This is a 1 year fixed-term role in  CIFF’s India Climate Programme team, accountable for strategy development, leading on a number of significant programmes and programme implementation.

This includes, but is not limited to, taking leadership on India climate portfolio – clean energy transition in power sector, air quality, sustainable cooling, electric mobility, climate resilient agriculture, climate smart cities, and on the intersection of all the sectors at the sub-national level and taking a long-term view on what strategies, solutions, and partnerships are needed to deliver accelerated and reinforcing action.

The role will provide support to senior management and leadership for the large and growing India Climate portfolio and provide strategic direction for existing and future investments to ensure CIFF’s leadership on climate in India among other foundations and funders.

The role will include management of a high-quality portfolio of investment proposals and active programmes ($80-90 m direct, pipeline of $20m) that contribute to the delivery of the climate India team priorities and meet the corporate objectives of the CIFF Board.

This role will provide thought leadership on ‘India in the World’ programmes that leverage India’s strategic leadership in climate globally. Finally, implement cross-regional initiatives (for eg. electric mobility) in consultation with the wider team.

This position is based in CIFF’s Delhi office and may involve national and global travel.

Role’s responsibilities

Throughout the year

• Provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Director, Climate India and Executive Director (ED) India on national and sub-national development and economic insights and related issues, to support the development of Foundation strategies, and risk compliance in coordination with External Affairs and Communications team.
• Support corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects including CIFF Voice, and take the lead on some as required by the ED India and Director, Climate.
• Provide compelling, consistent and united support to the leadership team which creates clarity for all staff in the team and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.
• Lead in delivery of Clean Growth Mission and input into the development and delivery of other relevant Missions of the Climate and the India teams in collaboration with other team members.
• Prepare and present high-quality analysis and research for the Board/PICC, 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.
• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector specialism, 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.
• Support CIFF Leadership to establish and nurture strategic partnerships with critical government stakeholders and co-funders
• Proactively identify and manage reputational and compliance risk from with the portfolio. Ensure relevant due diligence and risk management practices are applied across the portfolio and at every stage
• Deputise for Director Climate, as required.

In the first six months

• Lead on the development of strategies and investment related to sectoral climate action, based on business plan 2025-2026
• Lead on implementation of and place based (sub-national) climate action.
• Horizon scan to focus on the funding needs and field capacity/skills needed to win over the next 2-5 years.
• Act as focal point for leading the implementation of the guidelines for CIFF’s internal Just Transition Strategic Framework across CIFF’s climate Missions, and coordinate with other relevant team for inclusion of principles as part of the equity toolkit.

In 6-12 months

• Personally manage a portfolio of active programmes in India with a value c. $48m (Drive Electric, Low-carbon Cities, Clean Air, Sub-national) and India in the World investments c.$8m; and develop an active pipeline of potential investments (as Mission), in accordance with the sector priorities and business plan.
• Maximise the value of CIFF India’s overall portfolio, especially leading on sectoral programmes on electric mobility, clean air, low-carbon agriculture, and power sector and assume responsibility for ensuring development and delivery of Sub-national Climate Action programmes, including existing and new investments.
• Lead on global initiatives through direct management of ‘India in the World’ programme on International Solar Alliance and other initiatives to demonstrate global reach of CIFF India’s work and well-coordinated engagement/feedback with the wider CIFF Climate team.
• Against key corporate and / or sector team indicators and targets, monitor and report internally on the performance of assigned portfolio.
• Conduct annual programme review of portfolio assigned and 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 proposal in accordance with business plan 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 with respect to India portfolio assigned, 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.
• Leading on identifying and embedding 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 subject matter expert on India climate, keeping abreast of developments, establishing appropriate information gathering networks and channels to deepen professional knowledge and skills, and sharing knowledge appropriately across the CIFF climate matrix structure.
• Through this credibility proactively contribute to the development of thought leadership, PR, marketing and information 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

• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential partners, 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.
• Lead the design and execution of strategies to strengthen CIFF’s partnerships to enable adoption, replication, co-funding or scaling-up of CIFF’s Sub-national Climate Action initiatives. This will include engaging with multi-funder coordination mechanism for effective programme delivery.
• Leading to bring the ecosystem of partners to align with the common theory of change to align on thought partnership to advance the climate mission
• 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 instils a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning – particularly on land-use and finance.
• Working with other teams within the India team and other locations to deliver across missions.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable experience in energy/climate policy or programme management at national or sub-national level, ideally in an area relevant to clean energy transition.
• Experience of working with government systems and/or experience policy and programme management of public agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations.
• Experience of working in/with the NGOs or the philanthropy sector or bilateral/multi-lateral institutions.
• Experience of working in India at national and sub-national level on clean energy transition.
• Skilled in relationship building and strengthening; able to influence others and work collaboratively, uniting groups with a shared purpose, experience of working with stakeholders of all levels (including very senior), internal and external stakeholder management.
• Strategic and systems thinker, able to think innovatively and creatively but with a pragmatic and solution-orientated mindset.
• Demonstrable experience in analysis and due diligence; policy, planning and programme delivery, including field experience, all within the environment/development sector.
• Knowledge of the evidence bases pertaining to programme design and implementation, and belief in the importance of evidence-based decision making.
• Working knowledge of impact measurement and programme monitoring and evaluation.
• 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 and professional, they always present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience.
• A proven self-starter, who works with pace and resilience.
• 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.

Key working relationships

• CIFF Board members
• Other CIFF teams – particularly functional teams (e.g., legal, HR, finance, strategic affairs)
• Co-funders
• Global institutional partners/stakeholders
• National and international NGOs
• National governments, state governments and local NGO partners in priority geographies
• Research and academic institutions active within sector specialism

Management dimensions

• Responsibility for personal portfolio c. $56m and a pipeline of c.$10m/yr and delivery targets
• Contributes to the effective performance of the sector’s whole portfolio and CIFF India Office
• Support Senior Programme Officer/Programme Officer.

Benefits

The starting salary for this role is INR 51,61,810 – This is a 12 Month Fixed Term Contract.

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.
• Bonus – CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme.
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before 16th October 2024.