JOB DESCRIPTION

View Vacancy – AUS (Canberra) – Senior Policy Advisor – Energy, Clean Growth and Climate, HEO

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

Job Category

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)

Job Subcategory

Climate Diplomacy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

The British High Commission is seeking an experienced Senior Policy Advisor to work with us to deliver the UK government’s priorities to address climate change and support UK growth, and work with Australia on more clean and sustainable growth and renewable energy. The foundation of our relationship is the Australia–UK Climate and Energy Partnership, reflecting shared priorities and ambitions in the global transition to net zero emissions; our relationships with government at State and Federal level, industry and advocates are the medium for our joint work.

This role is based in Canberra, and you’ll collaborate with colleagues across our network of Consulates-General in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane, with our missions in the Pacific Islands and of course HQ in London.

• Support the implementation of the UK and Australia Climate and Energy Partnership, working across our Australia network. You will bring an understanding of the UNFCCC and Australia’s climate and energy transition. You will engage in policy discussions with Australian federal government departments (e.g. DCCEEW). You will write briefings for the High Commissioner’s meetings with Australian federal ministers and senior officials. You will be used to working flexibly to respond to changing needs and priorities.
• You will provide advice to UK government departments through your reporting and analysis of developments in the Australian federal government’s climate and clean energy policies to support its renewable energy transition, spotting opportunities and risks for the UK’s engagement. You will do this by cultivating influential networks across key Australian federal government agencies involved in Australia’s energy transition.
• Support the Department of Business and Trade’s priorities to boost UK growth by increasing the UK’s footprint in Australia’s renewable energy sector (including in offshore wind, grids, EVs, batteries and storage, onshore wind and solar, and decommissioning). This will include analysis of federal government policy to underpin these sectors and supporting DBT and Trade Policy teams resolve market access barriers in these sectors. Your analysis will be drawn from a blend of sources, your contacts, technical expertise and research.
• Support the Head of Political and Climate on the UK and Australia’s climate and clean energy collaboration internationally including preparing for COP including delivering Australian support for UK initiatives and priorities. To do this, you will bring your technical expertise to advise London departments on the potential for Australian support for, spotting opportunities and highlighting risks. You will stand in for the Head of Team in meetings with Australian and UK counterparts, reporting outcomes and framing next steps. With Australia undertaking the role of President of negotiations for COP31 being hosted in Turkiye, you will play an important role, working with the Australians to support the delivery of a successful COP, including working with Pacific posts on the pre-COP to be hosted in the Pacific in 2026.
• Prepare briefs, speaking notes, and background materials to support the climate and clean energy related representational work of the Australia Network, including for the British High Commissioner. Proactively seek communications opportunities to support climate and clean growth objectives. Making the most of UK government funding streams, you will develop and run innovative projects in support of UK climate and clean growth objectives – you will have responsibility for drafting project bids to delivering outcomes through small scale funded projects.
• Support visits by UK ministers and senior officials in both directions relating to climate and clean growth. This role will be required to organise and deliver events, including logistics and stakeholder management.
• Provide resilience across the wider Political and Climate Team and the broader UK team in Australia, as required.
• We’d like you to support our wider creative, active and progressive team culture, including supporting Learning and Development, social or team events, which contributes to the wider corporate agenda of the Australia Network. Mentor or coach colleagues and contribute to cross-government knowledge sharing on international climate and energy policy.

You will be part of a small team which also leads the delivery of (i) the Australia Network’s federal political engagement (ii) First Nations engagement, (iii) bilateral issues including migration, health and education; (iv) inward / outward visits; and (iv) supporting the Australia Network’s Soft Power Campaign. All this through working closely with the High Commissioner, other policy teams in Canberra, and the British Consulates across Australia.

The jobholder will need to draw on a broad range of knowledge and contacts to provide perceptive analysis and policy advice on key climate / clean growth developments in Australia and their implications for the UK and to drive the High Commission’s outreach activity in their areas of responsibility.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate policy skills and strategic thinking. The jobholder will have knowledge and work experience in the areas of climate, energy clean growth in Australia. The role offers the opportunity to gain experience in international relations and to understand how a diplomatic mission works.

You will be expected to work on your own initiative and to deal directly with senior stakeholders in the High Commission and London departments. The role has been an excellent springboard for previous incumbents to a variety of roles including government, civil society and diplomacy.

Some possible management of climate diplomacy funds (approx £10-20,000)

We are aiming to conduct the interviews on mid to end of January 2026.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Extensive experience in climate and clean energy policy, with a strong understanding of the Australian policy and political landscape.
• Track record of advising senior executives, stakeholders or government officials and influencing policy outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic networks and partnerships.
• Exceptional analytical, communication skills.
• Experience working in or with Australian federal or State government departments or international policy teams.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Familiarity with UK climate and energy policy frameworks and international climate diplomacy.
• Background in public policy, international relations, environmental economics, or energy systems.

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

16 December 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

38

Region

Asia Pacific

Country/Territory

Australia

Location (City)

Canberra

Type of Post

British High Commission

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

AUD

Salary

AU $131,683 annually + 12% superannuation

Type of Salary

monthly

Start Date

2 February 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Salary is at AU$131,683 per annum (paid out monthly), plus 12% superannuation

Appointment is subject to an AFP records check and UK security clearance.

Open to Australian citizens, and New Zealand, Canada, UK, or US passport holders who hold a valid visa with permission to work and reside in Australia (this also includes dependants of UK based diplomatic officers posted to Australia). Due to the role responsibilities and requirements, the successful applicant must be capable of achieving SC(O) level clearance. Applicants must possess the appropriate passport and visa as part of the pre-employment requirements. Please note that achieving SC(O) clearance may take about 8 weeks.

Comprehensive learning and development opportunities:

The Australia network offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities, including job-specific training as necessary and broader learning linked to the UK Government’s International Academy.

Our team members enjoy a large degree of delegated responsibility and personal involvement with senior staff and visitors. They have the chance to develop a wide range of important and marketable skills and networks for their professional advancement. We have a strong record of preparing people for promotion within the organisation and for helping people develop skills and profile to secure advancement externally.

We are committed to providing all staff with learning and development (L&D) opportunities and we will work with you to develop your own L&D plan.

Working patterns:

The UK Government network in Australia has a modern and flexible approach to its working culture. The importance of networks, relationship building, learning and collaboration mean that this role is not suitable for exclusive remote working. However, remote working is possible up to, on average, 2 days per week.

The overall package includes the standard 14 days of public holidays that the UK in Australia Network works to, as well as 22 days’ annual leave.

The salary on offer is not negotiable.

Additional information

Your application must be submitted before 23:55 AEST-Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC/ GMT +10) on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”

Please ensure that your application is authentically written based on your own experiences. If AI tools are used, their usage must only be limited to specific tasks such as ensuring formatting consistency and keyword relevance. The core content, personal narratives, and responses to behaviour and skill-based questions must genuinely reflect your professional journey, experiences, and achievements. We place great importance on originality and individual effort throughout the application process. Any form of plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.

Applications must include a current CV and kindly omit any personal information such as Name, Contact Details, Birthday and Gender.

All applicants are required to mandatorily fill the online application form completely including the employment and educational details, experience, professional skills and behaviour-based questions. We will be thoroughly reviewing the applications and incomplete form in any respect may not be considered while shortlisting for the next stage.

Only shortlisted candidates for interview will be contacted. Interviewees will be assessed on the core behaviours/qualifications listed above. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified via the system in due time. Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 6 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.

Advertised start date is provisional and subject to completion of reference and security checks.

Kindly check your application centre or email regularly for any update on the status of your application.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.