View Vacancy – Brazil Head of Forests – International Climate Finance, DESNZ, Brazil

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Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

Climate Diplomacy

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main Purpose of Role:

This is an exciting opportunity at the heart of the growing UK–Brazil collaboration on climate, with a particular focus on forests and sustainable land use. You will play a central role within the Climate team at the British Embassy, working closely across UK Government departments as part of the International Forests Unit to shape and deliver policy and programme outcomes.

The postholder will lead the Forests team, combining strong programme management oversight with a clear mandate to shape, influence and deliver policy priorities on forests. Brazil is a major recipient of UK International Climate Finance, and you will be instrumental in maximising the strategic impact of this funding. This includes ensuring that programmes not only deliver results on the ground but also inform and influence national and subnational policy frameworks, private sector approaches, and international climate and nature agendas.

You will be responsible for ensuring that UK-funded programmes are aligned with evolving UK policy objectives on climate, nature and energy. These programmes include:
• Amazon Fund – supporting emissions reductions from deforestation and forest degradation
• Jurisdictional REDD+ programmes (e.g. REM in Acre and Mato Grosso) – supporting subnational policy implementation
• LEAF Coalition – advancing results-based finance and carbon market mechanisms
• Mobilising Finance for Forests (MFF) – promoting policy and market conditions that enable sustainable forest economies.
• Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use (IFSLU) – strengthening enabling environments for private investment aligned with forest protection.

You will lead a team of three and drive the integration of policy and delivery across the portfolio.

As a senior member of the Agriculture, Forests and Land Use (AFOLU) team, you will provide leadership within the Embassy’s Climate Team, helping to strengthen the UK–Brazil Green and Inclusive Growth (GIG) Partnership and the broader UK–Brazil Strategic Partnership. Your role will involve shaping bilateral policy dialogue on forests, land use, and supporting delivery of the UK’s strategy for sustainable finance – ensuring coherence between diplomatic engagement, technical cooperation, and financial investments.

Brasilia will be prioritised as the location for this role but an outstanding candidate from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will also be considered.

Key roles and responsibilities include:

• Policy leadership and strategy: Drive the integration of policy and delivery across the portfolio. Provide strategic oversight and direction for UK–Brazil collaboration on forests and land use, ensuring strong alignment with UK climate and development policy priorities, including net zero and nature commitments
• Policy–programme integration: Ensure that programme delivery informs policy development, and that policy priorities are translated into effective programme design, implementation, and results frameworks
• Bilateral and multilateral engagement: Lead high-level engagement with Brazilian government counterparts, private sector actors, multilateral institutions, and civil society to advance shared policy objectives
• Thought leadership and analysis: Provide policy analysis and advice on emerging issues related to deforestation, land use governance, climate finance, and nature markets
• Team leadership: Lead the Forests and Land Use team, fostering a strong culture of collaboration and mentoring
• Programme oversight: Support the team to ensure effective management and strategic direction of key programmes.
• Leadership with the AFOLU team – Work across the AFOLU team to identify and strengthen work on key AFOLU objectives on traceability, supply chain resilience and more
• Cross-team collaboration: Contribute to wider Climate Team objectives, particularly on forest finance, climate diplomacy, and international climate negotiations
• Play an active part in the corporate life of the Embassy (potentially also as a member of Embassy Committees) to maximise the overall well-being of staff
• Ensure alignment with regional forest initiatives and regional forest teams to boost UK impact in the Region
• Represent the Embassy and UK government in public events on forests

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Substantial relevant professional experience in forests and sustainable land use
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• Strong knowledge of Brazilian forest policies, AFOLU and related institutional frameworks
• Experience of strategic working on international climate, forests and sustainable land use issues
• Proven leadership experience, including line management.
• Strong programme and project management skills, with experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives
• Experience of international programmes and forest finance
• Ability to translate policy priorities into effective programme delivery, ensuring alignment between strategy, funding, and implementation
• Networking skills, comfortable working with a wide range of domestic and international stakeholders, from both government and industry
• Strong network of contacts in the forests, climate and sustainable land use sector in Brazil.
• Proven ability to write fluently and persuasively in English about technical and policy issues for a senior UK audience
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to synthesise complex information, set priorities, and develop strategic approaches.
• Able to work at a fast pace in a complex and changing environment using own initiative
• Self-directed and delivery-focused, able to plan, prioritise, and execute work independently and collaboratively to agreed deadlines.
• Resilient and flexible, with the ability to perform effectively under pressure and contribute positively as a team player.
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to build trust and shape outcomes

Language requirements:

Language: English and Portuguese

Level of language required: Excellent English and Portuguese (spoken and written).

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Good experience of developing and delivering major forest and climate programmes
• Experience working with or in the UK

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture

Application deadline

16 August 2026

Grade

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal

Working hours per week

36

Region

Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean

Country/Territory

Brazil

Location (City)

Brasilia, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

BRL

Salary

BRL 18.927,27

Start Date

5 October 2026

Other benefits and conditions of employment

Applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Brazil.

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

As part of our team, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes health and dental care, life insurance, bus transportation allowance, and meal vouchers, ensuring your well-being is prioritized inside and outside the workplace.
Beyond financial and health benefits, we offer a range of non-pay advantages designed to support your growth and work–life balance. These include flexible working arrangements, a generous leave package, and ongoing learning and development opportunities to help you build the career you aspire to.

Internal candidates:

• Staff applying for roles in a different post, if successful, are required to resign from their current contract before being appointed to a new role.

• Staff currently on a permanent contract applying for a fixed-term position, if successful, must also resign from their permanent contract in order to be appointed to the fixed-term role.

Additional information

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 16 August 2026

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

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