CIFF operates a hybrid working policy across all locations, which means employees work some of the time 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.

The starting salary for this role is USD 46,200 per annum.

Main purpose of the role

The CIFF Climate team is driven by a vision of a climate-safe future for today’s children and future generations. We support the urgent global transition to a zero-carbon society. We are committed to strategies that get to the heart of the greatest climate challenges and are willing to support new approaches to accelerate action and the step-change in ambition required to keep global warming below 1.50 C.

CIFF has a growing climate portfolio that includes resilient communities, cities, clean energy transition through reforms in the power sector; cooling and energy efficiency; solutions for clean air; and climate policy. New initiatives relate to transport decarbonization; low carbon agriculture and nature-based solutions; climate finance and disclosure; and industrial decarbonization.

This role is fast-paced and incredibly diverse with support to CIFF’s Africa and Climate strategies that seek to invest in and grow climate resiliency in the continent. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide portfolio of climate change programmes across a number of sectors and/or geographies. You will provide programme management overview, a lead and oversight of administrative and research support, with the opportunity to manage and lead your own grants and partnerships.

CIFF is one of the largest philanthropic funders both in international development and climate change offering a broad range of opportunities to work with leading experts in their fields as well as ongoing learning and development opportunities including a personal allowance to be spent on any relevant career training every year. Your contribution will be integral to supporting CIFF and our partners – some of the best climate actors in the field – to deliver CIFF’s ambitious climate agenda.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Prior to approval of a programme proposal, assist the team in preparing aspects of the programme strategy and evidence base, working with wider teams and in country experts.
• Conduct and support insightful research and analysis on specific projects and climate sector trends – including but not limited to adaptation strategies, land use and food systems; access to clean energy, climate resilience; adaptation; and climate finance – to assist the Africa Climate Team to determine strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
• Provide global, regional, national and sectoral insights, and communicate them verbally and in writing to a variety of senior stakeholders, and to contribute to the strategy and planning process.
• Annually support the team in providing input for Business Planning, preparation of budgets, and additional support by working across several teams.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Lead the end-to-end oversight and administration of the management process of the grants assigned (from concept formation, proposal development, approval process through to final payment) suggesting improvements where appropriate, enable the Africa Climate team to deliver and monitor its philanthropic activity efficiently and effectively and ensuring impact.
• Lead the preparation and dissemination of regular and ad hoc reporting on sector/portfolio/programme performance, to ensure colleagues and partners (as required) have access to accurate and relevant management information.
• Work closely with members of the Finance and Legal team for the development of grant agreements, forecasting of grant payments, to enable effective grant management and reporting within the organisation.
• Act as ‘Super-User’ for CIFF’s online grants management system for the team, ensuring they are deployed appropriately to optimise the efficiency and effectiveness of grant management.
• Support the preparation of summary reports, board reports and portfolio investment reports, to ensure these are produced to a high standard and in a timely fashion – which can often mean to high quality in very short timeframes.
• Sector knowledge and profile-building
• Build and maintain a range of relevant sectoral knowledge and information resources to enable the Climate team to access high quality intelligence, analysis and data to inform current and future programme activity – always seeking to add value and join the dots.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners across multiple locations and geographies to conduct research projects to inform the Africa Climate team’s grant making activities and support global strategic partnerships.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Maintain good and productive relationships with our partners and grantees, which can include dealing with senior experts from around the world.
• Build the climate teams capabilities to make broader changes by building and maintaining a network of individuals and organisations both current and new that can drive bigger changes.
• Organise and manage cross departmental workshops and brainstorm sessions, taking meeting minutes, circulating briefing papers, and strengthening knowledge management for the team.
• Coordinate logistics for CIFF programme visits and ensure that visitors/consultants/partners are adequately briefed.

Membership of the team

• This role does not hold line management responsibility, but we expect all employees to demonstrate good leadership behaviours and in line with CIFF’s Code of Respect; and this includes adopting a coaching approach with colleagues to help build skills, confidence and capability in particular areas, processes or procedures.
• As required, support on the planning and coordination of inductions for new joiners to the team.
• We operate a matrix structure so reporting lines can vary between specific aspects of the role.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Gained some experience working in a development/climate focused organisation and looking to take that experience further.
• Familiarity with the development and climate policy landscape and contextual knowledge of climate adaptation and mitigation programmes.
• Experience multitasking and managing priorities to competing deadlines, thrives on diversity of a role.
• Excellent communication skills and excellent oral and written English required.
• Track record of managing many relationships internally and externally with partners, grantees, government departments, policy think tanks, research institutions and other donor organisations.
• Familiarity with advocacy or capacity building
• Track record of strong interpersonal skills and working well as a team player
• Approach situations strategically, methodically and with a high degree of rigour
• Entrepreneurial mindset, highly adaptive and energetic
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts
• Able to travel internationally and willing to work flexible hours
• Experience in working for bilateral and multilateral organisations will be added advantage.

Key working relationships

• Other CIFF teams – particularly Finance, Legal, and EME
• Contacts within global partners and stakeholders – e.g. FCDO, World Bank, USAID et al
• Contacts within international charities and NGOs – e.g. Gates Foundation, Save the Children, Oxfam et al
• Contacts within national governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies

Management dimensions

• No direct budget or people management accountability, but contributes the efficient operation of their team that will require strong knowledge in financial and operational processes.

Benefits

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.
• Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance

Please submit your application on or before 12 May 2023.