58 Communications Director jobs in London

Main purpose of the role:

The political economy of climate change is fundamentally changing as the world moves from the so-called ‘era of ambition’ to the ‘era of implementation’. Already, this shift is influencing a new phase of geopolitics defined by competition, expansionism, geoeconomic volatility and worsening inequity. This poses profound challenges to global climate action, which are exacerbated by a rapidly changing information environment shaped by the rise of generative AI and mis and disinformation.

The Director, Climate (Strategic Communications & International Climate Action) provides strategic leadership across CIFF’s approach to climate communications, culture (including film and tv), public engagement and international climate governance (including but not limited to the UNFCC).

Based in CIFF’s London office, the role holder reports to the Global Director, Climate. as part of a cluster covering Europe, multilateral climate action, global energy and industry work, as well some specific country portfolios (e.g. UK, Mexico). Alongside the global components of this role, the role holder works closely with the other Directors in Climate to design and execute strategies for delivering on Europe’s climate ambitions, including to achieve at least 55% emissions reductions by 2030 and 90% by 2040. 90% by 2040. 90% by 2040.

The role holder brings deep thematic expertise in the political economy of climate change, and significant experience in implementing strategies that seek to understand and respond to public sentiment and secure effective and popular climate policies.

As a senior leader in the cluster and wider climate team, the role holder makes a major contribution to the overall success and impact of CIFF’s climate portfolio, including delivery of the annual business plan. They oversee a global grants portfolio exceeding $100m in multi-year value, and are responsible for both strategy development, active programme management (including course correction when necessary) and representing the Foundation externally. They play a vital role in building capacity and knowledge across both the CIFF Climate team and the wider global climate ecosystem, including through grantees and matrix management of particular projects and strategies.

As a member of the Director cadre, the role holder contributes deep subject matter expertise, humility, resilience, entrepreneurship, and the ability to design and build support for diverse and innovative grant-making strategies.

They play a key role in promoting and maintaining a healthy organisational culture, including creating a dynamic learning environment that celebrates curiosity and risk taking and seizes opportunities for improvement. The role holder ensures that the skills and knowledge are in place internally and within the extended grantee network to deliver excellence in execution of the Climate strategy.

Role’s responsibilities

As a member of the Climate Director Cadre:

• As a recognised subject-matter expert in global climate governance and aspects of strategic communications (e.g. public engagement, elite media and journalism, narrative development and testing, film and TV), provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Global Director, Climate and the CIFF Executive Team (ET) on related issues, to support the development of Foundation strategies, policies and initiatives.
• Together with the other Directors in Climate provide inspiring, coherent and united strategy across the cluster led by the Global Director, Climate; primarily creating a clear and unified experience across joint ecosystem grantees.
• Ensure that a focus on individual and team wellbeing is a key consideration in the effective delivery of the Climate portfolio, holding Directors and Line Managers to account and keeping CIFF’s Code of Respect top of mind
• Adopt a coaching approach within the Climate team, with other CIFF colleagues and across the ecosystem which builds capability and confidence, instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning. Ensure that the skills and knowledge are in place to deliver the Climate strategy,
• Take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects, as required by the Executive Team – this may include work not directly in the core subject-matter. In particular, supporting the broader foundation in matters of risk management and crisis communications, in close collaboration with CIFF’s External Affairs team.
• Provide compelling, consistent and united leadership which creates clarity for all staff in the team and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.
• Deputise for the Global Director, Climate, as required.

Strategy & planning

• Be jointly responsible for the design, delivery and reporting related to CIFF’s Global Europe Mission team, alongside the other Directors in Climate and with oversight from the Global Director, Climate.
• Act as an in-house strategic advisor to the CIFF Climate team on communications and public engagement strategies, supporting the roll-out of an insights and evidence-based approach to strategic communications across CIFF Climate Missions and enabling portfolios.
• Lead the development and implementation of the team’s International Climate Diplomacy and Multilateralism portfolio, which acts as an enabler for CIFF’s wider portfolio, to ensure the effective prioritization of resources and activities.
• Stay connected to relevant societal and political trends and new developments that could impact the strategy and reflect these appropriately in internal meetings and strategy design/execution.
• Bring catalytic and innovative new thinking to our existing and new portfolios to scale the work and maximize the impact, with a focus on strategic communications and advocacy.
• Work across teams at CIFF to ensure coherence and coordination between the agendas within Climate and the wider Foundation.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Oversee both the development of successful investment proposals and the implementation of high impact programmes by a team of Managers and Analysts, ensuring the quality, timeliness and strategic alignment of their work to Foundation priorities and objectives.
• Allocate and monitor achievement of individual targets for pipeline, new investments and grant draw-down for all relevant team members, to ensure the team meets its objectives for programme development and delivery.
• Lead the integration of public sentiment data and insights into CIFF’s Mission OKR frameworks and data systems (dashboards) to support evidence-based decision making, and reporting to the Climate Investment Committee (PICC) and Board of Trustees.
• Provide programme advice, specialist guidance and mentoring support to colleagues (within and beyond the team) to deepen the skills, capability and professionalism of the organisation.
• Lead the collection and analysis of team performance data and management information, in accordance with CIFF corporate frameworks and requirements, to enable timely and effective decision-making and planning.
• Conduct regular reviews of investment proposals under development and programmes in delivery, to monitor compliance with agreed due diligence and risk management protocols, ensuring the interests and reputation of the Foundation are appropriately and proportionately protected. Intervene to take corrective action where necessary.
• Personally oversee an end-to-end caseload of live programmes with a value exceeding $100m, in accordance with the thematic priorities and plan.

Sector knowledge and ecosystem building

• Act as an ambassador for CIFF externally, including working with the CIFF Organisation & Ecosystem Development Team (CEDO) to design and execute an ecosystem building strategy that builds capacity, coherence and coordination across the global strategic communications ecosystem.
• Work collaboratively with other members of the Climate Executive Team and the CEDO Office to conduct ecosystem evaluations of national, regional, sectoral and global partner ecosystems, and then invest accordingly in actively strengthening those ecosystems, including through convening, training and upskilling, coaching and mentoring senior leaders, and strengthening partner relationships.
• Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and bilateral donor community on relevant subject areas.
• Provide input to the development of the Business Plan to the Climate Global Leadership Team, as appropriate.

Stakeholder and partner management

• In accordance with agreed account management principles and plans, identify, cultivate and manage relationships with nominated key partners/stakeholders, to support the achievement of Foundation and Sector Team objectives in a coordinated manner.
• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector and on a cross-cutting climate basis, 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.
• Represent CIFF in senior capacity more broadly, in addition to providing sectoral leadership (e.g. in Trustee engagement, in co-funding, in public engagements, in Board representation).
• Support ecosystems of grantees and other partners to collaborate effectively and efficiently, including through convening and other mechanisms.

Leadership of the team

• Offer inspiring and motivational leadership that role models CIFF’s values and leadership behaviours, and empowers and enables staff to deliver excellence.
• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instills a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning.
• Provide ongoing support to all direct reports (in manager and/or analyst roles), ensuring high performance is enabled through objective setting, clear accountabilities and regular review.

Requirements

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable experience in public affairs, public communications strategies, and the political economy of climate change, preferably across multiple countries or regions, or the multilateral institutions, including experience of designing systemic strategies for shaping and responding to public discourse in a particular policy area.
• Strong understanding of the roles and functions of EU institutions, including demonstrable experience of shaping or influencing European climate or energy policy at either EU or Member State level
• A good understanding of the breadth of insights methodologies (quant, qual, cultural / semiotics, econometrics, analytics, modelling), application of insights and message testing to shape public engagement, behaviour change programmes and/or influencing strategies with a track record of success
• Experience commissioning, coordinating and/or directing a range of actors towards an overarching influencing/political goal, preferably with experience in multiple cultures.
• Experience of embedding new approaches into existing team cultures, ideally with experience of delivering informal change programmes
• Entrepreneurial approach and ability to project manage in a fast paced and unpredictable environment
• Deep commitment to supporting and enabling the climate transition
• Experience working across different national contexts and cultures, including fluency in another language(s) (desirable) and a sensitivity/appreciation for different styles of communication.
• Highly strategic thinker, able to consider the broad and complex geopolitical dimensions of the information environment and define a clear path to action that delivers impact and system-wide change.

• Experienced leader who is equally comfortable working on micro and macro issues challenges.
• Proven ability to both think strategically and deliver ‘on the ground’.
• A strong understanding of good governance principles across a range of different organisation types (e.g. charities, limited companies) and an ability to be able to apply these principles to support organisational development and strengthening.
• Excellent leadership skills and proven ability to motivate, develop and hold to account a small- to medium-sized teams of professionals
• Strong analytical and data management capabilities.
• Proven track record in developing effective relationships with public and private sector stakeholders and senior colleagues, building partnerships, and leveraging resources.
• Strong programme management skills with a background of leading, inspiring, developing and empowering others.
• Strong understanding of cost and financial management principles and practices.
• Innovative and creative thinker with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset, able to think critically and analytically to draw sound conclusions on the basis of complex quantitative and qualitative data.
• Passionate for change and an outstanding communicator.
• Ability to represent the Foundation in high-level meetings, fostering mutually beneficial deals and partnerships that drive social impact.
• Ability to present the Foundation’s programmes in a compelling way to engage the audience: credible and professional.
• 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.
• Track record of coaching, mentoring and developing others.

• An authentic leader and team player with high levels of emotional intelligence.

Key working relationships

• Climate Programme Directors
• CIFF Board and PIC members
• CIFF CEO, CEDO, Executive Directors and CEO Office
• Other CIFF teams – particularly External Affairs, OED, Legal, HR, Finance
• Relevant staff within other philanthropic foundations
• Past, present and prospective grantees – particularly at Director level and above

Management dimensions

• Leading role in the effective performance and delivery of the overall Climate portfolio, in collaboration with Climate Programme Directors.
• Direct oversight of a team, including Managers and Analysts.
• Contributes to the effective performance of the sector’s whole portfolio.

Benefits

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees work in the office and 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.

• 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 Wednesday 8th October. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.