Main purpose of the role
The political economy of climate change is fundamentally changing as the world moves from the so-called \u2018era of ambition\u2019 to the \u2018era of implementation\u2019. Already, this shift is influencing a new phase of geopolitics defined by competition, expansionism, geoeconomic volatility and worsening inequity.
Based in CIFF\u2019s London office, the role holder reports to the Global Director, Climate. The role holder brings deep thematic expertise in the political economy of climate change and related topics, and significant experience in implementing strategies that seek to accelerate the climate transition.
As a senior leader in the cluster and wider climate team, the role holder makes a major contribution to the overall success and impact of CIFF\u2019s climate portfolio, including delivery of the annual business plan. They oversee a global grants portfolio exceeding $100m in multi-year value, and are responsible for both strategy development, active programme management (including course correction when necessary) and representing the Foundation externally. They play a vital role in building capacity and knowledge across both the CIFF Climate team and the wider global climate ecosystem, including through grantees and matrix management of particular projects and strategies.
As a member of the Director cadre, the role holder contributes deep subject matter expertise, humility, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the ability to design and build support for diverse and innovative grant-making strategies.
They play a key role in promoting and maintaining a healthy organisational culture, including creating a dynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity and risk taking and seizes opportunities for improvement. The role holder ensures that the skills and knowledge are in place internally and within the extended grantee network to deliver excellence in execution of the Climate strategy.
As a member of the Climate Director Cadre:
As a recognised subject-matter expert provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Global Director, Climate, ED Climate and the CIFF Executive Team (ET) to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.\u202f\u202f Together with the other Directors in Climate provide inspiring, coherent and united strategy across the cluster led by the Global Director, Climate; primarily creating a clear and unified experience across joint ecosystem grantees.\u202f\u202f Ensure that a focus on individual and team wellbeing is a key consideration in the effective delivery of the Climate portfolio, holding Directors and Line Managers to account and keeping CIFF\u2019s 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 \u2013 this may include work not directly in the core subject-matter. Provide compelling, consistent and united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the team and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation. Deputise for the Global Director, Climate, as required.Strategy & planning
Be jointly responsible for the design, delivery and reporting related to CIFF\u2019s Missions, alongside the other Directors in Climate and with oversight from the Global Director, Climate. Act as an in-house strategic advisor to the CIFF Climate team on key topics, which may include sectoral decarbonization, business engagement, transition finance, carbon pricing, multilateral governance, climate & trade dynamics, communications and public engagement strategies, among others key climate-relevant themes. Stay connected to relevant societal and political trends and new developments 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 strategic communications and advocacy. Work across teams at CIFF to ensure coherence and coordination between the agendas within Climate and the wider Foundation. Keen understanding of risk management approaches and crisis communications to ensure resilience of their portfolios. Work closely with Global Director, and ED Climate and External Affairs team as needed.Programme development, delivery & performance
Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and the implementation of high impact programmes by a team of Managers and Analysts, ensuring the quality, timeliness and strategic alignment of their work to Foundation priorities and objectives. Allocate and monitor 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. Lead the integration of public sentiment data and insights into CIFF\u2019s Mission OKR frameworks and data systems (dashboards) to support evidence-based decision making, and reporting to the Climate Investment Committee (PICC) and Board of Trustees. 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. Conduct regular reviews of investment proposals under development and programmes in delivery, to monitor compliance with agreed due diligence and risk management protocols, ensuring the interests and reputation of the Foundation are appropriately and proportionately protected. Intervene to take corrective action where necessary. Personally oversee an end-to-end caseload of live programmes with a value exceeding $100m, 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 (CEDOEcoDev) to design and execute an ecosystem building strategy that builds capacity, coherence and coordination across the ecosystem CIFF supports. Work collaboratively with other members of the Climate Executive Team 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. Provide input to the development of the Business Plan to the Climate Global Leadership Team, as appropriate.\u202fStakeholder and partner management
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. 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\u2019s 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). Support ecosystems of grantees and other partners to collaborate effectively and efficiently, including through convening and other mechanisms.\u202fLeadership of the team\u202f
Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF\u2019s values and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.\u202f\u202f Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning.\u202f Provide ongoing support to all direct reports (in manager and/or analyst roles), ensuring high performance is enabled through objective setting, clear accountabilities and regular review.\u202f\u202fRequirements
Demonstrable experience in relevant areas such as public affairs, corporate decarbonization, transition finance, public communications strategies, and the political economy of climate change, preferably across multiple countries or regions, or the multilateral institutions, including experience of designing systemic strategies for shaping and responding to public discourse in a particular policy area.\u202f Strong understanding of the roles and functions of policy making in key geographies in Asia, and/or EMDEs and Europe, including demonstrable experience of shaping or influencing climate or energy policy at regional or country level\u202for minilateral/multilateral level. Experience commissioning, coordinating and/or guiding a range of actors towards an overarching influencing/political goal, preferably with experience in multiple cultures, both professionally and/or personally, with a preference for lived experience. Experience of embedding new approaches into existing team cultures, ideally with experience of delivering change programmes Entrepreneurial approach and ability to project manage in a fast paced and unpredictable environment Deep commitment to supporting and enabling the climate transition Experience working across different national contexts and cultures, including fluency in another language(s) (strongly desirable) and a sensitivity/appreciation for different styles of communication. Highly strategic thinker, able to consider the broad and complex geopolitical dimensions of the information environment and define a clear path to action that delivers impact and system-wide change. Experienced leader who is equally comfortable working on micro and macro issues challenges. Proven ability to both think strategically and deliver \u2018on the ground\u2019. A strong understanding of good governance principles across a range of different organisation types (e.g. charities, limited companies) and an ability to be able to apply these principles to support organisational development and strengthening.\u202f Excellent leadership skills and proven ability to motivate, develop and hold to account a small- to medium-sized teams of professionals\u202f Strong analytical and data management capabilities. Proven track record in developing effective relationships with public and private sector stakeholders and senior colleagues, building partnerships, and leveraging resources. Strong programme management skills with a background of leading, inspiring, developing and empowering others. Strong understanding of cost and financial management principles and practices. Innovative and creative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset, able to think critically and analytically to draw sound conclusions on the basis of complex quantitative and qualitative data. Passionate for change and an outstanding communicator. Ability to represent the Foundation in high-level meetings, fostering mutually beneficial deals and partnerships that drive social impact. Ability to present the Foundation\u2019s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience: credible and professional. Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner to maximise effectiveness. Track record of coaching, mentoring and developing others. An authentic leader and team player with high levels of emotional intelligence.Benefits
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 allowanceWellbeing allowanceLife insuranceMedical insurancePlease submit your application on or before Sunday 11 January 2026. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.