About the job

Job summary

This position is based in London

Job description

Organisation Details

The Climate Change Committee is the independent expert statutory adviser to Parliament and the UK Government on climate change policy. It was created as a key part of the long-term legal framework set out in the Climate Change Act (2008). The Act sets a long-term target for 2050 (Net Zero, a 100% reduction in net emissions from 1990) and requires that carbon budgets (five-year caps on emissions) are set on a path towards the long-term target. The Act also requires that the UK assesses and responds to the risks that it faces as the climate changes. 

The CCC has established itself as a high-profile, high-impact expert body in the analysis of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its reports can be accessed from the CCC’s website: www.theccc.org.uk

The CCC is comprised of two Boards (‘the Committee’ and ‘the Adaptation Committee’) and an analytical secretariat. The Committees have a distinguished membership of leading experts from the fields of climate change, science, engineering and economics: www.theccc.org.uk/about-the-ccc/the-committee. The Committees are supported by a Secretariat of around 45 analysts, including economists, operational researchers and scientists. 

The CCC brings together different strands of expertise from its members, from government, the research community and business. It draws on existing information and undertakes its own analysis to provide expert advice to Ministers and to Parliament. It is required to give advice to Ministers on climate change matters covered by the Climate Change Act and on an ad-hoc basis as and when requested. Alongside its UK role, the CCC fulfils a similar set of duties to the devolved governments and legislatures of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The CCC undertakes a wide programme of international engagement to share the role, learning and approaches taken, and to in turn learn from the work of other countries and organisations. This includes participation in the International Climate Councils Network, a collaborative network of CCC-type national level climate advisory bodies, and providing Public Sector Skill Shares as part of the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme to support low- and middle-income countries.

Role Description

Summary

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) is seeking a high-performing candidate to carry out work on international climate action and greenhouse gas removals (GGR) for the UK Seventh Carbon Budget advice and other statutory reports.

As a key member of the international team, the role-holder will play a leading role in international and GGR analysis for the UK Seventh Carbon Budget advice (covering the period 2038-2042 and due for publication Q1 2025), and alongside contribute to CCC engagement with international partners. This will involve working with teams across the CCC on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

About the role

This role sits within the CCC’s five-person international team which is responsible for assessing the international context (science, policy and progress) within which CCC advice is given to the UK, and covers the sectors of GGR, aviation and shipping. Alongside the international team

delivers an extensive programme of international engagement with governments, climate councils and research organisations across the world.

Key duties of the role are as follows:

• Undertaking international analysis to inform the advice of the CCC. Analysis and drafting to set out the international context (science, policy and progress) for the UK Seventh Carbon Budget advice, international sections of other CCC reports and the annual CCC report on the UNFCCC COP climate summits.
• Leading CCC analysis on GGR. Assessing the potential contribution of GGR technologies to offset emissions from hard-to-abate sectors to achieve economy-wide Net Zero GHG emissions by 2050 for the UK Seventh Carbon Budget Advice, and analysis and drafting of GGR sections of other CCC reports such as annual UK Progress Reports and advice for the UK’s devolved Governments.
• Contributing to CCC international engagement with key partners and countries. The post-holder will undertake engagements translating the CCC’s expertise and experience – in writing, presentations and workshops – into helpful, targeted exchanges with a diverse range of countries and organisations to help them advance their climate actions. There will also be work to support collaborations with and through the International Climate Council Network. These activities may include occasional international travel.
• Undertaking UK stakeholder engagement on international analysis and GGR. Building and maintaining strong working relationships with Government officials and other UK experts to ensure CCC analysis utilises the best available evidence and the findings are clearly communicated to relevant audiences.

The post provides an excellent opportunity to lead high-profile and impactful work in both UK and international settings. The postholder will work primarily to the G6 International Team Leader, but with considerable interaction with other CCC Team Leaders, the CCC’s Head of Net Zero, Head of Adaptation and Director of Analysis, as well as the Chief Executive and Committee members. They will also work closely with officials in DESNZ and the FCDO.

The post-holder will work in the CCC secretariat which is made up of sector analysts including scientists, economists and engineers. The secretariat undertakes direction in its work from the distinguished members of the Committee and Adaptation Committee who meet with the secretariat on a regular basis. Through this they will gain a deep understanding of the range of skills and solutions required to tackle climate change and develop analytical, presentational, influencing and project management skills.

The role is offered on a fixed term basis for 12 months, ideally starting around 1st April 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter, with the possibility for extension. Secondments can be considered.

Requirements

The role would suit an excellent analyst who is a skilled communicator, can work with a high degree of autonomy and initiative to produce high standard quantitative assessments and has knowledge and experience in climate science, emissions reduction pathways and policies, and working with international stakeholders.

The following are required:

• Strong numeracy, spreadsheet, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present and write clear reports on complex subject areas ensuring these are appropriate for the given audience.
• Two or more years of applicable experience, and a degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., science, engineering, economics, international relations).

The following is also desirable:

• A background or understanding of international climate policy.
• Experience working with international stakeholders in climate or a related area.
• Knowledge of decarbonisation technologies including their resource requirements and interactions with the energy system and consumers.
• Previous work on or related to greenhouse gas removal technologies

Things you need to know:

The CCC office is based in Canary Wharf, London, with staff expected to attend the office for 40% of their contracted hours. The pay band for this role is £56,935 - £63,345 and the expectation is that the successful candidate will join on the minimum of the CCC G7 pay band.

We support a wide variety of working patterns such as compressed hours, hybrid working, part time hours, job sharing and flexi time. National pay bands may be used where staff apply to work from home for more than 60% of their working hours and live outside London. Regular attendance at our London office, for example for meetings and training, will still be required. The national pay band for this grade is £52,620 - £59,492.

Subject to experience, an offer at the lower grade of SEO may be made. Pay bands are £43,150 to £47,405 and £39,578 to £43,391 for London office based and national pay respectively.

Security: Successful candidates must pass basic security checks.

Nationality requirements: Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non-EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Feedback: Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme: The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Assessment criteria

Candidates will be assessed using four elements of the Civil Service Success Profile framework: behaviours, technical skills, strengths and experience.

Further information will be provided about assessment at interview for candidates invited to interview.

Behaviour 1: Delivering at Pace

Effectiveness in this area means focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.

• Ensure everyone clearly understands and owns their roles, responsibilities and business priorities.
• Ensure delivery of timely quality outcomes, through providing the right resources to do the job, reviewing and adjusting performance expectations and rewarding success.
• Maintain own levels of performance in challenging circumstances and encourage others to do the same.
• Give honest, motivating and enthusiastic messages about priorities, objectives and expectations.

Behaviour 2: Seeing the big picture

• Develop and maintain an understanding of developments to ensure activity is relevant.
• Ensure plans and activities reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate with senior leaders to influence future strategies.
• Bring together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders.

 

Behaviour 3: Making Effective Decisions

Effectiveness in this area is about using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate expert and professional decisions and advice.

• Clarify your own understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions.
• Analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources to support decisions.
• Present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence.
• Encourage both innovative suggestions and challenge from others, to inform decision making.

Behaviour 4: Communicating and Influencing

• Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust.
• Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand, using different methods for communication.
• Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity.
• Remain open minded and impartial in discussions

Technical skills

Specialist analytical skills: Apply appropriate quantitative analytical tools and techniques, and synthesise evidence from a range of sources, as appropriate. Assess the reliability and relevance of evidence and give objective evidence-based advice. Quality-assure models, challenge input data and assumptions and interpret output data for the purposes of providing supporting evidence.  

Strengths

• Analytical: You seek and analyse information to inform decisions based on the best available evidence.
• Networker: You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation. You identify connections and reach out to bring people together.
• Strategic: You look at the big picture and consider the wider factors and long-term implications of decisions.

Apply and further information

To apply for this post please complete the online application form on Civil Service jobs, ensuring to provide evidence against the key sections:

• Provide evidence on how you meet the skills/competencies underneath the individual competencies.
• Remember the STAR technique, situation, task, action and result when you are preparing your response. It will help your application to signpost the general/specialist competencies you are addressing.

The CCC has affiliation with the Government’s analytical progressions: GES, GORS, GSS, or GSR, and it is possible for analysts to maintain these memberships at the CCC. If you are a member of one of these professions, please ensure that you indicate this in your application.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,935, Climate Change Committee contributes £15,884 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.