Head, Finance for Planet

UNDP; Madrid; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UNDP seeks a senior leader to head the Finance for Planet pillar within the Planet Hub, guiding strategy, policy development, and portfolio management across regions. You will supervise senior advisors, ensure integrated support to Country Offices, and drive resource mobilization for environmental finance initiatives.

Candidates should have advanced degrees and extensive international experience in development finance, climate finance, and program management, with strong leadership and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years in finance roles at international level; climate/environment focus ideal.
• Experience designing/managing complex finance programs in developing countries.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Finance for Planet pillar and coordinate with Regional Bureaux and Country Offices.
• Guide development of policies and programming frameworks aligned with the Strategic Plan.
• Oversee portfolio planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting; manage staff oversight.

Skills

Leadership

Policy formulation

Program support

Knowledge management

Resource mobilization

Strategic partnerships

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Portfolio management

Climate finance

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in Natural Sciences, Environmental Management, Economics or related field

First-level degree with 2 years qualifying experience

Job description

Organizational context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a global knowledge leader for sustainable development, integrating collective action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) develops policy and guidance. The newly established Planet Hub drives UNDP's vision for thriving economies and ecosystems, focusing on clean energy, nature protection, climate resilience, and pollution reduction. The Finance for Planet Pillar within the Hub mobilizes and scales finance for environmental objectives.

Job purpose

This role leads the Finance for Planet pillar within the UNDP Planet Hub, supporting the organization's Strategic Plan. The Head of Finance for Planet is responsible for coordinating the delivery of the Hub's strategy across policy and programming, with a specific focus on overseeing the Finance for Planet portfolio. This involves ensuring coherent and effective support to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices, fostering integrated ways of working across the Planet Hub, and guiding the pillar to achieve development policies and programming frameworks. The position requires overall accountability for planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and reporting of the portfolio to ensure timely and efficient delivery of expected results, while also providing substantive and managerial oversight of relevant staff.

Responsibilities

Provide substantive leadership and management for the Finance for Planet pillar, ensuring coherent support to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices, and effective coordination across the Planet Hub. Guide the pillar in developing and maintaining development policies and programming frameworks aligned with the Strategic Plan. Exercise overall accountability for portfolio planning, implementation, management, monitoring, and reporting. Supervise and guide Finance for Planet team leads and senior advisors, fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Oversee corporate policy positions on Finance for Planet, promote GPN collaboration, and lead integrated technical support. Manage programming, operational aspects, and financial resources of the portfolio, ensuring quality assurance and compliance. Drive thought leadership, knowledge management, and learning in Finance for Planet domains, analyzing global trends and advising on strategic positioning. Support resource mobilization, advocacy, and communications for the Planet Hub, developing strategies and coordinating with relevant teams. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with key donors, UN agencies, governments, CSOs, IFIs, and the private sector to mobilize capital and scale solutions.

Education

An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Natural Sciences, Environmental Management, International Development, Economics, Public Administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be considered.

Work experience

A minimum of 10 years (with a master’s) or 12 years (with a bachelor’s) of progressive experience in finance, including environmental/climate finance, investment, development finance, or public/private finance at the international level is required. Demonstrated experience in designing and managing complex finance-related programs and portfolios, including field-level experience in developing countries, is essential. Substantive knowledge of international finance, capital markets, sustainable finance, and relevant global policy frameworks is necessary.

Skills

Substantive leadership and management, policy formulation, programme support, thought leadership, knowledge management, resource mobilization, advocacy, strategic partnerships, representation, engagement, financial management, portfolio management, system thinking, result-based management, UNDP representation, development finance expertise, climate and environmental finance.

Required languages

English

Desired languages