Regional Director, Africa at C40 Cities

Position Description

• This key organizational position of the Regional Directors is a critical element in the C40 management structure. As part of the C40 Regions and Mayoral Engagement team, Regional Directors ensure regionally-aligned and coordinated delivery to cities. Through the C40 Regional Business Plans, Regional Directors coordinate all other teams in C40 in the delivery of the work in the region.
• Regional directors build strong relations with mayors, cities and regional political entities so that they are effectively engaged in the global climate agenda in line with the C40 Leadership Standards. Through the engagement with Mayors, the Regional Directors gather and share political and regional priorities and make these available to different teams in the organization.
• Regional Directors work closely together to share learnings from their regions among themselves and throughout the organization, and work collaboratively to ensure the C40 network operates in a cohesive and strategic manner.

Responsibilities:

• Manage relationships with all the C40 member cities in the region and ensure that C40 city governments are satisfied with and benefitting from their partnership with C40.
• Build strong working relationships with the region’s C40 mayors and support their global collaboration and climate leadership.
• Coordinate the development of the C40 Regional Business Plan in close consultation with C40 cities, regional partners and relevant C40 teams and coordinate its implementation working with different C40 teams.
• Oversee the strategic development and implementation of C40 technical assistance programs in the region, guided by the Regional Business Plan and insights from the Regional Delivery Advisory Group; and provide oversight to in-region City Advisors.
• Provide advice and support the two C40 Vice Chairs in the region in their engagement on the C40 Steering Committee of mayors and in their efforts to successfully represent the region.
• Support the region’s cities to engage in the relevant and available C40 initiative and network focus areas that will most effectively assist them in achieving their climate ambition and accelerate climate action on the ground.
• Work with the global team to support the C40 Co-Chairs, especially the Co-Chair based in the region.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with C40 city governments, partners and stakeholders in the region; identify opportunities for cities to collaborate with each other – both within the region and throughout the larger organization and help to facilitate direct peer-to-peer exchange.
• Convene regular regional meetings with C40 city officials and serve as a conduit between the region and the broader organization.
• Support C40 fundraising efforts globally and with focus on the region, including through meetings with prospective funders.
• Establish and maintain relationships with relevant city networks in the region and facilitate engagement of climate ambitious non-C40 cities in C40 activities and events where relevant, to help replicate and scale the impact of C40 knowledge, tools, and resources beyond C40 membership.

Person Specification:

• Over ten years of experience at a senior level in government, business or NGO sectors in the region with focus on policy development, programme management or coordination, including inter-organizational cooperation, strategy and negotiation.
• Significant experience working with or within municipal government, with mayors and senior officials and with environmental teams and projects, particularly in the specific geographic region.
• Ability to lead strategic discussions to help facilitate action-oriented approaches.
• Over five years management experience, proven skills to support a multi-site operation, ability to create a team environment given a virtual organizational structure.
• Strong technical and policy background in climate change or sustainability preferred.
• Ability to serve as a spokesperson or public speaker.
• National of an African country with experience living and working in the region.
• Experience with project fundraising.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline
• Strong English language skills required. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage though not a requirement. .

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must already have the right to work in the country they are applying in. Significant travel will be required as part of the role.