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 1.5 deg C.

This role is fast-paced and incredibly diverse. The climate team works in a matrix structure and you will have the opportunity to work on a wide portfolio of climate change programmes across a number of sectors and geographies. This role will predominantly support the climate team’s Europe and on International Diplomacy cluster. Responsibilities could range from managing aspects of CIFF’s strategic communications portfolio through to analysing trends in regional and global governance and emerging technologies. The role is likely to need to flex across different themes, as well as go deep into specific aspects of one area, and will always involve collaborating with the wider CIFF team. Specific responsibilities will be determined by business need and the candidate’s interests and expertise.

CIFF has a growing climate portfolio and as well managing and enhancing existing grants this role will also be involved in developing new strategies and grants. To thrive in the role, you will need to be motivated by fast paced and diverse work that incorporates both thematic aspects (e.g. developing strategies, acting as the team lead for certain areas) and programme management and the administration of grants (e.g. adopting a commercial mindset to agree contracts and budgets with grantees, reporting and evaluating grantee progress, maintaining a focus on objectives and results). The work is fascinating, varied, collaborative and can be demanding. It is a perfect stepping stone for someone looking to develop a career in climate action/ policy/ philanthropy/ the not-for-profit sector.

CIFF is one of the largest philanthropic funders both in international development and climate change mitigation and offers 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.

Strategy & planning

• Support the development of programme proposals, which may include preparing aspects of the programme strategy and evidence base, drawing on insights from across CIFF and with partner organisations.
• Conduct and manage insightful research and analysis on specific programmes, trends and mitigation opportunities, working closely with our grantees and partners who are leaders in the field.
• Provide and communicate global, regional, national and sectoral insights both verbally and in writing, which contribute to the strategy and planning process.
• Support the Executive Director (ED) and Senior Management Team (SMT) in the organisation, coordination, documentation and professional presentation of outputs from the strategy and planning process.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Lead the end-to-end administration of the grants management process (from concept formation through to final payment), suggesting improvements where appropriate, to enable theteam to deliver and monitor its philanthropic activity efficiently and effectively.
• 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 team to coordinate the forecasting of grant payments, to enable effective cash flow management and reporting within the organisation.
• Act as ‘Super-User’ for a range of IT systems and databases for the team, ensuring they are deployed appropriately to optimise the efficiency and effectiveness of its work, and trouble- shooting issues if they arise.
• Support the development and preparation of summary reports, board reports and portfolio investment reports, to ensure these are produced to a high standard and in a timely fashion.
• Work closely with the Evidence Measurement and Evaluation (EME) team to identify and embed appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes for all proposals and programmes, to contract evaluations and analyse programme data on a regular basis.
• In collaboration with partners, conduct regular reviews of programme performance to identify problems and delays and implement effective solutions.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Working closely with the relevant teams, build and maintain a range of relevant knowledge and information resources, to enable the Climate team to access high quality intelligence, analysis and data to inform current and future programme activity.
• Provide administrative support to assist in the production and presentation of high-quality thought leadership, PR and marketing materials for the Climateteam, ensuring compliance with corporate branding and communications guidelines.

Undertake other specific research projects required, as directed by members of the team.

Stakeholder and partner management

• In accordance with corporate guidelines and requirements, maintain accurate and up-to-date records and systems on behalf of the team, to ensure CIFF can take a coordinated and professional approach to managing stakeholders and partners.
• Act as the first point of contact for external enquiries about the work of the Sector or requests to partner with CIFF, to ensure these are dealt with in a professional and timely way.
• Collate research and information on potential and current partners/stakeholders as required, to support the effective development of relationships and opportunities by the team.

Membership of the team

• This role does not hold line management responsibility, but we expect all employees to demonstrate good leadership behaviours; 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 meaningful experience working in a climate focussed organisation and looking to take that experience further. This could include experience in an NGO, think tank, public or private sector.
• Familiarity with the global climate policy and political landscape and a good understanding of the political and policy-making process – and the role civil society plays in that – in at least one of the geographies CIFF operates in.
• Experience multitasking and managing priorities to competing deadlines, thrives on diversity of a role.
• Strong communication skills and excellent oral and written English required. Additional language skills an asset.
• Track record of managing and building trust-based relationships internally and externally with a range of partners, operating across a range of cultural contexts
• 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.
• Result-orientated.
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Key working relationships

• Other CIFF teams – particularly Finance and Evidence, Measurement and Evaluation
• Contacts within global partners and stakeholders
• Contacts within international charities and NGOs
• Contacts within national governments and local NGO partners in the Europe region

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is GBP 36,800

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees works 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. All these will be prorated to the fixed term.

• 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 6th October 2023.