Climate Resilience Programme Officer

C40

Brussels, Belgium 🇧🇪

Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🇲🇾

Mexico City, Mexico 🇲🇽

New York, NY, USA 🇺🇸

São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷

London, UK 🇬🇧

Background 

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before. 

C40’s team of 300+ staff is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen and Beijing, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations, with the Office of the Chair based in London. 

The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors which is chaired by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, which is responsible for operational oversight. A nine-person management team, led by Executive Director, Mark Watts, leads the day-to-day management of C40. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and Realdania.

Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.

Diversity Statement

C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better. 

We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.

We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.

Department of Climate Solutions and Networks (CSN)

C40’s Climate Solutions and Networks team oversees five programme areas focused on priority climate action sectors and interventions: Energy and Buildings; Transportation and Planning; Waste and Food; Air Quality; and Climate Resilience. Under these programmes, C40 operates more than 15 networks that facilitate city-to-city best practice sharing on a particular climate action area such as Cool Cities Network or Urban Flooding Network (as part of the Adaptation Implementation programme), and support cities to deliver on the mayoral commitments made through C40’s Urban Nature Accelerator, Green & Healthy Streets, Net Zero Carbon Buildings, Advancing Towards Zero Waste, Good Food Cities and Clean Air Cities Accelerator. A number of these programmes and networks also provide technical assistance support to cities, often in conjunction with other C40 teams and programmes.

Position Description

We are looking for two programme officers, one based in the time zones of Europe, Africa or Asia and the other based in either North or Latin America.

These programme officer roles will support the delivery of the Climate Resilience Programme at C40.  They will ensure quality delivery across a portfolio of activities and projects to achieve the overall objectives of the climate resilience programme within C40. They will support the senior specialists in network or other programmatic delivery including opportunity mapping, work planning, facilitation, coordination, production of materials, and reporting.

They will be passionate about addressing climate change and be excited by the opportunity to work with pioneering cities around the world to help them realise opportunities to accelerate climate change preparedness. The successful candidate must combine strong organisational and communication skills with an interest in working on and learning about climate change policy. The ideal candidate will be a natural organiser, intellectually and technically curious, and a motivated self-starter who can handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. 

The successful candidates will have the opportunity to further develop skills and understanding in climate adaptation and urban governance and a range of related subject areas, gaining valuable experience working with international colleagues in a fast-paced and exciting global organisation.

Responsibilities: 

  • Support the management and logistical operations of the climate resilience programme
  • Coordinate and support other C40 teams for integrating adaptation in their work. 
  • Meeting reporting requirements of activities undertaken within the climate resilience programme and cities within the urban flooding, urban heat, coastal cities, and water security networks. 
  • Supporting the development of technical narratives on the intersection of  urban flooding, urban heat, coastal cities, and water security on city sectors and services.
  • Lead the quarterly and annual reporting of adaptation actions undertaken by C40 cities.
  • Support the development and reporting KPIs for climate adaptation
  • Knowledge and information management of the work undertaken within the climate resilience portfolio, as well as liaising with wider teams in C40.
  • Development of knowledge products like case studies, persuasive and clear presentations, communication and narrative reports, and technical guidance developed, working closely with different sector experts.
  • Trend tracking (news, other organisations) for climate resilience, adaptation, urban nature, and related fields.
  • Supporting planning, delivery and reporting of specific activities as needed, like workshops, study tours and events.
  • Reviewing and writing of reports including copy-editing.
  • Process management for internal coordination and approvals.

Person Specification:

  • Working knowledge on climate resilience related to water and urban heat impacts, sustainability, environment or equivalent professional experience.
  • Working knowledge of cities, sustainability and climate adaptation is essential.
  • Workshops facilitation, training delivery and capacity building experience is desirable.
  • Demonstrable project management skills, including excellent organisation skills with the ability to meet a variety of deadlines.
  • Good problem-solving, strategic thinking and analytical capabilities.
  • Superior attention to detail.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills. Fluent in English essential; fluent in other languages a plus.
  • Proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently and be part of a team.
  • Interest or experience working across different cultures, languages and time zones.
  • Passionate about learning and building a career in climate action.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the country where they apply. Some travel may be required as part of the role. 

Reporting To: Director of Climate Resilience

Term: Fixed Term March 2026

Location: Brussels, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, London, Mexico City, New York, Sao Paulo

Salary: (Grade 5) Brussels EUR 53,102, Johannesburg ZAR 454,681, Kuala Lumpur MYR 87,277, London £42,000, Mexico MXN 502,171.55, New York USD 71,099, Sao Paulo USD 47,919

Application Process:

To apply, please submit an updated curriculum vitae and cover letter.

Closing date for applications is Thursday 30th March, 2023 at 5pm GMT. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

For any queries about the role, please contact careers@C40.org

C40 is an equal opportunities employer.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

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