International Relations jobs in United Kingdom

Senior Specialist, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, London or Brussels

E3G is looking for a senior leader to oversee, shape and coordinate our work to advance efforts related to geopolitics, climate foreign policy, and climate diplomacy in China and Asia. The Senior Specialist will be based in one of E3G's offices, with a preference for London or Brussels.

Background

E3G is a world leading strategy think tank on the political economy of climate change with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate for all. Our goal is to translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. We pride ourselves on bringing independence to a complex issue and helping policy drive action and ensure accountability. E3G is consistently ranked as one of the top-ten most influential environmental think tanks in the world by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index.

E3G offers a dynamic and fast paced working environment that will value your insight, initiative and collaboration wherever you are in the organisation.

Role Overview

The Senior Specialist will be responsible for driving and coordinating diplomatic engagement, analysis, and strategy on the role of China and Asia in the world on matters related to geopolitics, climate foreign policy, and climate diplomacy. The successful candidate will generate diplomatic insights, build relationships, and lead stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and communications initiatives to support ambitious climate policy at national and international levels.

The role will be based in the Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics (CDG) division of E3G and will work across the organisation with other teams, providing direction and shaping E3G’s strategic focus on China and other actors in Asia across core thematic areas, including around multilateral cooperation, the energy transition, industry and trade, sustainable finance, resilience and development, and .

The Senior Specialist will play a critical role in identifying and shaping timely diplomatic opportunities through policy briefings and evidence-based analysis. A large part of the role will be building and ensuring strong and trusted relationships with key policymakers and other stakeholders internationally to better understand and respond to geopolitical challenges and opportunities and to drive climate outcomes. The focus includes geopolitics, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and major power relations – including in the context of international governance within forums such as the G20, BRICS, ASEAN, and minilateral platforms like the Quad.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic insight, thought leadership, and delivery on E3G’s diplomacy and geopolitics work relating to great power dynamics on China and Asia in the world through networks, knowledge exchange, data analysis, and horizon scanning.
• Advise diplomatic actors, think tanks, and civil society on advancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between developed and developing countries.
• Lead public and private policy dialogues to build consensus and drive policy change at national and multilateral levels.
• Build coalitions with civil society, policymakers, business, and government stakeholders to deliver outcomes at international forums such as COP, G7, G20, minilateral platforms, and bilateral political dialogues.
• Engage proactively with stakeholders across sectors — including private industry, key institutions, government, and civil society — to advance shared goals and build strategic collaborations.
• Lead and/or coordinate a small matrixed, multi-location team in line with E3G policies and practice. Collaborate closely with colleagues working across the organisation. Provide strategic coordination across E3G on cross-cutting issues related to this portfolio — including the energy transition, industry and trade, finance, resilience, and development.
• Manage grants, budgets and donor relationships as relevant.
• Represent E3G externally with funders, civil society, think tanks, media, and other stakeholders on climate and energy diplomacy, geopolitics, and China and Asia-related policy issues.
• Some travel, particularly within Europe and Asia, will be required.

Person Description

You bring deep expertise in international diplomacy and foreign policy, with a strong track record of engaging with geopolitical dynamics in Asia—particularly relating to China. You are comfortable operating in politically complex environments and have demonstrated experience navigating multilateral and bilateral diplomatic processes at senior levels.

You combine strategic judgement with a sharp analytical mindset and are confident developing and communicating geopolitical insights that inform policy and shape engagement strategies. You have experience leading high-impact initiatives across international networks and are skilled in building trust-based relationships with a range of actors, including governments, think tanks, and civil society.

You are committed to driving ambitious climate outcomes through smart diplomacy and partnership. You lead with integrity and self-awareness, work effectively across teams and cultures, and understand how to manage both complexity and delivery. You have a strong track record of managing people and processes to high standards under pressure, and you use collaboration as a lever for influence and success.

Experience and skills

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Relevant professional experience in diplomacy, international policy, or strategic research, gained within government, multilateral institutions, think tanks, civil society, or the private sector — ideally with a focus on China and/or wider Asian geopolitics.
• Deep strategic understanding of global and regional (great) power dynamics, including the Indo-Pacific, China’s foreign and economic policy priorities, and the links between international and domestic political drivers.
• Established networks across geopolitical, economic, and foreign policy communities, including among expert, diplomatic, civil society, and/or governmental stakeholders. Networks related to climate diplomacy or climate policy are a strong asset.
• Excellent written and spoken Mandarin Chinese and English language skills.
• Demonstrated ability to set direction, drive delivery, and foster collaboration within and across teams.
• Experience operating in high-level international settings, including engaging senior decision-makers in government, finance, business, and civil society.
• Outstanding analytical, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesise complex political and economic information for diverse audiences, including policymakers and funders.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across international and cross-sectoral teams.
• Proven ability to engage and align with a broad range of stakeholders, including funders, policy institutions, civil society partners, and E3G colleagues across thematic areas.
• A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. economics, politics, international relations, environmental science, China studies or related fields).
• Strong commitment to fostering inclusion, wellbeing, and diversity within the workplace and in external partnerships.

What we offer

• Permanent, full-time position.
• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working approach.
• Compressed hours scheme
• 25 vacation days + additional leave between Christmas and New Year.
• Employers Pension contribution plan.
• E3G offers a reward and benefits package which compares well with other organisations within our sector. The salary range for this position is UK from £60,030 to £67,000 and Brussels from €65,389 to €71,000
• Yearly process for remuneration review.

E3G is unable to provide any relocation assistance to candidates who would need to move in order to take up this position. E3G will require candidates to demonstrate that they have the right to live and work

in the jurisdiction in which E3G employs them.

How to apply

Please submit your application in English.

Please include:

• A CV of maximum two pages
• A cover letter of no more than one page outlining your motivation to apply and the skills and experience you are bringing to the role, as well as your earliest possible start date.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 27 July 2025.

E3G values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background. We aim to build an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the populations we support, and actively seek applications from those who are marginalized and underrepresented. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.