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.

This role will be responsible for managing CIFF’s cross-cutting work on the power sector, heavy industry, and critical mineral supply chains. They will manage CIFF’s engagement in a number of global initiatives and will also look to find innovative ways of further integrating our global activity with our regional work to accelerate climate action, and vice versa. Reporting into the Head of Energy Transition, the post holder will also collaborate extensively with our regional leads in Europe, India, China, Southeast Asia and Africa, and our Director of Cities and Transport.

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 your specialist subject knowledge (e.g., developing strategies, acting as the team expert) 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 would suit someone with proven experience working on the energy transition. A range of experience in government, the private sector or civil society would all bring valuable skills to the role.

Role’s responsibilities

Strategy & planning

• Support the development of strategies related to the power sector, industry, and critical mineral supply chains at a global level (working closely with our regional experts)
• Horizon scan to identify the funding needs and field capacity/skills needed to achieve accelerate decarbonisation in these sectors over the next 2-5 years.
• Prepare and present high-quality analysis and research for the Board/Investment Committee, as required, to support determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.
• Lead the production of programme strategy and the associated evidence base, guiding and coaching other members of the climate team to provide relevant inputs, prior to a proposal’s submission for approval.
• Input to organisation-wide strategy development and implementation linked to these areas of responsibility, including contributing to risk management and corporate communications / external affairs.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Personally manage a portfolio of live programmes with a value of c.$35m.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of CIFF’s regional strategies, building strong working relationships with Regional Climate Directors and Managers, as required.
• Guide and coach members of climate team, to maximise CIFF’s impact and support the personal growth and development of team members.
• Against key corporate and / or sector team indicators and targets, monitor and report internally on the performance of assigned portfolio.
• Instigate course correcting action when targets are not being met or investments are not delivering as expected.
• Lead accountability for applying due diligence and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of proposals and programmes, to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected.
• Conduct structured feasibility analysis on investment proposals, using an appropriate range of methodologies and techniques, to ensure they are based on logical and robust assumptions, which can withstand scrutiny from the Executive Team (ET) and CIFF Board.
• Lead work either with sector colleagues or independently, to prepare summary reports, board reports and portfolio investment reports, ensuring these are produced to a high-standard and in a timely fashion, often within tight timeframes.
• Lead the development of grant agreements, to forecast and process grant payments and to enable effective grant management and reporting within the organisation.
• Lead engagement with the sector team’s Evidence, Measurement and Evaluation (EME) Business Partner, to identify and embed appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes to all proposals and programmes.
• Conduct regular reviews of the progress and performance of programmes under delivery to identify problems and delays, and work with partners to develop effective solutions (escalating to more senior colleagues for support and intervention, where required).
• Identify opportunities and options for improving processes, procedures, and programme management approaches within (and beyond) the team, to support increased organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Be CIFF’s expert on global trends in the decarbonisation of the power sector, heavy industry and the critical mineral supply chains that will need to evolve to deliver a net zero energy sector by mid-century.
• Using this credibility, proactively contribute to the development of thought leadership, PR, marketing, and advocacy materials, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale-up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives, with minimal Director oversight.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Work directly with, and support CIFF’s CEO and Executive Director, Climate and Directors to support them in their interactions with funders and grantees linked with this portfolio.
• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential grantees, using agreed corporate protocols and techniques, to assess their suitability and credentials for collaborating on CIFF initiatives.
• Apply CIFF’s agreed account management disciplines and approaches in all dealings with programme partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships are maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner.
• With a variety of external audiences, develop and maintain strong partnerships and act as a knowledgeable resource about CIFF’s programmes and priority areas.

Membership and leadership of the team

• Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.
• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning – particularly on energy issues.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Experienced leader of significant projects and programmes. Proven experience in the energy sector across a range of regions – with a mix of private/public/NGO an advantage.
• Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, all within the climate or public policy sectors
• Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and belief in the importance of evidence-based decision making
• An innovative and entrepreneurial thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to analyse an organisation’s strength of management, vision, and adaptive capacity. Ability to recruit, guide, influence and/or advise management teams to effectively implement programmes
• Effectively champions and promotes causes – credible, humble, and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose
• English is CIFF’s business language – we expect all our people to display outstanding verbal and written communication skills across all aspects of their role.
• Capacity to work in a range of cultural, political, 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)
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience

Key working relationships

• CIFF Climate Directors and Executive Director, Climate
• CIFF Investment Committee members
• Other CIFF teams – particularly EME, External Affairs, and functional teams (e.g., legal, HR, finance)
• Other funders and global NGOs / stakeholder organisations (e.g. Hewlett, QCF)
• National governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies
• Research and academic institutions active within sector specialism

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is GBP 63,790

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 13th October 2023.