Main purpose of the role

As a recognised leader in climate change policy and corporate action, this senior role leads the development and implementation of impactful, evidence-based strategies and plans to accelerate the decarbonisation of key sectors. This involves collaborating closely with major businesses, financial institutions, governments, and diverse civil society partners and funders to drive impactful change globally and across our priority regions.

The role holder brings a deep commitment to tackling the climate crisis, coupled with the creativity and drive to identify strategic insights and co-design programmes of work to deliver on them. Requiring the application of a strong understanding of policy, corporate, and financial dynamics in sectors like aviation, autos, steel, buildings, and oil & gas. Combining a wide range of levers to achieve scalable impact, including data and evidence, advocacy, legal action, corporate accountability, public engagement, technical assistance and capacity building. Working with an international mindset and navigating global climate challenges in our priority regions including South-East & East Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Based in London, the role holder is a vital link across CIFF's Global Sectoral Decarbonisation, Corporate Action & Transition Finance strategy and regional portfolios, collaborating closely with programme leads across the Climate team. This role requires exceptional leadership and coaching skills to foster a dynamic learning environment, promote curiosity and risk-taking, and ensure excellence in execution across the Climate team and our extended grantee network. The role holder also plays a key role in implementing CIFF's ecosystem-building approach within the climate portfolio

Role’s responsibilities

As a member of the Climate Leadership Team (CLT):

• The role holder is responsible for strategy, pipeline development and programme management of investments under CIFF’s Global Sectoral Decarbonisation, Corporate Action & Transition Finance strategy.
• Be a recognised leader with expertise in climate policy, governance, corporate transformation and sectoral transitions, provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Climate Leadership Team and the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer and Executive Director on related issues, to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.
• Ensure that a focus on individual and team wellbeing is a key consideration in the effective delivery of the Climate portfolio, holding line managers to account and keeping CIFF’s Code of Respect top of mind.
• Adopt a coaching approach within the Climate team, with other CIFF colleagues and across the ecosystem which builds capability and confidence, instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning. Ensure that the skills and knowledge are in place to deliver the Climate strategy.
• Take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the Executive Team – this may include work not directly in the core subject-matter.
• Deputise for the Global Director, Climate as required.

Strategy & planning

• Play a leading role in ensuring that CIFF’s Global Sectoral Decarbonisation Corporate Action & Transition Finance strategy and portfolio enables the delivery of core Climate strategies, in close consultation and collaboration with Sectoral and Regional Climate Directors, the CEO Office, and other CIFF programmatic teams; building the evidence base for continued investment both from CIFF and peer funders.
• Play a leading role in the development and implementation of the team’s annual Executable Plan for the Global Sectoral Decarbonisation Corporate Action & Transition Finance portfolio, to ensure the effective in-year prioritisation of resources and activities.
• Stay connected to relevant societal and political trends, new developments and up-to-date insights that could impact the strategy and reflect these appropriately in internal meetings and strategy design/execution.
• Bring catalytic and innovative new thinking to our existing and new portfolios to scale the work and maximize the impact, with a focus on business engagement and public affairs.
• Work across teams at CIFF to ensure coherence and coordination between the agendas within Climate and the wider Foundation.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and the implementation of high impact programmes by a team of Managers/Analysts, ensuring the quality, timeliness and strategic alignment of their work to Foundation priorities and objectives. . Intervene to take corrective action where necessary.
• Allocate and monitor the achievement of individual targets for pipeline, new investments and grant draw-down for all relevant team members, to ensure the team meets its objectives for programme development and delivery.
• Provide programme advice, specialist guidance and mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.
• Lead the collection and analysis of team performance data and management information, in accordance with CIFF corporate frameworks and requirements, to enable timely and effective decision-making and planning.
• Personally oversee an end-to-end caseload of live programmes in accordance with the thematic priorities and plan.

Sector knowledge and ecosystem building

• Act as an ambassador for CIFF externally, including working with the CIFF Organisation & Ecosystem Development Team (CEDO) to design and execute an ecosystem building strategy that builds capacity, coherence and coordination across the global business engagement & public affairs, sectoral and regional ecosystems.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the CLT and the CEDO Office to conduct ecosystem evaluations of national, regional, sectoral and global partner ecosystems, and then invest accordingly in actively strengthening those ecosystems, including through convening, training and upskilling, coaching and mentoring senior leaders, and strengthening partner relationships.
• Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and bilateral donor community on relevant subject areas
• In accordance with agreed account management principles and plans, identify, cultivate and manage relationships with nominated key partners/stakeholders, to support the achievement of Foundation and Sector Team objectives in a coordinated manner.
• Act as a valued advisor/sounding board and mentor to colleagues whose advice is valued and proactively sought out by senior leaders, whilst ensuring regular reporting to their line manager, Executive Directors, CEO and PIC on the above, and being accessible to the CEO, CIO, PIC and trustees and able to deputise for the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director & CEDO office as needed.
• Provide concise but robust advice and briefings to colleagues, including the Global Director, Climate; the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director, Climate; and the CEO in their external affairs activities.
• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector and on a cross-cutting climate basis, acting at all times as a corporate ambassador for CIFF, to help build the organisation’s reputation and profile as a professional, visionary and collaborative philanthropy.
• Represent CIFF in senior capacity more broadly, in addition to providing sectoral leadership (e.g. in Trustee engagement, in co-funding, in public engagements, in Board representation).
• Contribute to the development and promotion of high-quality thought leadership, to raise awareness about CIFF’s work within the sector, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s communications and advocacy strategies.

Leadership

• Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.
• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages learning.
• We operate a matrix structure so reporting lines can vary between specific aspects of the role.

Skills & Experience

• Strong background in private and public sector climate action – ideally having previously applied skills at a senior level in a private sector and/or political context, for example working in a corporate policy and regulatory strategy or public affairs role, or in a business association working on climate issues.
• An innovative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
• Entrepreneurial approach and ability to project manage and adapt in a fast paced and unpredictable environment
• Deep commitment to supporting and enabling the climate transition
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes`
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible and professional, always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner
• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees work in the office and some of the time from home. We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following.

• Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days.
• Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before 31 July CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.