Senior Manager, Climate - India

A senior member of CIFF’s India Office and India Climate Programme team, accountable for strategy development, leading on a number of significant programmes and their implementation. This includes, but is not limited to, being CIFF’s leader on India climate portfolio, particularly on climate finance, sustainable cooling, industrial decarbonization, and on the intersection of all sectors at the sub-national level. The role will take a long-term view on strategies, solutions, and partnerships needed to deliver accelerated and reinforcing action on CIFF’s climate finance portfolio.

The role will provide support to senior management and leadership for the large and growing India Climate portfolio and provide strategic direction for existing and future investments to ensure CIFF’s leadership on climate in India among other foundations and funders. It will also work closely with CIFF global teams including climate finance, clean growth, climate comms, and industries to integrate CIFF solutions into the regional collaboration on the ground.

The role will include representing CIFF at Board level with some of our major strategic partners/programmes and to pursue co-funding relationships to leverage in more resources.

To directly manage a high-quality portfolio of investment proposals and active programmes with total value of $40-42m that contribute to the delivery of the climate India team priorities and meet the corporate objectives of the CIFF Board.

To provide crosscutting thought leadership and connectivity on ‘India in the World’ programmes that leverage India’s strategic leadership in climate globally. Finally, to lead and implement cross-regional initiatives in consultation with the wider team.

This position is based in CIFF’s Delhi office and may involve national and global travel.

Role’s responsibilities

As a senior member of the India Office and India Climate Team

• Provide up-to-date, professional advice to the Director, Climate India and Executive Director (ED) India on national and sub-national development and economic insights and related issues on climate finance, to support the development of Foundation strategies, and risk compliance in coordination with External Affairs and Communications team.

• Take the lead on corporate, cross-cutting initiatives and projects including CIFF Voice, as required by the ED India and Director, Climate.

• Provide compelling, consistent and united support to the leadership team which creates clarity for all staff in the team and builds a sense of shared accountability for its success and that of the organisation.

• Develop and maintain excellent external relationships within the sector specialism, 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.

• Support as a backup for other team members and deputise for Director Climate, as required.

Strategy & planning

• As an expert on climate finance, contribute to the development and review of CIFF’s existing climate finance strategy and programmes, to ensure CIFF is making maximum impact in those areas with the resources available.

• Work closely with the Climate Director and lead the development and implementation of CIFF India’s programme on climate finance, aligned to CIFF’s Global Sectoral Decarbonisation, Corporate Action & Transition Finance mission, to ensure the effective in-year prioritisation of resources and activities.

• Lead and support development of strategies and planning for other climate initiatives such as sustainable cooling and industrial decarbonization, etc.

• Prepare and present high-quality analysis and research on climate finance for the Board/PICC, as required, to support determining future strategic priorities and setting operational plans.

• Lead the collation of associated evidence base, guiding and coaching other members of the climate team to provide relevant inputs, prior to a proposal’s submission for approval.

Programme development, delivery & performance

• Personally manage a portfolio of $40-42m climate programmes in India focused on sustainable finance, sustainable cooling, industrial decarbonization and key climate initiatives at sub-national level. Develop an active pipeline of potential investments in accordance with the sector priorities and business plan.

• Ensure development and delivery of climate finance programmes and other climate initiatives, including existing and new investments.

• Against key corporate and/or sector team indicators and targets, monitor and report internally on the performance of assigned portfolio.

• Initiate course correction action when targets are not being met or investments are not delivering as expected.

• Lead accountability for applying due diligence and risk management protocols appropriately throughout the development and delivery of proposals and programmes to ensure the interests and reputation of the Foundation are protected.

• Conduct structured feasibility analysis on investment proposals, using an appropriate range of methodologies and techniques, to ensure they are based on logical and robust assumptions, which can withstand scrutiny from the Executive Team (ET) and CIFF Board.

• Lead work either with sector colleagues or independently, to prepare summary reports, board reports and portfolio investment reports, ensuring these are produced to a high-standard and in a timely fashion, often within tight timeframes.

• Lead the development of grant agreements to forecast and process grant payments and enable effective grant management and reporting within the organisation.

• Lead the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation processes for all proposals and programmes to conduct evaluations. Conduct regular data analysis to identify issues early and recommend corrective process improvements.

• Conduct regular reviews of the progress and performance of programmes under delivery to identify problems and delays, and work with partners to develop effective solutions (escalating to more senior colleagues for support and intervention, where required).

• Identify opportunities and options for improving processes, procedures and programme management approaches within (and beyond) the team, to support increased organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

Sector knowledge and profile-building

• Be CIFF’s subject matter expert on sustainable finance with deep understanding of regulatory and policy architecture, environmental social governance (ESG) frameworks, green taxonomy, financial ecosystem, while staying abreast of emerging developments in the finance sector.

• Proactively maintain external networks with experts and opinion formers within climate and energy sector, particularly with financial and capital market regulators, financial institutions, corporates, standard setting bodies etc. Bring specific knowledge on climate finance matters, to ensure the portfolio is shaped by the most up-to-date insights and research.

• As required, work with the communications team on the development of thought leadership, communication and advocacy materials on the portfolio, to support CIFF’s ambitions to scale-up, mainstream and leverage additional support for its initiatives.

Stakeholder and partner management

• Conduct rigorous research and evaluation of potential partners in the climate finance ecosystem, using agreed corporate protocols and techniques, to assess their suitability and credentials for collaborating on CIFF initiatives.

• Apply CIFF’s agreed account management disciplines and approaches in all dealings with programme partners and stakeholders, to ensure productive and professional relationships are maintained in a coordinated and strategic manner.

• Lead the design and execution of strategies to strengthen CIFF’s partnerships to enable adoption, replication, co-funding or scaling-up of CIFF’s efforts on climate finance, sustainable cooling, and other sub-national climate action initiatives. This will include leading multi-funder coordination in the design and set-up/scale up of pooled Technical Assistance and Fund Financing facilities.

As required, collaborate with Portfolio Finance colleagues to contribute to the management and implementation of cost effective, robust and financially well-structured programmes.

• With a variety of external audiences, develop and maintain strong partnerships and serve as a knowledgeable resource about CIFF’s programmes and priority areas.

Membership and leadership of the team

• Be a role model to less experienced team members, demonstrating CIFF’s leadership behaviours and providing mentorship to aid their growth.

• Adopt a coaching approach with colleagues which instils a culture of openness and trust, embraces diverse thinking, and encourages continuous improvement and learning – particularly on land-use and finance.

Requirements:
Skills & Experience

• Substantial demonstrable experience in sustainable finance, for example, in areas related to clean technology investments, financial structuring, climate risks for the financial sector, regulatory and macro-prudential regulations related to climate risks, green taxonomy, ESG & disclosures, transition planning for businesses and financial institutions, etc. Additional experience in climate policy, and/or program management at the national or sub-national level in an area relevant to clean energy transition is desired.

• Recognised as a subject-matter expert in climate finance and corporate sustainability (as evidenced via publications and/or previous programme delivery), with a track record of working successfully in India

• Experience of working with government systems and/or experience of policy and programme management of public agencies, private sector organizations or donor organisations.

• Experience of working in/with the NGOs or the philanthropy sector or bilate