Climate Risk Consultant

Job summary

The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) is a non‑ministerial department. Our mission is to improve the stewardship of public sector finances by supporting effective decision‑making and robust financial reporting through analysis, modelling and advice.

This role suits someone with a strong climate science or climate-related analytics, consultancy or risk background who wants to apply their expertise to make an impact across the public sector. You’ll help government departments and public bodies understand, quantify and manage climate-related risks - supporting better policy, effective decision making and robust reporting.

At GAD we deliver impartial, expert analysis to help government navigate risk and solve complex financial challenges. The department’s work brings together expertise across pensions, investment, insurance, financial risk, climate risk, social security, workforce planning, disaster risk, data analytics and health and social care.

GAD works like a consultancy within the Civil Service, and we recover our costs by charging for our time. This model ensures you will work across a variety of areas that really matter to policymakers, while enjoying close partnership with our clients, and the chance to shape emerging best practice across government.

You’ll join GAD’s Climate and Disaster Risk team - a growing, multidisciplinary team combining climate science and actuarial risk expertise. Our work spans climate risk identification and quantification, scenario analysis, climate-related financial disclosures. Our analysis supports decision making on mitigation and adaptation strategies and improved understanding of climate-related impacts on public sector assets and finances. We also undertake research and thought leadership, including how climate change interacts with long-term health and other systemic risks.

We offer a supportive and flexible working environment, strong commitment to learning and development, and Civil Service benefits including a world-class pension. Further information is provided in the candidate pack found at the bottom of the page and also here: https://gad-gov.pagetiger.com/dfenpvr/1

Job description

As a Climate Risk Consultant, you will lead and deliver client work for government departments and the wider public sector, working closely with colleagues in the Climate and Disaster Risk team and GAD’s Analytical Solutions Team (who provide most of GAD’s analytical capability and capacity).

What you’ll do

• Provide high-quality, evidence-based advice on climate-related risk to government departments and public sector bodies.
• Lead and support client engagements: agree scope, manage delivery, and ensure outputs are clear, robust and useful.
• Support the development and growth of GAD’s climate risk offer: spot opportunities, help design new services, and contribute to proposals and client discussions.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, including central government teams with climate policy and reporting responsibilities (e.g. HMT, DESNZ, Defra).
• Act as a subject matter expert within GAD, supporting colleagues to integrate climate considerations into wider actuarial work.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and uncertainty to non-specialists, including senior decision-makers, in writing and verbally.
• Provide constructive challenge to strengthen analytical approaches, assumptions and interpretation.
• Contribute to improving GAD’s internal methods, tools and templates, sharing learning across the team and supporting capability-building.

Typical areas of work

• Climate risk identification and quantification (physical and transition risks).
• Climate scenario development and scenario analysis.
• Advice supporting climate-related financial disclosures and reporting.
• Using climate and hazard data to assess impacts on public sector assets and long-term public spending risks.
• Analysis to support mitigation and adaptation strategies, and to assess climate impacts on policy.

We welcome applicants with a background in climate or environmental sciences and experience in climate risk analysis, sustainability, climate-related consultancy or similar areas (such as climate adaptation or nature-related risks), who are keen to provide impactful advice to help government navigate the critical challenges of climate change.

Person specification

We are seeking an experienced climate or sustainability professional who can make an immediate impact by:

• Taking a lead role in scoping, designing and delivering high-quality analytical outputs to time and budget.
• Owning workstreams and contributing to project management, quality assurance and peer review.
• Supporting business development by developing ideas into deliverable projects and helping maintain a strong pipeline of work.
• Working collaboratively across GAD and flexibly across teams where needed to meet client demand.
• Coaching and supporting junior colleagues and helping build capability as the team grows.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of relevant climate science, data, methods and best practice in climate risk analysis.

This job description reflects current duties and may evolve in line with GAD’s operational needs which are at the discretion of the relevant Unit Director and in conjunction with the post holder.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Demonstrable knowledge of climate-related data sources and metrics, understanding of physical and/or transition climate risks and how these translate into organisational, financial and/or public spending impacts (Essential)
• Degree (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant discipline (e.g. climate/environmental science, geography, environmental economics, sustainability, engineering or similar) (Essential)
• Knowledge of climate-related reporting and disclosure requirements (e.g. TCFD-aligned reporting, ISSB/IFRS S2, UK public sector reporting expectations). (Desirable)
• Knowledge of climate mitigation and adaptation options and how these can be assessed/monitored (Desirable)
• Practical experience using analytical tools to work with geospatial data and/or hazard datasets in risk analysis (Desirable)
• Knowledge of nature-related risks and impacts, data and metrics (e.g. TNFD concepts) (Desirable)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,361, Government Actuary's Department contributes £19,224 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• • Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
  • 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
  • A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  • 5 days of paid volunteering leave
  • Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
  • Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
  • Occupational sick pay
  • Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
  • Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
  • The opportunity to join a trade union.
  • A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
  • Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
  • Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
  • Complimentary BUPA health check for permanent staff.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.
• A Personal statement of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

The Civil Service application process has a standardised method for assessing candidates, we strongly recommend that you read the descriptions of the civil service behaviours. Strong applications will present these in the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method.

We will use your CV and Personal Statement to assess the Experience and Technical skills listed in the JD.

Stage 2: Panel interview

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview. There are likely to be follow-up questions on the Behaviours below leading on from the presentation to ensure the panel gain a rounded picture.

Timelines

Application deadline: 1200 hrs on 5 June 2026
Shortlisting: W/C 8 June 2026
Interviews: W/C 15 June

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary’s Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm… If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the recruitment team at recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.

https://gad-gov.pagetiger.com/dfenpvr/1

Attachments

CDR G7 job description 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 587kB)