About the European Climate Foundation

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) was founded in 2008 as a major philanthropic initiative to help tackle climate change by fostering the development of a low-carbon society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 280 partner organisations to carry out activities that contribute to the public debate on climate action, drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero emissions economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

About the role

As the Senior Associate for Food, Nature and Climate, you will be part of the ECF’s Strategic Communications team. The ECF’s Strategic Communications team is the communications unit of the foundation. Its role is to act as a centre of expertise for communication on climate change and to play an active role in helping create more political, media and public endorsement for action at an international, national and sectoral level.

This role will help deliver our finance / biodiversity strategic communications workstream – managing the portfolio of projects, prospecting for new projects and advising on how strategic communications and campaigning can help increase perceptions of material risk to the financial community.

It will involve a deep knowledge of the issues and partners in this space, diplomacy in approaching and engaging partners, and proven record in understanding how to achieve change, alongside a familiarity with philanthropy.

This role is an exciting opportunity for someone with a proven track record in managing innovative projects that can change the media scrutiny and public awareness at the nexus of Biodiversity and Finance.

This job offers an excellent opportunity to engage with and support a new workstream around Strategic Communications within the ECF. The post holder will play a key role in co-developing strategy, providing strategic advice to partners and funders and seizing opportunities to deliver political change.

Key responsibilities

• Strategy co-development and advice: co-developing influencing strategies alongside partners and funders that can help bring about structural change and transformational action around the interface of food, nature and finance. 

• Prospecting and Adapting: supporting the Director in scoping opportunities on the nexus nature, food and finance that can change the politics and economics of the issue, as well as identifying potential new partners and projects to boost our portfolio
• Project Management and Planning: Managing multi-partner projects aimed at transforming the political economy of the food, nature and climate system.
• Networking: building relationships and partnerships with key individuals across civil society, communications and progressive business.
• Accountability and Reporting: providing updates and feedback to our funders around the multiple workstreams and projects underway.

Experience and competencies

We are seeking a candidate with

• A genuine interest in the mission and values of the ECF
• 5+ years of experience supporting and delivering successful strategic political and communication campaigns around the nexus of food, nature and climate
• Deep understanding of the political and power structures that shape biodiversity loss
• Experience in engaging and influencing audiences from the financial community  
• Natural collaborator and coalition builder, with the disposition to work generously to forge rich and trusted partnerships with a diverse range of organisations and individuals and well-established professional networks
• Familiar with philanthropic practices to help foster partnerships with our stakeholders
• Agile and enabling leader, to adapt to changes in the politics and circumstances, with the ability to deliver and implement through others
• Strong experience in project and programme management, as well as team leadership
• Very strong verbal, written and presentation skills in English
• Proven track record of working in an environment that demands professionalism, discretion and confidentiality
• A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate, nutrition and biodiversity challenges

• Experience of working in a global network and comfortable with multicultural settings

Desirable

• Experience in engaging philanthropic foundations
• Knowledge of another language

What we offer

• The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, small team who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work


• On-the-job mentoring and a space to develop and challenge yourself

• A 12-month fixed term contract with the possibility for extension

Location

London. Homeworking may be requested in line with government regulations on Covid-19.

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please upload below in English:

1. CV
2. Short cover letter (500 words maximum) expressing your interest and expertise on this issue, as well as earliest availability.

Candidates need to be in the possession of a work permit for the work location, if applicable.

All applications will be treated confidentially. We will store your information in our internal database unless you specifically request otherwise.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from disadvantaged or marginalised groups to apply.