UK PACT Programme Officer and Technical Adviser HEO (36 / 25 PTA)

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 773 000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in climate policy is seeking a UK PACT Programme Officer in Pretoria, South Africa. This role involves overseeing critical climate change initiatives and project delivery in partnership with South African stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a solid background in climate policy and project management, with strong communication skills to foster collaboration and promote the visibility of the UK PACT programme. The position requires a proactive approach and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build strong relations.
• Proactive self-starter able to work independently and collaboratively.
• At least five years of directly relevant experience in project management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee UK PACT programme delivery on climate policy projects.
• Manage the South Africa-UK PACT database and project tracker.
• Design and deliver communication campaigns to enhance programme visibility.

Skills

Excellent English communication skills

Strong organisational skills

Knowledge of climate change policy

Ability to engage with stakeholders

Project management experience

Education

Post-graduate degree in Climate Policy or related

Job description

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require. Job Category Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Programme Roles) Job Subcategory Programme / Project Delivery Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job :

Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing our world. The UK has responded with some of the world’s most ambitious legislation and domestic targets, embedding the green economy in all its industrial, research and growth strategies. Internationally, the UK is one of the most significant contributors to international climate finance and active in pressing for global ambition in line with the 2015 Paris agreement to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.

South Africa is both vulnerable as an emerging economy and a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. The British High Commission (BHC) is strengthening its ability to work with partners across South African government, civil society and business on climate change issues, including mitigation, resilience and the just energy transition. South Africa is a key strategic partner for the UK, and supports the country through various mechanisms, including the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which aims to support South Africa to meet its NDC commitments, doing so in a just way.

UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) is a flagship climate mitigation programme funded by UK International Climate Finance (ICF). UK PACT supports overseas development assistance (ODA) - eligible countries, including South Africa, with high mitigation potential to increase their climate ambition and implement that ambition more rapidly, more effectively, and more equitably. Key features of UK PACT are that it aims to respond explicitly to partner government demand for capacity building interventions, and that it shares UK expertise (for example in areas such as climate legislation, green finance, and renewable energy). South Africa is a key strategic climate partner for the UK. The UK PACT programme has to date committed £12 million in technical assistance in South Africa.

The UK PACT Programme Officer and Technial Adviser will play a central role in the delivery and strategic coordination of the South Africa-UK PACT Country Fund. Working closely with the UK PACT South Africa Country Lead, the UK PACT delivery partner and a range of internal and external stakeholders, the postholder will help ensure the effective implementation of UK PACT projects and expert deployments in South Africa, supporting efforts to accelerate the country’s transition to a low‑carbon economy.

The role combines extensive stakeholder engagement, project management, communications and strategic foresight with technical expertise in climate policy and governance (and other priorities as needed). The postholder will monitor the implementation of a diverse portfolio of technical assistance projects and expert deployments, identifying risks and opportunities, fostering collaboration between partners, and ensuring the programme’s objectives remain aligned with both UK and South African climate priorities.

Moreover, the successful candidate will act as a connector between multiple stakeholders across the UK and South Africa to help identify synergies, strengthen relationships, and find new areas of impactful collaboration. The postholder will also support the UK PACT South Africa Country Lead in shaping the strategic direction of UK PACT in South Africa, contributing to BHC-wide climate processes and supporting the organisation of high‑profile events and visits that deepen the UK–South Africa partnership on climate.

This work falls under the policy and programmatic areas headed by the Head of Climate Change and Nature at the British High Commission. The job holder will report to the UK PACT South Africa Country Lead at the British High Commission.

Roles and responsibilities

Technical Oversight (20%)

• Oversee UK PACT programme delivery on specific projects in the climate policy and governance sector. Additional areas of UK PACT support currently include clean energy and sustainable transport sectors and may be expanded as demand / budget allows.
• Lead demand scoping in the climate policy and governance sector to identify new opportunities for future UK PACT funding
• Support strategy development to assess where UK PACT technical assistance will have most impact, through providing expert technical input, scoping with government counterparts, liaising with other donors and assessing which interventions will bring about transformational change.
• Oversee the delivery of UK PACT short‑term expertise (e.g. short‑term technical assignments, secondments etc.), known as expert deployments.

Project Delivery (30%)

• Monitor and communicate on the overall impact of the South Africa-UK PACT programme in South Africa
• Act as GEDSI Champion, ensuring gender equality, diversity, and social inclusion are effectively integrated and delivered across all UK PACT projects.
• Manage the South Africa-UK PACT database on MS Teams, ensuring that data is meticulously stored and easily accessible.
• Maintain a project tracker to track progress across all UK PACT programme components and identify and manage risks accordingly.
• Update UK PACT project details on the Just Energy Transition Partnership finance register on a quarterly basis.

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement (40%)

• Identify strategic communication opportunities and lead the design, planning, and delivery of communication campaigns to showcase UK PACT results and enhance the programme’s visibility in South Africa.
• Support event planning for South Africa - UK PACT Country Fund focused events.
• Publicly represent the BHC and the UK Government (with a particular focus on UK PACT programming) as a credible interlocutor in climate related engagements as necessary.
• Support engagement with key stakeholders, including government counterparts and thematic leads in the BHC, by developing high‑quality briefing and presentation materials as required
• Maintain the relationship with the South Africa-UK PACT Fund Delivery Partner to monitor project and expert deployment delivery activities and progress, ensuring value for money.
• Establish good working relationships with project implementing partners and experts and maintain a rhythm of engagement on project progress and activity development.
• Deliver ad‑hoc climate policy research and reporting on specific policy and internal South African developments to advise UK PACT, BHC senior management and London teams.

Corporate (10%)

• Support the coordination of high‑level climate missions to South Africa, identifying opportunities for relevant dialogues to support the development of programmes, as well as supporting the planning and delivery of potential knowledge exchange and skill‑sharing missions between the UK and South Africa
• Play an active part in the corporate life of the BHC (including as a member of a BHC Committee) to maximise the overall well‑being of staff.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure)

• Joint oversight of the multi‑million‑pound South Africa - UK PACT Country Fund budget.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

We are looking for a proactive self‑starter, able to work well independently and collaboratively with a flexible approach to work whilst under pressure. The person should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build strong relations within the BHC and support engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in South Africa.

A post‑graduate degree specialising in Climate Policy, Environmental Governance, Development Studies or a related field is essential. A relevant Master’s degree is preferred to ensure the analytical depth, subject matter expertise, and independent judgement required for this role, this should be supported by at least five years of directly relevant experience in project / programme management and the application of technical expertise in climate policy and governance.

Exceptional candidates with a relevant Honours degree will be considered where they can demonstrate specialist knowledge, the ability to work independently and competently and have at least seven years of directly relevant professional experience in project / programme management and the application of technical expertise in climate policy and governance.

In addition, the following knowledge and skills are required :

• Demonstrated expertise, knowledge and understanding of South Africa’s climate change policy and implementation, its international commitments, and institutional and governance framework.
• The ability to actively contribute knowledge and expertise to strategic discussions on the South Africa - UK PACT Country Fund, thereby co‑shaping the Fund’s activities in South Africa.
• Excellent English communication skills (written and verbal) and the ability to adjust to different audiences.
• Demonstrated proactive initiative and autonomy in managing tasks, consistently driving actions forward with minimal supervision.
• The ability to demonstrate strong teamwork, collaboration and communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills, with an ability to ensure tasks are completed to high quality to required deadlines.

Desirable qualifications,skills and experience

• A recognised Programme Management qualification / accreditation
• In‑depth expertise in South Africa’s just energy transition landscape, with a strong focus on the clean energy and sustainable transport sectors.
• Prior knowledge of UK climate and energy policy, technology and commercial capabilities, and its global leadership in the subject matter
• Experience working with the UK on climate change related issues

Required behaviours

Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together

Application deadline 21 January 2026 Grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Type of Position Fixed Term, Fixed term, with possibility of renewal Working hours per week 36.5 hours Duration of Post 12 months Region Africa Country / Territory South Africa Location (City) Pretoria Type of Post British High Commission Number of vacancies 1 Salary R772,983.10 (Base salary is subject to tax and other statutory deductions) Type of Salary yearly Start Date 1 April 2026 End Date 31 March 2027