LATAM Regional Lead, UK PACT

About UK PACT

UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) is a programme funded by the UK Government. UK PACT supports countries that strive to overcome barriers to clean growth and have high emissions reduction potential to accelerate their climate change mitigation efforts. UK PACT delivers capacity building activities to accelerate partner countries’ transition to low carbon development. Our delivery model creates opportunities for synergies, knowledge sharing and learning between projects.

UK PACT provides countries with the expertise they need to cut emissions quickly and grow their economy sustainably. Running since 2018, it works in partnership with over 20 countries with large and growing emissions or important ecosystems to tackle the most pressing climate issues they face, from power to planning and finance to forests. UK PACT deploys the best local, in-country expertise, as well as leveraging the UK’s world class public and private sector experts to deliver impactful and long-lasting change through both short- and long-term projects.

This Opportunity

Palladium is recruiting a Regional Lead for the LATAM region of the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) programme (covering Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the Amazon Regional Fund) in Latin America. This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing UK PACT delivery across the region, supporting Fund Managers, managing strategic stakeholder relationships, identifying regional opportunities, and ensuring the effective delivery of a portfolio of climate-focused grants and technical assistance projects.

We are seeking an experienced programme leader with a strong background in donor-funded programme management, stakeholder engagement, and climate or low-carbon development initiatives.

This is a full-time, hybrid role based in Brazil (preferably São Paulo) or Colombia (Bogotá), offered on a fixed-term contract with an anticipated start date in late November/early December 2026 and running until March 2028, subject to contract finalisation. The role may be extended subject to programme continuation and individual performance.

Role and purpose

The UK PACT LATAM Regional Lead will be the ‘on-the-ground' liaison for Palladium affirming and implementing the FCDO strategy for UK PACT bilateral partnerships in the region, specifically, overseeing day-to-day activities from stakeholder engagement and providing key contextual insights and overseeing the ongoing portfolio of grants in the region.

Additionally, as Regional Lead, the incumbent will provide guidance, mentoring, and quality assurance across other countries in the region in collaboration with the Team Leader/Deputy Team Leader.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the areas outlined below. The Regional Lead is expected to work flexibly across the fund's delivery cycle, adapting support to evolving portfolio needs, programme priorities, client requirements, and operational demands. The postholder may also be required to undertake other duties consistent with the nature, level, and purpose of the role.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1- Strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement

Support Fund Managers to implement an adaptive strategy for UK PACT-funded activities in the regional countries drawing on the various types of funds and technical assistance available under UK PACT;

Collaborate closely with the FCDO Regional Lead to design and implement the UK PACT regional strategy, ensuring that each country implementation plan contributes to a collective impact greater than the sum of its individual parts;

Identify regional synergies within UK PACT portfolios and complementary existing programmes (funded by the UK and other donors) to feed into UK PACT country implementation plans within the region, theories of change and log-frames,

enhancing potential impact and avoiding duplication;

Work with Fund Leads to maintain an excellent working relationship with teams at Post and FCDO Country Leads in all countries within the region; supporting them in engagement with partner country government agencies, civil society groups, research agencies, (green) financial institutions and relevant private sector firms in order to collaboratively design and generate buy-in for the programme’s strategy, plans, and resource requirements;

Act as an ambassador for UK PACT in the region, promoting funding opportunities to potential implementing partners, project and programme outputs to intended beneficiaries, and broader UK engagement on low-carbon development where relevant, and as agreed with FCDO; and,

Be the main regional focal point supporting the PMU to roll out and deliver the UK PACT the monitoring, communication and learning strategy of the programme.

Ensure Fund Managers are aware of the strategy and have fully integrated this into Fund Implementation Plans.

2- Team management and capacity building

Provide line management to all Fund Managers in the region, supporting each to set and deliver on a scope of work and reviewing performance on an annual basis;

Support the delivery of PMU regional teams including Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Communications, Grants and Expert Deployment and GEDSI. These positions will have a secondary reporting relationship to the Regional Lead and will require regular engagement and an agreed scope of work to deliver UK PACT objectives;

Train Fund Managers in UK PACT mechanisms and funding processes and support them to deliver the Country Implementation Plan, in collaboration with the PMU and relevant FCDO stakeholders. This may include:

ºPortfolio design and refresh - advice on the best methodology to design a coherent portfolio of projects through sectoral scoping or scoping refresh, including support for the identification of technical experts.

ºPortfolio set up – advice on how to translate portfolio design and sector scoping into a set of projects using the different implementation modalities in UK PACT. This will include support to identify interventions that can be delivered through expert deployment or grant funding, support to strategically engage potential Implementing Partners -- organisations or individual experts -- as well as provide surge capacity where needed in the selection process and overseeing project set-up coordinating with country fund teams to adhere to any local due diligence required and to support initial briefing to selected Implementation Partners.

ºPortfolio management – advise on the monitoring of portfolio of projects. This will include support to country teams to efficiently monitor timely implementation of projects and regularly ensure the feedback of results, impacts and learning through quarterly reports to FCDO covering overall progress, progress against outputs, main activities and deliverables for the next period, budget, spend and forecast, and risks.

Work with Fund Managers to advise FCDO on potential to extend, scale up or replicate successful projects, in country or regionally, and work with successful Implementation Partners to do this with FCDO approval.

Capacity Building: Work closely with country teams to strengthen their capacity for designing and delivering grant-funded projects, fostering knowledge-sharing and dissemination of lessons learned across the region, including through supporting the design and delivery of regional knowledge sharing workshops.

3- Risk Management

Lead the implementation of UK PACT’s Risk Management Strategy across the region, ensuring strict adherence to processes and protocols;

Serve as a core focal point for risk mitigation, chairing risk committees, conducting spot checks and overseeing compliance, safeguarding, and fraud prevention efforts. Promptly address any issues and escalate concerns as necessary;

4- Operational and financial oversight

Be accountable for UK PACT regional progress reporting, providing support to Fund Teams to prepare and submit monthly Delivery and Quarterly progress reports to FCDO;

Oversee the implementation of other ad hoc deliverables required by FCDO, working alongside the Regional Team and supporting Fund Teams to deliver high quality outputs;

Be accountable for regional financial planning (both supplier and activity costs), working with Fund Teams and the Regional Team to develop implementation budgets, submit forecasts and financial progress reports according to the requirements of FCDO and in line with the strategies designed for each Fund; and,

Contribute to programme governance and decision-making, both in-country and centrally, as required. Attend and contribute at regular governance meetings.

5- Results monitoring and communications

Be jointly accountable, with the Programme MEL Manager, for ensuring the delivery of strategic and consistent results reporting and learning activities across the region;

Contribute to strategic decision making on monitoring, evaluation and learning priorities in the region, in consultation with the Programme and Regional MEL Managers and Fund Managers;

Provide review and quality assurance as needed to reporting and other MEL deliverables in the region.

Location

This role is based in Brazil (preferably São Paulo) or Colombia (Bogotá). Candidates must have the existing right to work in their chosen location, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Palladium typically supports a hybrid working schedule of 3 days in the office and 2 days working remotely, subject to business requirements.

Reporting Lines

The LATAM Regional Lead will report to the UK PACT Team Lead/ Deputy Team Lead.

Essential Criteria

• Significant professional experience (typically 8+ years) in managing and delivering complex donor-funded international development programmes, including multi-country portfolios.
• Proven experience providing strategic leadership and oversight of programme delivery, ensuring projects achieve objectives, deliver results, and meet donor requirements.
• Demonstrated experience engaging and building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, including government counterparts, donors, implementing partners, private sector organisations, research institutions, and civil society organisations.
• Strong understanding of climate change mitigation, low-carbon development, environmental sustainability, or related sectors.
• Experience leading and managing geographically dispersed teams, including line management, mentoring, performance management, and capacity building.
• Strong programme and portfolio management skills, including project design, implementation, monitoring, risk management, and adaptive programme delivery.
• Experience overseeing grants, technical assistance programmes, or expert deployment mechanisms within international development programmes.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget development, forecasting, financial reporting, and value-for-money considerations.
• Experience contributing to monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting processes, including reviewing and assuring the quality of programme deliverables and reports.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, managing, and mitigating programme risks, including safeguarding, compliance, fraud prevention, and governance requirements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and donor-facing documentation.
• Professional fluency in English.

Desired Criteria

• Experience working on UK Government, FCDO, or other bilateral donor-funded programmes.
• Experience managing climate change, clean growth, energy transition, forestry, nature-based solutions, or sustainable development programmes in Latin America.
• Knowledge of the political, environmental, and development context across Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and the wider LATAM region.
• Experience managing grant funds and supporting competitive funding mechanisms.
• Experience working with monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, theories of change, and results-based management approaches.
• Experience facilitating cross-country learning, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and regional stakeholder engagement activities.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and time zones.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership and programme vision
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
• Donor and client management
• Portfolio and programme management
• People leadership and team development
• Financial management and commercial awareness
• Risk management and sound judgement
• Partnership building and influencing skills
• Results orientation and accountability
• Problem solving and decision making
• Monitoring, learning and continuous improvement
• Communication and presentation skills
• Collaboration and cross-cultural working
• Adaptability and resilience
• Commitment to climate action and sustainable development
• To be considered for this position, you must have valid work rights in the country where the role is based. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

How to Apply

Click the "Apply Now" button. Please submit your application online, including your CV and a brief cover letter, outlining your suitability in line with the requirements of the position.

Closing date: 27 October 2026.

If this opportunity interests you, we encourage you to apply promptly, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

This is a senior leadership role working at the intersection of programme delivery, stakeholder engagement, and climate action across the LATAM region. The successful candidate will work closely with Fund Managers, FCDO teams, and Palladium colleagues to drive strategic programme delivery, identify opportunities for impact and growth, and strengthen UK PACT's presence across Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and the Amazon Regional Fund.

They will be confident leading senior stakeholder relationships, overseeing complex portfolios, managing risks, and supporting high-quality delivery of grants and technical assistance projects. The role requires strong strategic thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to balance regional leadership with hands-on programme oversight to ensure results are aligned with UK PACT and UK Government priorities.

About Palladium

Palladium is a global development and consulting firm, part of the GISI Consulting Group, operating in more than 90 countries worldwide. We partner with governments, businesses, investors, and communities to design and deliver complex programmes that create lasting, positive impact. Working across climate and environment, energy, infrastructure, economic growth, health, digital transformation, and natural capital, we help strengthen systems, institutions, and markets to support inclusive and sustainable development.

With over 2,100 professionals worldwide, Palladium combines deep technical expertise, innovative approaches, and practical implementation experience to deliver locally informed, client-focused solutions. Joining Palladium offers the opportunity to work on meaningful global challenges alongside talented colleagues, in an organisation committed to creating measurable and sustainable impact.

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 due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at [email protected] 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.