Director, Climate

The Children's Investment Fund Foundation; Greater London; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job description

Mainpurposeoftherole

The political economy of climate change is fundamentally changing as the world moves from the so-called ‘era of ambition’ to the ‘era of implementation’.Already, this shift is influencing a new phase of geopolitics defined by competition, expansionism, geoeconomic volatility and worsening inequity.

Based in CIFF’s London office, the role holder reports to the Global Director, Climate.The role holder bringsdeep thematicexpertisein the political economy of climate changeand related topics,andsignificant experiencein implementingstrategies thatseektoaccelerate the climate transition.

As asenior leader in the cluster and wider climate team, the role holdermakes a major contribution to the overall success and impact of CIFF’s climate portfolio, including delivery of the annual business plan.Theyoverseea global grantsportfolioexceeding $100m in multi-year value, andare responsible forboth strategy development, activeprogrammemanagement (including course correction when necessary) andrepresentingthe Foundation externally. Theyplay 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 ofparticular projectsand strategies.

As a member of theDirector cadre,the role holder contributesdeep subject matterexpertise, 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 andmaintainingahealthyorganisationalculture, including creating adynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity and risk taking and seizes opportunities for improvement. Theroleholderensuresthat 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 theClimate Director Cadre :

• As arecognisedsubject-matterexpertprovide up-to-date, professional advice to the Global Director, Climate, EDClimateandtheCIFF Executive Team (ET) to support the development of Foundation strategies,policiesand initiatives.
• Together with the other Directors in Climate provideinspiring,coherentand united strategy across the cluster led by the Global Director, Climate; primarily creating a clear and unified experience across joint ecosystem grantees.
• 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’s Code ofRespecttop 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 andknowledgeare 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 coresubject-matter.
• Provide compelling,consistentand united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the team and builds a sense ofsharedaccountability for its success and that of theorganisation.
• Deputisefor the Global Director, Climate, asrequired.

Strategy &planning

Be jointly responsible for the design, delivery and reporting related to CIFF’s Missions, alongside the other Directors inClimateand with oversight from the Global Director, Climate.

Act as an in-house strategic advisor to the CIFF Climate team onkeytopics, which may includesectoraldecarbonization,business engagement,transition finance, carbon pricing,multilateral governance,climate & trade dynamics,communicationsand public engagement strategies,among others key climate-relevantthemes.

Stay connected to relevant societal and political trends and new developments that couldimpactthe strategy and reflecttheseappropriately in internal meetings and strategy design / execution.

Bring catalytic andinnovativenew 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 atCIFFto ensure coherence and coordination between the agendas within Climate and the wider Foundation.

Keen understanding of risk management approaches and crisis communicationsto ensure resilience of their portfolios.Work closely with Global Director,and EDClimate and External Affairs team as needed.

Programmedevelopment,delivery&performance

Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and the implementation of high impactprogrammesby a team of Managers and Analysts, ensuring the quality,timelinessand strategic alignment oftheirwork to Foundation priorities andobjectives.

Allocate andmonitorachievement of individual targets for pipeline, newinvestmentsand grant draw-down for allrelevantteam members, to ensure the team meets itsobjectivesforprogrammedevelopment and delivery.

Lead the integration of public sentiment data and insights into CIFF’s Mission OKR frameworks and data systems (dashboards) to support evidence-based decisionmaking, andreporting to the Climate Investment Committee (PICC) and Board of Trustees.

Provideprogrammeadvice, specialistguidanceand mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills,capabilityand professionalism of theorganisation.

Lead the collection and analysis of team performance data and management information,in accordance withCIFF corporate frameworks and requirements, to enabletimelyand effective decision-making andplanning.

Conduct regular reviews of investment proposals under development andprogrammesin delivery, tomonitorcompliance with agreed due diligence and risk management protocols, ensuring the interests and reputation of the Foundation are appropriately and proportionately protected.Intervenetotake corrective action where necessary.

Personally oversee an end-to-end caseload of liveprogrammeswith a valueexceeding$100m,in accordance withthethematic priorities and plan.

Sectorknowledgeandecosystem building

Act as an ambassador for CIFF externally, including working with the CIFFOrganisation&Ecosystem Development Team (CEDOEcoDev) to design and execute an ecosystem building strategy that builds capacity,coherenceand coordination across the ecosystemCIFF supports.

Work collaboratively with other members of the Climate Executive Team and the CEDO Office to conduct ecosystem evaluations of national, regional,sectoraland global partner ecosystems, and then investaccordinglyin actively strengthening those ecosystems, including through convening,trainingand upskilling,coachingand mentoring senior leaders, and strengthening partner relationships.

Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and bilateral donor communityonrelevant subject areas.

Provide input to the development of the Business Plan to the ClimateGlobalLeadershipTeam, asappropriate.

Stakeholder and partner management

In accordance withagreed account management principles and plans,identify,cultivateand manage relationships with nominated key partners / stakeholders, to support the achievement of Foundation and Sector Teamobjectivesin a coordinated manner.

Develop andmaintainexcellent external relationships within the sector and on a cross-cutting climate basis,acting at all timesas a corporate ambassador for CIFF, to help build the organisation’s reputation and profile as a professional,visionaryand 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.

Leadership of the team

Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and leadershipbehaviours,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 continuous improvement and learning.

Provide ongoing support to all direct reports (in manager and / or analyst roles), ensuring high performance is enabled through objectivesetting, clearaccountabilitiesand regular review.

Requirements

Demonstrable experience inrelevantareas such aspublic affairs,corporate decarbonization, transition finance,public communications strategies, and the political economy of climate change,preferablyacross 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.

Strong understanding of the roles and functions ofpolicymaking in key geographies inAsia, and / or EMDEs andEurope, including demonstrable experience of shaping or influencing climate or energy policy atregionalorcountrylevelorminilateral / multilateral level.

Experience commissioning,coordinatingand / orguidinga 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 embeddingnewapproachesinto existing team cultures, ideally with experience of deliveringchangeprogrammes

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 nationalcontextsand cultures, including fluency in anotherlanguage(s)(stronglydesirable) and a sensitivity / appreciation fordifferent stylesof communication.

Highly strategic thinker, able to consider thebroadand 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 equallycomfortableworking on micro and macro issues challenges.

Proven ability to boththinkstrategicallyanddeliver ‘on the ground’.

A strong understanding of goodgovernanceprinciples across a range of differentorganisationtypes (e.g.charities, limited companies) and an ability to be able to apply these principles to supportorganisationaldevelopment and strengthening.

Excellent leadership skills and proven ability to motivate, develop and hold to account a small- to medium-sized teams of professionals

Strong analytical and data management capabilities.

Proventrack recordin developing effectiverelationshipswith public and private sector stakeholders and senior colleagues, building partnerships, andleveragingresources.

Strongprogrammemanagement skills with a background of leading, inspiring,developingand empowering others.

Strong understanding of cost andfinancialmanagementprinciples and practices.

Innovative and creative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset, able to think critically and analytically to draw soundconclusionson the basis ofcomplex quantitative and qualitative data.

Passionate for change and an outstandingcommunicator.

Ability torepresenttheFoundationin high-level meetings, fostering mutually beneficial deals and partnerships that drive social impact.

Ability to present the Foundation’sprogrammesin a compelling way to engage the audience : credibleand professional.

Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts, adapting style and approach appropriately and in a culturally sensitive manner tomaximiseeffectiveness.

Track recordof coaching,mentoringand developing others.

An authentic leader and team player withhigh levelsof 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 allowance

Wellbeing allowance

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Please 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.