Policy Officer, British Embassy Lisbon (PRT24.370)

An Overview

British Embassy Lisbon is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas and is now looking for a Policy Officer to deliver for the UK in Portugal and Cabo Verde.

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, creative, and highly motivated person to play a key role in implementing the Embassy’s policy objectives on climate, energy, development and education. Reporting to the First Secretary Bilateral and Communications, the successful candidate will be expected to identify and pursue opportunities to further UK interests in Portugal and Cabo Verde through: building and using networks; monitoring and understanding developments in these policy areas in both the UK and Portugal/Cabo Verde; and implementing initiatives (e.g. collaboration projects, visits by experts and/or Ministers) which deliver tangible results.

The new UK Government has put Clean Energy, Climate, Growth and Equal Opportunities at the heart of its foreign policy. You will play an important role in delivering for the UK on these agendas, working closely with colleagues in the wider Political and Economic section and the Department for Business and Trade.

The jobholder manages a Policy and Communications Assistant (who also supports other members of the wider team) and can bid for and manage programme funding to support delivery of specific UK policy outcomes.

The Role Entails

Leading on a bread set of policy areas. The job holder in agreement with their line manager, will regularly adapt their investment of personal time and funding to reflect changing UK priorities and the best opportunities for delivery in the following areas:

• Clean energy: Lead on delivering HMG’s clean energy agenda in Portugal and Cabo Verde including providing reporting and analysis for UK customers on Portuguese policies; communicating UK policies to Portuguese audiences; and identifying/delivering opportunities to further UK interests, working closely with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade.
• Climate: Lead on delivering HMG’s climate agenda in Portugal and Cabo Verde including providing reporting and analysis for UK customers on Portuguese policies; communicating UK policies to Portuguese audiences; and identifying/delivering opportunities to further UK interests.
• Development: Delivery of UK policy objectives on development, including through implementation of the 2023 Development Memorandum of Understanding, working closely with Second Secretary Foreign Policy.
• Education: Promote UK-Portugal Higher Education partnerships and expand the UK’s Transnational Education offer in Portugal (jointly with British Council); lead on delivering UK’s Chevening scholarship programme in Cabo Verde, and revitalise the Embassy’s engagement with Portuguese alumni of UK academic institutions.
• Lead on other emerging climate, energy, development and education priorities.
• Line management of Policy and Communications Assistant
• Contribute to a positive working culture in the UK’s Portugal Network, including through membership of a corporate committee.

Resources Managed (staff And Expenditure)

1 x Policy and Communications Assistant

Programme Funding (likely €5-10k per year, but depending on utility and value for money)