Senior Project Manager, COP26

European Climate Foundation London United Kingdom Project Management
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Company Description

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.

Position

About the role

In December 2020 the UK will play host to a meeting of countries from around the world to further international cooperation on climate action. The meeting, COP26, is a critical moment for the Paris Agreement as it is the moment when countries agreed to update their climate action efforts by enhancing their objectives and concrete measures for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, adapting to climate change, and financing the climate transition.

Working closely with the CEO, Director of the International Group, and UK Programme in particular, along with other programmes across the European Climate Foundation (ECF), the COP26 Senior Project Manager will play a leading role in driving and implementing COP26 strategy and activities, both internally within ECF and externally. This will involve engaging with a wide variety of partners conducting activities around and directly related to COP26 (including strategic partners, funders and grantees); engaging with policy makers and officials from UK, European, and International governments; and helping coordinate and manage ECF internal COP26 activities.

Key responsibilities

The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for:

  • Strategy design and implementation: work with the CEO, Directors and other Programmes to develop, refine, and unite the co-developed ECF COP26 strategy, priorities, workplan, and budgets; co-developing and implementing strategies with our network of grantees and partners; monitoring and evaluating progress and impact of initiatives and grants.
  • Strategic networking: build and maintain partnerships with key individuals across the policymaking, business and civil society communities in the UK, Europe, and Internationally as necessary; convening meetings; representing ECF at meetings, debriefing ECF and organising follow-up.
  • Support to CEO: Work closely with CEO to support her high-level engagement across European and international diplomacy; ensure strategic consistency between CEO activities and ECF strategy.
  • Project management: supporting the Directors and teams to manage and monitor the delivery of key work stream deliverables through frequent communication with partners, colleagues and funders, ensuring accountability.
  • Internal coordination and communication: liaising with ECF’s programmes and the organisation’s operations and communications teams to ensure proper and timely dissemination of information, and consistency and complementarity of different projects and work streams.
  • Grant-making: identifying key grantees in collaboration with the ECF programmes, liaising with some key grantees.
  • Donor Engagement: Act as one of the key points of contact on COP26 for ECF’s funders and other members of the philanthropic community across Europe and elsewhere; this includes working closely with ECF’s External Relations team to manage fundraising processes, funding proposal writing, and funder reporting as required.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who has experience of delivering impactful, multistakeholder projects, with a preference for those who have demonstrated experience with climate change projects and have experience of working with philanthropic donors.

The ideal Senior Project Manager would have the following attributes:

  • 5+ years experience in either a public authority, a civil society organisation, or a company working in the climate field;
  • Proven track record of working strategically in an environment that demands professionalism, discretion and confidentiality;
  • Strong diplomatic and networking skills that enable relationship building and effective collaboration with a diverse group of partners;
  • Strategic agile leader, with the ability to follow through with smart and adaptive implementation plans;
  • Structured, driven and able to manage many processes simultaneously;
  • An in-depth understanding of UNFCCC process. A good understanding of EU and UK Politics, governance structure and processes would be an advantage;  
  • Excellent collaboration and influencing skills;
  • An independent self-starter able to work on his/her own as well as part of a team;
  • Excellent written and verbal communications in English;
  • Ability to crystallise complex issues into comprehensive and accessible strategy documents and presentations.

Other information

What we offer

  • The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work;
  • A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself;
  • An 18-month, full-time contract.

Location

London

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please upload below:

  1. CV (in English)
  2. short cover letter expressing your motivation for this role (in English)

Only applications following the HOW TO APPLY instructions will be considered for the role!