Socioeconomical advisor - Coal phase-out

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme aims to improve the effectiveness of key institutions (public, private, and civil society) in partner countries so that they can deliver accelerated emission reductions and raise the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets. Through its focus on NDCs, the programme supports the UK’s COP26 efforts that aim to review NDC commitments and strengthen ambition.

Colombia consumes approximately 10% of the thermal coal that it extracts. The sector that consumes the most thermal coal is thermoelectric power plants. Among the enabling actions for both economic diversification at a territorial level and the Just Energy Transition (JET) in coal-dependent regions, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has identified renewable energy self-generation and energy efficiency as holding great potential to diversify the energy matrix, create jobs, and contribute to the environmental sustainability of certain areas. This could also lay the groundwork to develop new alternative production processes.  

As part of our work in Colombia, UK PACT is working with the Ministry of Mines and Energy (Ministerio de Minas y Energía - MME) to smooth Colombia’s transition away from coal dependency while ensuring social equity, labour protection, and economic sustainability in the affected regions. We are looking for a Socioeconomical advisor to support in the implementation of a strategy for a Just Energy Transition of the value chain of existing coal-fired thermoelectric plants in Colombia. This will be achieved by structuring a national and international collaboration network to help the communities dependent on thermal coal exploitation in the transitions. This includes the establishment of relationships between unions in the electricity and mining sectors, as well as other potential allies who can contribute through the exchange of knowledge and best practices in economic and labour transition, and the support to structure a plan to identify financing sources for alternative productive projects within the framework of the international collaboration strategy.       

This assignment will be full-time based in Bogota, Colombia for a fixed term of 12 months.

The main activities to be carried out by the Socioeconomical advisor include:

Conduct an analysis of the social and labour impact of the thermal coal value chain resulting from the reconversion processes of thermoelectric power plants in ColombiaConduct a mapping of stakeholders and potential alliances and define the mechanisms to be implemented, whether at the national and/or international level, including donors, labour unions, business associations, and multinational companies that have experience with industrial relations, green jobs, energy transition, and labour and/or productive reconversionDefine a dialogue strategy led by the national government, among the identified national and international stakeholders and the thermal coal-dependent communities of the Andean region of the country, to promote a collaboration network that allows for knowledge exchange, best practices, and legitimacy of public policies associated with the labour and productive transition of the thermal coal value chainImplement the dialogue strategy together with the territorial teams of the Directorate of Corporate Mining and the Office of Environmental and Social Affairs of the MME, through workshops, round tables, negotiation spaces and/or dialogue spacesSupport the structuring of an international financing strategy that enables funding for alternative productive projects to thermal coal extraction in the Andean regionSupport the Ministry's coordination efforts with the Just Energy Transition processesFacilitate meetings with national and international experts to share best practices and experience in supporting just energy transitions while fostering knowledge transfer. This will be in coordination with UK climate programmes (e.g. UK PACT, A2D)Consolidate recommendations and action lines for the implementation of a public policy on labour and productive reconversion for coal communities that are part of the thermal coal value chain in the Andean region, including retraining programmes for thermoelectric workers and linking them with energy transition projects.

Required Qualifications:

We are looking for a proactive self-starter, able to work flexibly whilst under pressure, with excellent interpersonal and communications skills, that has the following:

An undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, economics, engineering, or equivalent;A postgraduate/Master’s degree in political science, international relations, economics engineering, or equivalent;Experience working with an international network of co-operators, trade unions organizations, business associations, and multinational companies, all linked to industrial relations, green jobs, energy transition, and labour and/or productive reconversion;Knowledge of regulations, strategies, and public policies at a national and international level, focused on climate and energy transition actions that are linked to the labour, union, and productive sectors;Experience developing social relations strategies focused on the social acceptance of transition policies in the private and public sectors. Including the development of work groups and workshops with unions, civil society, the private sector, and international cooperation representatives;Project management skills, including planning, delivering, monitoring, and evaluation of international financing strategies in labour and productive transition dynamics initiatives;Experience and participation in the analysis of labour and social impacts, with a focus on energy transition, labour reconversion, and green jobs. This includes knowledge of early retirement, pro-employment subsidies, and tax incentives, among others.  Skills in interdisciplinary research and analysis and facilitating dialogue processes associated with labour and productive diversification and/or energy transition are also considered. 

 Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, interested candidates are encouraged to submit their CVs via the portal as early as possible. Estimated start date is January 2025 depending on candidate notice periods.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.