Principal Environmental & Social Adviser (Extended Deadline)

We are also recruiting for a Senior Environmental & Social Adviser. Details of this role can also be found on Civil Service Jobs website.

The Environmental and Social Risk Management team (E&S team) is responsible for the implementation of UKEF’s environmental, social and human rights (ESHR) policy as well as providing advice to UKEF management on related ESHR matters. The E&S team represents UK Export Finance and, where appropriate, the UK Government on ESHR issues relating to UKEF’s operations.

The E&S team currently consists of a team of 13 staff. 

The Principal Environmental and Social (E&S) Adviser will take a lead, alongside other E&S managers of the team (the Head of the E&S team, Deputy Heads , and other G7 E&S advisers) in managing and undertaking ESHR due diligence and monitoring of cases. These primarily fall within the scope of the OECD Common Approaches and Equator Principles and UKEF’s evolving ESHR Policy but also includes wider ESHR review of other UKEF products including short term business and corporate financing. In addition, the Principal E&S Adviser provides technical ESHR advice to the Business Group, provides training and mentoring on ESHR issues within UKEF, and supports and contributes to the E&S team reporting. The Principal E&S Adviser supports the Head and deputy Heads of the E&S team in providing ESHR advice on relevant policy and international relations matters. The Principal E&S Adviser will pro-actively deliver ESHR due diligence case work and post-issue monitoring, directly and through others.

The role Also includes supporting UKEF on ESHR international relations at the OCED Export Credit Group, the Equator Principles financial institutions and other related international fora.

The Principal E&S Adviser must have the interpersonal skills to work as an effective part of a team and to represent the E&S Team in interactions with departmental colleagues, counterparties and other stakeholders.  They also need to be able to prioritise work effectively and work to challenging deadlines.

The Principal E&S Adviser will have responsibility for leading more complex ESHR casework ensuring that it is carried out to the required standard. In addition, the Principal E&S Adviser will provide senior support to the E&S work of other E&S advisers (SEO or HEO). It is anticipated they will provide informal coaching and mentoring to SEOs and other junior team members.

ESHR Advisory Work:

• Leading and undertaking and ESHR monitoring and reporting, including participating in ESHR site monitoring visits, of complex or highly sensitive cases but also, as required, less complex and sensitive cases, including recommending and negotiating subsequent actions to maintain the supported project’s alignment with international ESHR standards.
  
• Leading and undertaking ESHR due diligence case work and monitoring including:
  • gathering and appraising case ESHR risk assessment and management information;
    benchmarking against relevant ESHR international standards;
  • discussing management of ESHR risks, UKEF’s due diligence and monitoring requirements with applicants, UK exporters, project sponsors, etc.;
  • managing external ESHR consultants in the provision of specific or general advice on cases;
  • engaging with other financial institutions, including commercial banks and other ECAs, and other Government Departments on ESHR matters where necessary;

ESHR Policy Work:

• Being proactive, showing initiative and taking the lead, with the Head of the E&S team and other E&S managers, in the review of ESHR policy matters, including identifying and understanding wider government policy or industry trends and how these may affect UKEF’s ESHR policy and practices;
• Contributing policy papers for Senior Leadership Team, Executive Committee and the EGAC; and
• Proposing and developing procedures for efficiently implementing UKEF’s ESHR policy and improving, as needed, the E&S team’s practices.

Interdivisional and International Relations:

• Working with the other teams within SSIG with responses to formal requests for information from ministers, members of the public, journalists, civil society groups, nongovernmental organisations, etc (for example under Freedom of Information or Environmental information Regulations [EIR] requests);
  
• Responding to requests for input from the  Policy and Products Division  on ESHR matters relating to both existing underwriting policy and practice and potential new products or policies, including developing approaches to ESHR review of emerging and “non-traditional” products, including short term and corporate business and determining ESHR impacts of new products or policies;

Professional development and training:

• Attending ESHR or other relevant training courses;
• Develop an understanding of international trade and finance and UKEF’s underwriting processes;
• Reading professional journals, magazines and new articles;
• Attending relevant conferences and seminars; and
• Obtaining membership to a relevant professional institution.

Training of other staff:

• Mentoring and assisting other E&S advisers on ESHR issues; and
• Assisting with the development and training to other UK Export Finance staff, including awareness raising presentations and ESHR training for underwriters.

Training and Resourcing:

• Mentoring/coaching and training other E&S advisers on ESHR or policy issues and leading on onboarding new staff; and
• Working with the Head of the E&S team and other E&S managers to manage resourcing within the E&S team and the management of external resources (e.g. the use of Framework consultants).

Further duties of the role an be found in the candidate information document.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

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

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

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

• 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%

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment2@ukexportfinance.gov.uk