Within the Strategy, Sustainability and Impact Group, the Climate Change and Sustainability Division is responsible for a number of key departmental priority workstreams including:

Sustainability: development and leadership of the department's strategic direction relating to sustainable finance, sustainability policy and implementation. To develop and implement an effective approach to sustainability aligned with the department's mission statement and wider strategy, the overall UK Government approach, industry and market trends and good practice, and the expectations of the public and civil society. This includes cross-government, international (OECD, Net Zero Export Credit Agencies Alliance, Export Finance for the Future Group etc.) and financial sector leadership in climate change and other sustainability areas, for example taking forward the Clean Energy Transition Partnership.

Implementation of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations and future sustainability-related change programmes: responsibility for delivery and implementation of TCFD across the department and through different directorates and divisions, in line with emerging best practice, developing and implementing a tailored approach for UKEF as an Export Credit Agency. Future change programmes linked to the sustainability agenda for which the division will be responsible are expected to include implementation of the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and implementation of other applicable taxonomies and frameworks.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainability impact: development and coordination of implementation of the department's alignment with the SDGs, engaging both across the department and elsewhere across government and with external stakeholders in this objective. Additionally, leadership in shaping sustainability impact in the export finance space across government and internationally.

Leadership: All activity will involve close partnership with other parts of UKEF's Strategy, Sustainability and Impact Group (particularly Strategy Division, Product and Policy Division, Environmental and Social and International Relations), as well as its underwriting, risk, legal and DDAT functions, other government departments, ECA peers and private sector partners. Working with other senior leaders across the department to consider UKEF's risk appetite relating to climate and sustainability., The Co-Head of Climate Change and Sustainability will lead the team jointly, alongside the current Co-Head and Deputy Director. Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Team leadership, line management and development of staff, including maintaining the division's collaborative and inclusive culture.

Advise the department's senior leadership, Ministers, EGAC and Board on key climate change and sustainability issues.

Develop and implement UKEF's approach to climate change and sustainability, including implementation of the department's upcoming Sustainability Strategy and Business Plan objectives, alongside continued implementation of the department's Climate Change Strategy, net zero commitment and portfolio emissions targets;

Provide ongoing leadership, accountability and technical oversight of UKEF's Taskforce on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) reporting.

Working with the International Relations Division and E&S Division, support UKEF's international leadership position among ECAs on sustainability issues and delivery of international engagement.

Oversee work on UKEF's approach to the Sustainable Development Goals and understanding its international development impact.

Convene and engage other parts of UKEF in the sustainability agenda, ensuring good governance to support policy development decision-making.

Engage across government and externally to understand and influence emerging developments in policy and practice on climate change and sustainability.

Oversee horizon-scanning on emerging sustainability issues and develop UKEF's strategic response.

Oversee delivery of the division's input on transactions, working closely and maintaining a collaborative delivery model with the Environmental and Social Division.

Interview with members of the Senior Management Team

Technical/Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be assessed against your technical ability to successfully carry out the role.

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

Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience (A)

Extensive awareness of sustainability issues, both current and emerging (A, P, I)

Technical knowledge of climate change and sustainability matters, including comfort with data and reporting requirements (A, P, I), Strategic thinker with ability to influence and deliver at pace in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment (A, P, I)

Ability to work confidently with uncertainty and the ambiguous and lead others in doing the same (A, I)

Outstanding relationship-building and influencing skills, with a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and build consensus (A, I)

Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills, preferably with international experience (A, P, I)

Ability to work collaboratively with others across a complex internal and external stakeholder landscape (A, I)

Demonstrated technical experience in climate change and sustainability, preferably within a financial services context (A, I)

Experience leading and motivating teams; coaching and supporting individuals' professional development (A, I), Undertaken formal training & qualifications in climate change and sustainability matters (A), Experience of developing sustainability-related strategy and policy (A), Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience (A), Making Effective Decisions

Delivering at Pace

Leadership

Working Together

Seeing the Big Picture

Technical - a short presentation assessing technical ability to carry out the role (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance)

Technical Questions relating to the role, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Experience

Ability

Technical

Demonstrated technical experience in climate change and sustainability, preferably within a financial services context (A, I)

Experience leading and motivating teams; coaching and supporting individuals' professional development (A, I)

Behaviours/Technical/Experience - a formal panel interview where you will be interviewed across all five behaviours below and your technical ability to successfully carry out the role.

Technical - a short presentation (this will be on a topic determined by UKEF and will need to be prepared in advance).

Technical - technical questions relating to the role

Alongside your salary of £73,150, UK Export Finance contributes £19,750 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role

An environment with flexible working options

A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%