Climate Change Policy Analysts

Business Operations & Enablement

Level 5492 of 1200 points

Job description

Climate Change Policy Analysts

Job purpose

To research and analyse policy developments relating to climate change, and to distil climate-related research into briefs, reports and legislative recommendations for legislators, regulatory agencies and environmental groups, so that policy and public understanding of climate change rest on sound evidence and workable proposals.

Skills

Specialist command of climate change and environmental management policy — traditional and alternative fuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency, the transport of goods — combined with knowledge of laws, government regulations, agency rules and the legislative process, and applied mathematics and statistics sufficient to appraise climate-related research. Writes study reports, memoranda, briefs, testimonies and academic papers to publication standard. A master's degree is the norm, with smaller numbers holding a doctorate or a bachelor's degree, and extensive prior experience is assumed rather than acquired in post.
Advises and informs legislators, regulatory agencies, government bodies, environmental groups and other stakeholders, in writing and by presenting climate-related information at public interest, governmental and other meetings. Translates technical research for audiences without a scientific background, promotes mitigation initiatives, presents and defends proposals for climate change research projects, and contributes to educational and outreach programmes. Coordinates and leads colleagues on shared pieces of work.
Analytical work without prescribed answers: gathers and reviews climate-related studies from government agencies and research laboratories, reviews existing policies and legislation to identify environmental impacts, and proposes new or modified policy on fuels, transport and other factors bearing on the climate. Options must be weighed against evidence of uncertain strength, cost, feasibility and the regulatory framework, and a recommendation reached that can be justified in public.
Sets long-range objectives and strategies, and determines own tasks, priorities and goals. Sequences research, drafting, consultation and publication so that briefs and testimonies reach decision makers when the legislative timetable requires, and schedules meetings around those external dates under time pressure.
Work is carried out at a desk, using computers to compile, analyse and present climate and policy data. No manual handling or dexterity demands.

Responsibilities

No line management, but coordinates and leads others in accomplishing shared work, schedules activity, and is answerable for outcomes to which colleagues contribute. Influence beyond the organisation runs through the advice given to legislators, regulators and environmental bodies.
Prepares grant applications to obtain funding for climate change, environmental management and sustainability programmes, and estimates the resources, costs and timescales proposals require. Holds no budget and commits no spend; funding decisions rest with the awarding bodies.
Ordinary care of a workstation and of the analytical and presentation software used to model and communicate climate data.
Responsible for the accuracy of the evidence base: reviews and synthesises climate research, documents findings, and produces the reports, briefs, testimonies and papers issued in the organisation's name. Sets the content and structure of that material, and errors in it carry into the legislative recommendations made on its strength.

Effort required

Sustained analytical concentration on technical research of varying quality, requiring exactness in interpretation and the judgement to distinguish what the evidence will support from what it will not. Moves between appraisal of studies, drafting for non-specialist readers and spoken presentation, with decisions that carry into policy and affect colleagues and organisational results.
Presents and defends positions and research proposals in public and governmental settings, where the work is measured against that of other analysts and institutions competing for attention and funding.
Predominantly seated office work. No lifting or exertion.

Working conditions

Indoor, environmentally controlled office accommodation, with no exposure to hazardous conditions, contaminants, weather or noise. The work carries a high volume of contact — e-mail, telephone and face-to-face discussion in teams — together with dealings with external stakeholders and the public, in a field where proposals are compared with those of others.
Most incumbents work a regular established schedule, though a substantial proportion regularly work beyond a standard week and around a fifth follow irregular patterns. Considerable freedom to make decisions and to determine tasks, priorities and goals inside an agreed policy remit, working to time pressure set largely by external legislative, consultation and funding timetables.

Skills

40% · 302 points▾

KnowledgeLevel 5 of 8
90 of 144 points
Specialised and theoretical knowledge within a field of work and an awareness of the limits of that knowledge. The job requires a comprehensive range of cognitive and practical knowledge to develop creative solutions to abstract problems.
Interpersonal and communication skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Advanced communication and interpersonal skills. The job holder is required to manage complex interactions, mediate interpersonal conflicts and support group collaboration.
Problem-solving skillsLevel 4 of 5
77 of 96 points
Non-standard problems. The job involves solving complex, non-standard problems involving multiple factors to consider. Solutions often require careful analysis and the adaptation of current methods.
Planning and organisational skillsLevel 4 of 5
58 of 72 points
Advanced organisational skills required. The job requires planning and managing complex, often overlapping tasks or schedules. The job requires a degree of autonomy and joint planning, and managing interdependencies across teams or departments.
Physical skillsLevel 0 of 5
0 of 72 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any particular physical skills (although there is likely to be some physical activity).

Responsibility

35% · 87 points▾

PeopleLevel 1 of 5
29 of 144 points
Very limited. Not required to supervise or perform a caregiving role. The job may involve providing basic guidance to or orientation for others, such as helping new colleagues settle in.
Goods and equipmentLevel 0 of 5
0 of 84 points
Not applicable. The job does not involve any responsibility for goods or equipment.
InformationLevel 3 of 5
58 of 96 points
Moderate responsibility for information. The job involves managing information to ensure it is accurate, of high quality and secure. The job holder may make decisions about the handling of sensitive data.
Financial resourcesLevel 0 of 5
0 of 96 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any responsibility for financial resources.

Effort

15% · 79 points▾

Mental effortLevel 3 of 5
36 of 60 points
High level of mental effort. The job involves frequent concentration on complex tasks that require considerable mental effort, such as interpreting complex data.
Psychosocial and emotional effortLevel 3 of 5
43 of 72 points
Moderate psychosocial and emotional effort. The job requires the regular management of emotional responses, such as dealing with sensitive or challenging individuals or situations.
Physical effortLevel 0 of 5
0 of 48 points
Not applicable. The job does not require any physical effort.

Working Conditions

10% · 24 points▾

Environment (physical, psychological or emotional)Level 1 of 5
17 of 84 points
Minimal exposure to hazards or stress. The job involves little or no exposure to physical hazards (e.g. chemicals, moving equipment, noise) and minimal emotional or psychological risks (e.g. occasional routine tasks with no emotional burden). There is minor exposure to dust, dirt, fumes, noise, waste, poor lighting, etc.
Organisational environmentLevel 1 of 5
7 of 36 points
Minimal organisational demands. The job requires standard working hours with no night shifts or irregular schedules. There is little or no need for travel or digital connectivity beyond typical working hours.