Head of Sustainability and Inclusion

Grade: IS-7
Deadline: 26 May 2024 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 198,000 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

 

Introduction
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. By the end of 2023, GCF had a portfolio of 243 projects in 129 countries, committing a total of USD 13.5 billion to date. 

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

 

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

 

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 

 

Position Objective
The Head of Sustainability and Inclusion, reporting to the Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, is responsible for ensuring that GCF’s projects and programmes are sustainable and inclusive by developing, updating and implementing a suite of related policies and safeguards standards and procedures. S/he is responsible for this work across four workstreams: environmental and social safeguards (ESS); safeguards against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH); ensuring a gender-responsive approach through gender mainstreaming; and driving implementation of policies and activities related to Indigenous Peoples matters, including supporting the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group. The Head of Sustainability and Inclusion develops and fosters relationships with partners and stakeholders on sustainability and inclusion matters related to the investment cycle. S/he monitors the development of global theory and practice on sustainability and inclusion to ensure that GCF remains current and incorporates relevant innovations. The Head oversees the team of professionals providing due diligence on environmental and social inclusion across the investment cycle. . S/he also works closely with the Office of the Chief Investment Officer to promote integration of safeguards, gender equality, Indigenous People’s rights, sustainability and social inclusion in GCF’s advisory on environmental and social inclusion across the investment cycle. S/he tracks developments in social and sustainability sciences relevant to climate finance and climate action to ensure GCF practice reflects the best of current approaches and advises GCF management on the implications of relevant social, political and environmental megatrends. 

 

Purpose 

• Oversees the GCF’s implementation and processes in relation to environmental and social safeguards to ensure consistency and compliance of funding proposals and sub-projects with the GCF’s environmental and social safeguards standards and policies.
• Stays informed on evolving global practice and serves as a thought-leader on social inclusion and gender equality across GCF’s policies and programmes.
• Advises on operational practices related to social inclusion and sustainability, including going beyond safeguards approaches to promote the achievement of social co-benefits.
• Monitors international standards of environmental and social safeguards, and strategizes on how to ensure that GCF’s standards are kept up-to-date with international best practice.
• Integrates the four different sustainability workstreams delivering a coherent programme of work.
• Imparts authoritative advice that combines operational and political perspectives in relation to safeguarding and promoting co-benefits.
• Identifies and analyzes lessons learned from across the portfolio of projects and programmes to enable innovation and development on sustainability and inclusion matters.
• Leads GCF’s engagement with the Independent Redress Mechanism.

 

Engagement

• Advises GCF stakeholders on effective implementation of the GCF’s environmental and social management system.
• Ensures GCF supports national designated authorities and accredited entities to deliver GCF’s social and sustainability standards and policies, including effective systems of redress where performance falls short.
• Showcases the value of ensuring that investments are sustainable and inclusive, including through due diligence assessments, to influence management decisions and relevant decision-making bodies.
• Compels GCF to strengthen sustainability safeguards, as necessary, to optimize activities funded by GCF and protect GCF’s reputation.
• Develops, updates and implements systems for monitoring and evaluating the portfolio against environmental and social standards established to ensure portfolio implementation and deployment of adaptive measures are timely and effective.
• Supervises and motivates team members to excel in their individual specializations while ensuring coherence. Resolves escalation of policy conflicts and optimizes the ability of the team to perform the due diligence function.

Delivery

• Strategy and Policy: Oversees the revision and development of GCF’s policy and strategy frameworks on sustainability, social inclusion and gender mainstreaming .
• Achieves key strategic objectives in GCF strategies, including the successful execution of planned initiatives and the deployment of capital according to the 50by30 strategic objectives. Further develops the strategic direction of the sustainability and inclusion function and develops the team members’ capacities to deliver on their tasks in line with GCF’s strategy.
• Leads implementation and effective management of the GCF’s environmental and social management system to ensure alignment with GCF’s objectives and set strategic goals across the four workstreams.
• Implements a systemic process to capture knowledge and lessons learned on ESS, SEAH, gender and Indigenous Peoples matters to strengthen the due diligence process and enhance co-benefits and make them accessible to stakeholders.
• Innovation: Fosters a culture of innovation within the organization, promoting adaptive strategies to address evolving environmental and social issues.
• Board: Provides timely, accurate, and comprehensive Board reporting as required and leads implementation of relevant Board decisions.

 

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree), in particular in Sustainability Management, Environmental Management, Social Sciences, Environmental Economics and Policies, Social Development, or other relevant fields; A First Level University degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree requirement
• At least 15 years of relevant experience, including at a management level and experience in the design and implementation of environmental and social management systems, safeguards systems, environmental and social due diligence and monitoring of programmes, projects and activities supporting developing countries;
• Demonstrated track record of leadership in applied social analysis in the context of an international development or environmental organization;
• Deep operational expertise in project finance and investment from origination to implementation, particularly in integrating environmental and social matters into programming;
• Broad knowledge of climate change and climate finance operations;
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop and manage relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and partners, including other units in GCF, government entities, private businesses, investors, NGOs, and international organizations;
• Understanding of international climate organizations and their programming work is an advantage;
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, managing, and mentoring culturally diverse and highly skilled technical teams;
• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential; knowledge of one or more languages is an advantage.

 

Competencies

• Demonstrates competencies for vision, leadership, empowering others and managing performance, including through the following behaviors:
• Inspires and guides teams to achieve organizational goals through effective decision-making, vision-setting, and motivation;
• Strong communicator and collaborator. Conveys information clearly and effectively, fostering open and transparent communication within the team and across the organization;
• Thinks strategically, analyzes complex situations, and makes informed decisions aligned with organizational objectives;
• Builds and nurtures high-performing teams by fostering collaboration, recognizing individual strengths, and promoting a positive work environment;
• Values all staff members’ input and expertise and shows appreciation for achievement and effort;
• Assesses and provides ongoing performance feedback and coaching to staff;
• Maintains high ethical standards, ensuring fairness, respect, and integrity.
  

The closing date for application is 26 May 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

 

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references. 

 

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply.