Junior Professional

Junior Professional

The Position

Palladium is looking for a Junior Professional to support the UK Team on the Partnerships for Forests (P4F) Phase 2 programme. The role is based primarily from the UK, working on a global sustainable land-use programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

This is a one-year professional development opportunity, designed to enable you to develop knowledge, skills and competencies required to pursue a successful career within the sector. You will support our Programme Manager and wider team with the technical aspects of project development and management, and delivering administrative, research and compliance tasks. You will also work closely with Senior Leadership both in the UK and internationally, offering you excellent oversight of the programme and the countries it works in. The role is offered full-time (40 hours), at 5 days per week, based out of either the Bristol or London, UK office, but with some homeworking permitted.

We are willing to consider requests for part-time work for the right candidate, and have flexible working conditions, to enable our team to balance their work and home commitments.

Programme Context

P4F2 (also known as Investments in Forests and Sustainable Land Use Programme - Phase 2 (IFSLU2)) is one of the flagship programmes in the Natural Capital and Climate, Environment and Natural Resources practice areas at Palladium.
P4F2 is split into three components, this position is primarily focused on Component 3 (Congo Basin), with opportunities to collaborate and coordinate with the Global Programme (Component 1 & 2).

P4F2 Congo Basin supports the development of capacity and market systems to enable rural communities and national economies to benefit from a sustainable forest and land-use economy. The programme operates in Cameroon, DRC, Republic of Congo, and Gabon.

P4F2 Congo Basin works closely with local organisations and communities to enable them benefit from investment in sustainable land-use sectors.The programme delivers support to strengthen the capacity of public bodies, financial institutions, companies, business associations, and other actors to support people to benefit from sustainable land-use activities, including community-based forest management.

Primary Responsibilities

The Junior Professional will support the UK Team through responsibilities outlined below:

1. Project Officer 60%

Key responsibilities and tasks will include, but are not limited to:

Project development:

• Conduct research to inform the development of the strategy for the portfolio and to inform the design of specific projects in the portfolio.
• Participate in relevant stakeholder meetings to build knowledge and engage with key stakeholders, including taking notes, helping to keep track of follow up actions, and maintaining records of engagement in Monday.com
• Support the development of Idea Notes and Project Concept notes, including drafting initial content based on discussions with potential partners and with steer from the Programmes Manager and Technical Lead.
• Conduct initial review of draft Idea Notes and Project Concept Notes developed by grantees and work with grantees to help to bring it to the standard required for approval processes.
• Work with the Grants team to review and prepare budget, contract and risk documents. Manage the document and information flow with prospective grantees, ensuring budgets, idea notes, risk registers, etc are received on time and coordinating the process of review and iteration.

Project management:

• Ensure effective management of projects under implementation and ensure timely reporting and monitoring to achieve project outcomes and impacts.
• For a select number of projects in the portfolio, be the point of contact for regular reporting and engagement as well as ad hoc issues.
• Work with the grants team to review and quality assure budget and risk reporting and work with grantees to resolve queries / issues that arrive.
• Conduct initial review of technical / financial reports and work with grantees to bring them to the required standard.
• Work with Grantees to identify, log and share lessons and impact stories for projects under implementation.
• Assist in the production of client reports, internal reports and updated project reports/updates.
• Ensure all records are up to date on Monday.com

2. Programme Coordination 30%

Key responsibilities and tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Scheduling / convening / meeting support / event coordination and management
• Convene and document meetings of the Senior Management Team, Project Approval Committee, Risk Committee, Strategic Leadership Group, and any other meetings as required;
• Follow up on actions/recommendations from the Senior Management Team, Project Approval Committee, Risk Committee,
• Strategic Leadership Group and any other meetings as required;
• Convene, document and follow up on client management meetings;
• Collate and distribute relevant documentation required for project level approvals and other programmatic decision making;
• Upload research notes and documents to the programme management tools e.g. SharePoint and Monday.com.
  

Reporting

• Support progress against programme milestones;
• Support the drafting of quarterly, annual and extraordinary reporting;
• Contribute to client technical reports and deliverables;

3. Communications Support (Approx. 10%)

Key responsibilities and tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in drafting and editing content for internal and external communications, including newsletters, blogs, social media posts, and impact stories.
• Coordinate with the Communication & Stakeholder Lead and Technical Lead Team to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all platforms.
• Support the preparation of presentations, briefing notes, and visual materials for stakeholder meetings and events.
• Maintain and update communication materials on programme management tools (e.g., SharePoint, Monday.com).
• Help identify and document success stories, lessons learned, and case studies for dissemination to clients, partners, and the wider public.
• Monitor communication channels and respond to basic inquiries or direct them to the appropriate team members.
  

Reporting

You will report directly to the Programme Manager and Technical Lead.

Candidate Requirements

The ideal candidate is interested how a complex, global programme with a successful track record is managed and is pursuing a potential career in the international development, environment or land use sector. The ideal candidate has the following skills and attitudes:

Essential

• Experience or interest in international development, climate, nature, forestry or stakeholder management.
• Advanced Microsoft Office user (including but not limited to good working knowledge of Excel).
• Fluency in English - excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Adaptable (keen to try new approaches, employs agile thinking, flexible and open to change).
• Innovative (intellectual curiosity, solution-based problem solving).
• People skills (communication, follow through, respect for individual, interpersonal relationships, networking).
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Passionate and committed to the sector.
• Accountable (ensures work quality, organisational skills).
• The right to work in the United Kingdom without sponsorship.

Desirable

• Experience in an organisation or private company running international development programmes.
• Experience in creating clear, engaging, and audience-appropriate content for diverse channels (e.g., reports, presentations, social media, newsletters), with the ability to translate technical information into accessible language.
• Educational background (or work experience) with a qualification(s) in a subject relevant to the sector, including
• Environmental Studies, Economics, Public Policy, International Development or Relations etc.
• Fluency in French.

About Palladium

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 3,200 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process (due to disability, neurodiversity, or for any other circumstance), please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as "the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm". We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.