Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is Hiring: Senior Manager, Climate – Apply Before June 26, 2025

Location: London, England (Hybrid)
Application Deadline: June 25, 2025
Starting Salary: £82,000 per annum
Type: Full-time

About CIFF

The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is the world’s largest philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of children. With a mission to transform global systems to secure a healthier, fairer, and safer future for all children, CIFF is at the forefront of impactful change, including the fight against climate change. The foundation’s Climate Team focuses on accelerating the transition to a net-zero world while supporting a resilient civil society and innovative approaches that keep global warming below 1.5°C.

The Opportunity

CIFF is currently recruiting a Senior Manager, Climate to join its dynamic Climate and Ecosystem Development team in London. This role offers the opportunity to lead on strategic communications and manage a significant UK-focused climate grants portfolio, valued at approximately $50–70 million. The successful candidate will work closely with the Global Director of Climate (Europe) and other team leaders, providing cross-cutting support and leadership on strategy development, public engagement, and climate advocacy, with a particular focus on the UK context.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Thought Leadership

• Lead the development of national and global climate strategies, with a particular emphasis on UK climate policy and political economy.
• Identify long-term funding needs and capacity gaps in the climate ecosystem, particularly in strategic communications and advocacy.
• Horizon scan to ensure alignment with emerging trends, including global climate finance and regulatory developments.
• Drive the integration of public data and metrics into climate missions to enhance decision-making and programme performance.

Programme Management

• Oversee a high-impact portfolio of grants related to climate action and communications, ensuring effective delivery and measurable outcomes.
• Shape and support CIFF’s strategic communications work globally, ensuring it supports the objectives of CIFF’s broader climate strategies.
• Provide line management, coaching, and mentorship to junior and mid-level team members as needed.
• Lead internal reporting, risk management, and due diligence across assigned programmes, ensuring full compliance with CIFF policies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent CIFF externally at strategic meetings and events, including climate forums, advocacy coalitions, and funder collaborations.
• Build and manage strong relationships with grantees, partner organizations, and government bodies.
• Prepare briefing materials and updates for CIFF leadership, including the CEO and Executive Directors.

Internal Collaboration

• Actively contribute to the Climate Leadership Team and CIFF-wide strategic planning activities.
• Collaborate with internal departments including Legal, Finance, External Affairs, and the CEO’s Office.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the team.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in climate policy, strategic communications, or public affairs, ideally in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of UK climate politics, as well as global and European climate policy frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and executing public engagement or advocacy campaigns.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning capabilities, with a track record of managing complex programmes and high-value grants.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in matrix or large-scale organizational environments is preferred.
• Master’s degree in climate policy, public policy, communications, or a related field is highly desirable.

Desirable

• Experience in managing international partnerships or working with EU-level institutions.
• Fluency in a second European language is an asset but not required.
• Familiarity with land use, climate finance, or sectoral energy transitions is a plus.

What CIFF Offers

• Competitive salary: Starting at £82,000 per annum
• Hybrid work policy: Mix of office and remote work
• Annual leave: 25 days (rising to 30 with service)
• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance, life insurance, wellbeing allowance
• Professional development: Training allowance and growth opportunities
• Bonus: Discretionary performance-based bonus scheme

How to Apply

Please submit your application via CIFF’s careers portal by June 25, 2025. Early applications are encouraged, as CIFF reserves the right to close the vacancy ahead of schedule if a high volume of qualified applications is received.

About CIFF

CIFF is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion across all its programmes and hiring practices. The foundation is a registered charity and operates in accordance with UK and global data protection laws.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.