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.

CIFF has a growing climate portfolio that includes 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.

The role is specifically related to our global work on finance and corporate accountability. This programme focuses on supporting financial, corporate and regulatory decision-makers to take action in line with the Paris Agreement.

The role is fast-paced and diverse. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide portfolio of climate change mitigation programmes across a number of sectors and geographies. You will provide programme management overview, an 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 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.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Working alongside senior colleagues, collate and/or conduct analysis and research on specific projects and sector trends related to finance and corporate accountability, as required, to support the Climate Sector senior management team (SMT) in determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.

• 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 SMT in the organisation, coordination, documentation and professional presentation of outputs from the strategy and planning process.

• 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.

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 the team 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 team to access high quality intelligence, analysis and data to inform current and future programme activity.

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

• Provide administrative support to assist in the production and presentation of high-quality thought leadership, PR and marketing materials for the team, ensuring compliance with corporate branding and communications guidelines.

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

• Understanding of relevant programming in CIFF’s priority impact areas

• Previous work experience in the private sector, public sector or an international development context

• Demonstrates professional, sound judgement; can think critically, objectively and strategically

• Strong interpersonal skills – engages with others to get the best out of them and works well as part of a team

• Effective organisational and project management skills; able to be flexible as priorities and needs change, and works well under pressure

• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all of our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role

• 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

• IT proficiency (most specifically in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Ability to work well independently; a motivated self-starter, with good initiative and problem-solving skills

Key working relationships

• Other CIFF teams – particularly Finance, Ecosystem Development, and EME

• Contacts within global partners and stakeholders – e.g. GFANZ, OECD, UNFCCC et al

• Contacts within international charities and NGOs – e.g. investor networks, regranters, philanthropic partners et al

• Contacts within national governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies

Management dimensions

• No direct budget or people management accountability, but manages a range of grantee relationships and contributes to the efficient operation of their team.

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is GBP 36,800 per annum.

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

Please submit your application on or before 1st July 2024. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.