolio.  
• This position will help deliver the UK PACT Strategy’s goals, based on in-depth knowledge of climate issues in Nigeria, while ensuring that all UK PACT activities fit with BHC’s Country Business Plan. The postholder 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:
Support oversight of the UK PACT Nigeria portfolio:

• Assist the UK PACT programme manager in overseeing ongoing UK PACT projects, working closely with delivery partners to ensure timely delivery and mitigate any risks
• Develop 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
• Provide technical expertise across the UK PACT Nigeria portfolio to ensure programme aligns with BHC’s Country Business Plan and UK climate objectives; coordinate inputs from technical experts across the High Commission to inform PACT projects and outputs. 
• Support on briefings, presentations, and other reporting to the FCDO team in London to inform the development of 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. Support coordination between UK climate programmes and initiatives of other donors. 

Strategy and future portfolio and pipeline:

• Proactively seek opportunities to enhance the portfolio of climate mitigation-focused projects in the energy, nature and climate policy and governance sectors, alongside expert deployments.
•  Provide evidence-based recommendations on project opportunities.

General:

• The job holder will be expected to manage their own administrative tasks and support the wider team on administrative tasks as and when required. This includes knowledge management (SharePoint) and management of stakeholder lists.
• It will also be required to play an active part in the corporate life of the High Commission to maximise the overall well-being of staff.

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.
• Minimum 3 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.

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.

Salary
USD 2,991.62 / Month

Application Closing Date
25th March, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Abuja are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
    Obtain the relevant permit
    Pay the fees for the permit
    Make arrangements to relocate
    Meet the costs to relocation
• Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
• Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
• Please note: Job grade AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates
• Please log into your profile on the application system on a regular basis to review the status of your application
• Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.