Assistance jobs in United Kingdom

Main purpose of the role:

As a recognised expert in climate change policy and the political economy of climate change both globally and across Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs), the role holder will lead the development of cutting edge, impactful and evidence-based strategies and plans that ensure CIFF’s work achieves transformational and lasting change. The role holder will have extensive experience in considering and deploying a wide range of levers to achieve scalable impact, including data and evidence building, policy development and advocacy, transparency and accountability initiatives, public engagement, technical assistance, capacity and ecosystem building, among others.

The role holder will oversee the design and implementation of a portfolio of strategies and programmes with a focus on clean growth in EMDEs. They will also contribute to ensuring that the whole Climate portfolio is implemented with a critical focus on strategic discipline, operational mastery, quality, partnerships and ecosystem strengthening that makes the most of CIFF’s unique role in the philanthropic sector in addressing the climate crisis.

The role holder will play a key role in promoting and maintaining a dynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity and risk taking and seizes opportunities for improvement. The post holder will also ensure that the skills and knowledge are in place internally, and within the extended grantee network, to execute the Climate strategy and deliver impact. They will use extensive experience and leadership skills to coach and mentor the Climate team, other teams across the organisation and partners as necessary. The role holder will play a key role in putting CIFF’s ecosystem building approach into practice across the climate portfolio.

Role’s responsibilities

As a member of the Climate Executive Team (CET):

• Take full and collective accountability for the development and implementation of Climate priorities and plans, ensuring they are aligned to the Foundation Strategy, and in support of the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director Climate.
• Work closely with Executive Director Office ensuring that feedback from stakeholders, shareholders, team, partners, and the wider CET is always reflected on the Climate continuous improvement agenda and priority actions.
• As a recognised subject-matter expert across climate (e.g., climate policy, government technical assistance, private sector engagement, EMDE political economy, campaigning, international relations, climate finance, strategic communications, etc.), the role holder will provide up-to-date, professional advice to the CET and CIFF Board on related issues, to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.
• Support the CIFF Executive Team and Trustees to develop and implement the ‘CIFF Voice’, with particular recognition of the unique perspective of EMDEs. Aim to maximise the impact of our partners’ work through careful public engagement, providing expert advice on corporate communications approaches and political and reputational risk management.
• As a Global Director in the team, 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, including role-modelling matrix working, coaching leadership and fostering team cohesiveness.
• As a Global Director build highly-effective, trust-based relationships across the CIFF Climate team and other parts of the organisation (e.g. CEO Office) given the cross-cutting nature of CIFF’s work on clean growth and development.
• Provide oversight and cohesion across the Climate team, offering inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s Code of Respect and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.
• 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 of Respect top of mind.
• Adopt a coaching approach within the Climate team, and 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,
• As a Global Director, the role holder may be required to take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the CIFF Executive Team – this may include work not directly in the core subject-matter expertise.
• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships with governments, grantees and the wider ecosystem of CIFF partners, 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.
• Deputise for the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director Climate, as required.

Strategy & planning

• Develop and be accountable for the medium-term plan for achieving CIFF’s Climate aspirations, as required by business need.
• Stay connected to relevant geopolitical trends and new developments that could impact the strategy and reflect these appropriately from convening other organisations CIFF can work with including philanthropies and bilateral and multilateral donors.
• Bring catalytic and innovative new thinking to our existing and new portfolios to scale the work and maximize the impact.
• Work across teams at CIFF to ensure coherence and coordination between the agendas within Climate and the wider Foundation.
• Contribute to all major cross-team decisions, take on cross-team responsibilities and lead on addressing any team issues on behalf of the Chief Ecosystem Development Officer & Executive Director Climate and aligned to the wider organizational objectives.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and the implementation of high impact programmes by a team of Directors, 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.
• 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.
• Ensure CIFF Climate strategies and all related investment proposals and programmes are underpinned by appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes and procedures, including appropriate OKR frameworks and data systems (dashboards); this enables the development of rigorous evidence and analysis that supports CIFF’s advocacy, scaling-up and mainstreaming agendas.
• Provide casework advice, specialist guidance and mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.
• Ensure that appropriate procedures and frameworks are in place to support the effective leveraging and scaling-up of successful programmes and initiatives.
• Review the processes and procedures in place across the team, to identify and implement improved ways of working that increase operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• 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.
• Drive the continuous improvement of the programme portfolio programmes - troubleshooting, finding solutions to problems and overcoming barriers as well as making good programmes better - and ensuring that course correction or scaling and sustainability plans are executed efficiently, effectively and at pace.

Sector knowledge and ecosystem building

• 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.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the team to conduct ecosystem assessments 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.
• 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 Executive Director, CIO, 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 Climate, and other Global Climate Directors, as needed.
• Provide up-to-date, professional advice to PIC, the CIFF Board, the CEO and other members of the Executive Team on climate related matters and the portfolio to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.
• 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)

Skills & Experience

• Deep knowledge and understanding of the Climate sector, including having held roles at a senior level in philanthropy, civil society and/or government, with deep experience, lived or through deep professional engagement, in EMDEs.
• Recognised as a subject-matter expert in an area relevant to Climate Sector’s strategy focus (as evidenced via publications and/or previous programme delivery), with a track record of working successfully in one of CIFF’s priority geographies
• Recognised thought leader known for strategic ambition, excellence in execution and partnership development. Capable of inspiring people internally and externally to achieve new levels of performance.
• High personal resilience, including the ability to build resilience across them throughout the team through a combination of empathy, coaching, support, while not compromising on excellence and ambitious delivery.
• Highly strategic thinker, able to consider the broad and complex geopolitical dimensions of the financial system and define a clear path to action that delivers impact and system-wide change.
• Experienced senior leader who is equally comfortable working on micro and macro issues challenges. Proven ability to both think strategically and deliver ‘on the ground’.
• 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, as well as excellent communication skills.
• Significant people leadership experience, including experience of leading senior level teams, and proven ability to empower, motivate, develop and hold to account a large team of professionals.
• Strong understanding of cost and financial management principles and practices.
• A combination of advanced technical knowledge and experience of influencing complex systems, with a nimble problem-solving mindset, and highly motivated using performance management techniques to maximise results.
• Detailed understanding of metrics to inform strategy and business planning.
• 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 organization in high-level negotiations, fostering mutually beneficial deals and partnerships that drive social impact.
• Ability to present the foundation’s 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.
• Deep commitment to localisation, including a humble and empowering approach to leadership, both internally and externally.

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 31st July 2025. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.