Fixed Term Contract
Hours of Work: 36.5 per week
Reference number: WMCA00935
Salary: £33,489-£38,499 per annum
Closes: Tue 11 Apr 2023
Location: 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD
From the WMCA website:
The Environment Team is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Strategy, Integration and Net Zero Directorate, which leads on a number of different workstreams focused on building a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier West Midlands.
The Environment Team work closely with stakeholders across the region to deliver on environmental initiatives including natural environment, air quality, the circular economy, climate adaptation and behaviour change.
As our Climate Adaptation Project Officer, you’ll lead on delivery of the new Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the organisation, which aims to ensure that the organisation and regional stakeholders are effectively working to maximise our preparedness and resilience for climate impacts and extreme weather.
You’ll work right across the organisation, including areas such as housing, transport, health, energy and environment to raise awareness of climate impacts and how they can integrate adaptation into their work. There’s lots of stakeholder engagement, including how we influence central government on future spending and championing the adaptation role of the WMCA.
This is a great opportunity to get involved with initiatives on a large scale, work with lots of different stakeholders and make a lasting impact on our future.
This role is fixed term for initially 18 months.
What will you be doing?
- Lead on the delivery of the WMCA Adaptation Plan and associated programme and projects, to ensure the organisation and its directorates are aware of climate impacts and are integrating measures into programmes and policies
- Provide extra support to WMCA teams where required and prioritise this support alongside other projects
- Communicate climate impacts and the benefits of adaptation with a wide range of audiences and stakeholders
- Produce evidence, research & intelligence where gaps exist, working with stakeholders or commissioning consultants through procurement as appropriate
- Build relationships with key WMCA stakeholders on adaptation issues to ensure delivery of priorities is joined up, attending stakeholder meetings to represent WMCA
- Identify, develop and secure adaptation project funding opportunities as well as supporting the overall approach of investment in environmental initiatives that achieve multiple outcomes, including adaptation
- Engage relevant Government departments in opportunities for funding and policy devolution for the WMCA and region
- Produce briefing notes for senior officers and politicians relating to climate adaptation
About you
The WMCA are looking for someone who has interest and knowledge in climate change and the environment, with the ability to understand how climate adaptation projects can be implemented through the work they deliver.
You’ll be confident in making decisions and know when to seek advice. Having the ability to translate the climate change subject matter to different audiences is key to making an impact.
This is a great role for someone with the right passion and enthusiasm for climate change, who can influence stakeholders and help the WMCA integrate climate impact into everything they deliver internally and for the West Midlands.
Essential experience:
- Demonstrable experience in presentations to large audiences
- Researching work and communicating effectively and concisely
- Collaboration required to bring teams and their work together
- Strong organisational and teamwork abilities
Essential Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
- Passion for the environment, climate adaptation and a focus on progressing work and making things happen
- Knowledge of the international, national, regional and local policy context for environment and climate change
- Strong analytical skills, able to review data and other information and determine the best approach.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing and also through presentations to others
- Be a self-starter, with excellent organisational skills, capable of working independently and self-motivating to have a real impact.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to confidently persuade and inform stakeholders and work effectively as part of a fast-paced team
- Desire to develop and motivate others
- Desire to learn and develop new skills and knowledge is essential
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, trouble-shoot, and to meet short- and long-term deadlines
- Able to work in partnership and across boundaries to achieve results
- Graduate or equivalent professional experience in this field with evidence of on-going professional development
About us
WMCA is committed to a better connected, more prosperous, fairer, greener and healthier region. This is our vision. We will achieve our vision through living our values which are central to how we work and interact with our wider partners and stakeholders.
We’re a partnership organisation. Our people feel valued and respected, have a can-do attitude and are innovators. We try new ways of doing things, we aren’t afraid to fail, learn from what went wrong and try again. Our people are empowered to be creative and explore and innovate.
We are a “Leaders in Diversity” accredited organisation, are in the Inclusive Top 50 Employers List and are one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have made a positive commitment to interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the essential role criteria. We are committed to building a team of people with varied backgrounds and experiences as we recognise that this will only benefit us as an employer, the more inclusive we are the better our work will be.
As an organisation, we will continue to adapt and develop to the opportunities and challenges ahead. We will continue to transform ourselves and our organisation into the best we can be, underpinned by our values and behaviours and everyone contributes towards achieving our vision.
Furthermore, wherever possible we will offer flexible working options which assist work-life balance. We are very happy to discuss a flexible working pattern that suits your needs, so please do not let that be a barrier to applying. If your values align with ours and you’re committed to working towards creating a future we can all be proud of, we want to hear from you.
About your application
You will be asked to upload an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement which demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria for the role for which you are applying.
If you would like to discuss alternative methods to the online application as a reasonable adjustment please contact the Resourcing Team (careers@wmca.org.uk).
Our application process is designed to be anonymised. By doing this, we pay attention to relevant information and mitigate the potential for any unconscious bias. We ask all applicants to remove their name and avoid referring to protected characteristics, such as gender or age, when uploading their CV and Supporting Statement.
Location
West Midlands Combined Authority operates a Hybrid way of working. This means splitting your time between the office at 16 Summer Lane, and working remotely.
Supporting documents
