Climate Smart Schools Global Program Lead

Global Buildings Performance Network; Paris; À distance; EUR 68 000 - 87 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading environmental organization is seeking a Climate Smart Schools Global Program Lead to drive policy reform and project implementation. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in sustainable infrastructure, project management, and strategic partnerships. Responsibilities include overseeing a dynamic team, leading funding strategies, and contributing to evidence-based education reforms. This remote role requires a Master's degree and at least 10 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a related discipline.
• 10+ years in senior management or development roles.
• Proven track record in sustainable infrastructure.

Responsabilités

• Lead and manage Climate Smart Schools Program.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships.
• Oversee project design and evaluations.

Connaissances

Leadership in strategic planning

Project design

Monitoring and evaluation

Interpersonal and communication skills

Formation

Master's degree in Architecture or Engineering

Description du poste

Climate Smart Schools Global Program Lead Individual Contractor Position (Remote Working) This position is contingent upon funding approval. Initial contract: 6 months – Consulting Contract – 4 days per week. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to an innovative program with potential for extension, subject to performance and funding.

Job Description

The Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) is a fast-growing international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to reducing the impacts of climate change through transformative policy reform in the buildings sector. For nearly a decade, GBPN has operated as a global think tank, shaping climate and building policy worldwide. Today, we are evolving into a social enterprise focused on driving policy change directly in the field through innovative, decentralised approaches that deliver measurable emissions reductions, healthier environments, and sustainable employment in the built environment.

As part of this transition, we are expanding our Climate Smart Schools Program, a strategic initiative that embodies our commitment to health, resilience, learning, and innovation. Schools are at the heart of every community, and climate-ready schools offer a powerful opportunity to:

• Improve student and community health
• Reduce building‑related emissions
• Catalyse long‑term behavioural change through education

With 242 million students affected by climate‑related disruptions in 2024 alone (UNICEF, Jan 2025), the urgency is clear. By embedding climate‑smart principles into school infrastructure and operations, we not only protect learning environments but also empower the next generation to lead the shift toward sustainability.

To help us scale this impact, we’re seeking a visionary Climate Smart Schools Program Lead to drive innovation, collaboration, and policy reform that transforms schools into hubs of climate resilience and learning.

About the role

The Climate Smart Schools Program Lead will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling GBPN’s flagship education infrastructure and climate initiative. They will define and build the program strategy, oversee its implementation, and manage a dynamic team of project managers and technical advisors. As the Program lead, they will ensure alignment with GBPN’s mission, programmatic approaches and global frameworks on climate change and education.

They will cultivate and manage strategic partnerships—including with Save the Children—and serve as a key representative in multi‑stakeholder platforms. They will lead efforts to grow the program’s funding portfolio, secure new investments, and ensure delivery of high‑quality, evidence‑based interventions. They will also expand the program’s evidence base through targeted research, helping to shape policy and practice in climate smart education infrastructure.

A core part of the role is capacity building across GBPN’s decentralised team and network, fostering collaboration and technical excellence to deliver measurable climate, health, and learning outcomes.

Scope of Work

Management of existing portfolio of Climate Smart projects and people

• Lead a team of project managers and technical advisors, conducting weekly check‑ins, overseeing deliverables, and ensuring all projects are delivered on schedule and to the highest quality standards.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Save the Children, overseeing and managing the partnership relationship.
• Respond and manage the delivery of ad hoc small technical advice requests from partners.

Program Quality & Technical Excellence

• Provide technical leadership across all aspects of the program, ensuring alignment with GBPN’s approaches and standards.
• Provide technical advisory services on projects, particularly small ad‑hoc requests.
• Monitor program performance and quality benchmarks, and lead continuous improvement efforts.

Project Design, Development and Learning

• Lead proposal development and project design for the Climate‑Smart program.
• Embed robust MEAL frameworks into all project designs to ensure timely, accurate, and actionable data collection and reporting.
• Lead program evaluations and learning reviews to inform adaptive programming.

Research, Evidence & Policy Influence

• Lead research projects.
• Translate findings into policy recommendations and scalable models for climate‑smart education infrastructure.
• Contribute to GBPN’s knowledge products and global thought leadership in climate and education infrastructure.
• Expand the program’s evidence base through targeted research and evaluation.

Strategy, Planning & Program Leadership

• Define and build GBPN’s Climate Smart Schools Program strategy in alignment with GBPN’s mission, Save the Children partnership and global climate and education frameworks.
• Lead strategic planning, annual workplans, and reporting to track progress and impact.
• Represent GBPN in global and regional forums, including GADRRRES, to influence policy and practice in climate‑smart education infrastructure.

Capacity Building

• Build technical capacity and foster collaboration across the program portfolio.
• Support professional development, coaching, and performance management of program staff.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Additional qualifications or training in climate resilience, international development, humanitarian programming, or child rights is an asset.
• Affiliations with relevant professional networks.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years in progressive senior management or development roles, including direct experience designing and implementing projects and programs.
• Demonstrated expertise in the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects—from concept and design through construction, commissioning, and evaluation.
• Experience in advising on sustainable infrastructure, preferably in education or public facilities.
• Proven track record in program development, strategic planning, and quality assurance across multi‑country or decentralised teams.
• Led research initiatives to support evidence‑based advocacy and/or inform climate‑smart infrastructure reforms.
• Experience managing technical teams, project leads, and cross‑functional collaboration in international or field‑based settings.
• Familiarity with global frameworks and tools for education infrastructure in development and humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of advocacy, policy reform, and government systems, particularly in relation to the buildings sector and education.
• Experience securing and managing funding from institutional donors, foundations, and corporate partners.

Skills

• Strong leadership in strategic planning, change management, and project cycle management, including experience with cross‑cutting issues such as Gender, Equality, Disability & Social Inclusion.
• Expertise in project design, proposal development, and donor engagement.
• Technical proficiency in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) systems.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and networking skills across diverse teams and cultures.
• Skilled in training, coaching, mentorship, and capacity building—especially within decentralised or matrixed structures.
• Ability to represent GBPN with credibility in high‑level forums, partnerships, and advocacy platforms.
• High emotional intelligence, self‑awareness, and openness to feedback and continuous learning.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively and lead within international organisations and multi‑stakeholder environments.

Conditions

• Contract: Fixed term – 6 months This role offers the opportunity to contribute to an innovative program with potential for extension, subject to performance and funding.
• Location: Work from own premises
• Duration: From 15/12/2025 until 12/06/26.
• Supervisor: Head of Knowledge and Technical Excellence

GBPN requires the consultant to work from their normal place of work. Communication with GBPN team members around the world is largely online, and may require working outside normal working hours.

How to apply

Email proposals by 7 December 2025
to: [e-mail] (include TITLE OF THIS PD in the email subject line).

Please provide:

• Your CV and a cover letter detailing qualifications to perform the role, including relevant experience, and description and/or links to similar assignments. The letter should also indicate your preferred start date.
• A proposal detailing your approach for the services and work described, including number of days per week, your daily rate and total fee for services in $US Dollars including all applicable taxes and charges.

1 May involve conducting field visits and technical reviews to ensure delivery of high‑quality programming.

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