Background
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, now in its 15th year, connects 96 of the world’s greatest cities which have committed to tackling climate change. We bring mayors from around the world together to learn from each other in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating resilient, sustainable and low carbon cities. C40 cities represent more than 700 million urban citizens and their economies account for 25% of the global GDP. C40’s ‘Deadline 2020’ report sets out the critical role that the world’s major cities have to play in delivering the historic Paris Agreement to prevent catastrophic climate change.
C40’s team of 200+ staff is headquartered in New York, with offices in London, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations, with the Office of the Chair based in Los Angeles.
The strategic direction of the organization is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors which is chaired by the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, which is responsible for operational oversight. A nine-person management team, led by Executive Director, Mark Watts, leads the day-to-day management of C40. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and Realdania.
At C40, we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore encourage a diverse pool of applicants and welcome applications from all sections of the community and would like to request you to complete the recruitment and diversity questionnaire, to help us monitor our recruitment and selection procedures. For how C40 handles your personal information, please review our Privacy Notice – Recruitment.
C40 Global Initiatives and Networks
C40’s Global Initiatives team oversees five program areas focused on priority climate action sectors and interventions: Energy and Buildings; Transportation and Planning; Waste, Water and Food; Air Quality; and Adaptation Implementation. Under these program areas, C40 operates more than 15 different networks that facilitate city-to-city best practice sharing on a particular climate action area, such as Clean Energy or Zero Emission Vehicles. A number of these programs and networks also offer direct support to cities through technical assistance projects, trainings, tools and resources, often in conjunction with other C40 teams and programs. The teams also support cities to deliver on the mayoral commitments made through C40’s Green & Healthy Streets, Net Zero Carbon Buildings and Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declarations.
C40 sectoral/thematic networks help cities replicate, improve and accelerate climate action to meet Paris Agreement goals. These city-only working groups provide for honest knowledge and experience exchange, enabling cities to tap into the global expertise of their peers as well as connect with technical partners. Through networks, cities find opportunities to undertake joint projects in areas of mutual interest and benefit. C40 networks also amplify individual city solutions by providing a global platform for showcasing city successes. The result is that cities’ climate actions to reduce GHGs, air pollutants and climate risks are bolder, fairer, more impactful, implemented faster and at a lower cost than if they were to go it alone. No other organization facilitates such deep connections amongst city staff across 50+ countries, 20 time zones and 26 languages to accelerate local action with major global impact.
The Water and Adaptation Initiative
The Water and Adaptation Initiative is one arm of a larger Adaptation Team that helps C40 cities build their climate resilience. The team supports cities to build capacity, address barriers and undertake comprehensive adaptation planning through a package of assistance including: training through an Adaptation Academy, peer learning through networks and city exchanges, integration with mitigation activities, research tools and guidance, and technical assistance and support in finance and specific challenge areas.
In this larger framework, the role of the Water and Adaptation Initiative is to serve cities in meeting their goals in the area of climate change adaptation through facilitating peer-to-peer city exchange. By working working with cities around the world, the Water and Adaptation Initiative identifies best practice in specific target areas aligned to the four major climate hazards cities face (water security, urban flooding, coastal management and urban heat). This expertise informs research, external communications and technical assistance in these specific areas. Initiative members also use their expertise to support colleagues in sectoral Global Initiative teams to integrate climate preparedness across key urban sectors (Energy and Buildings, Transportation and Urban Planning, Food and Waste).
Position Description
The Network Manager will manage the Water Security Network, a C40 network supporting city efforts to identify, plan and implement projects to increase resilience to urban flooding impacts. The Network Manager will work closely with the Head of the Water and Adaptation Initiative to develop the strategy for the Water Security Network, and evolve the strategy over time with input from C40 cities.
The Network Manager will be passionate about finding practical solutions to climate resilience, have strong interest and familiarity with international urban water management and climate adaptation policies and programmes, well developed analytical skills, and ideally have experience working directly with city governments and/or successful networks. A natural communicator, collaborator and facilitator, the Network Manager will successfully bring cities together to share lessons learnt and best practices as well as collaboration on joint projects and network workstreams; develop and manage major global partnerships; and facilitate delivery of technical support to C40 cities working collaboratively with regional staff and partner organizations. Some travel will be required.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Head of the Water and Adaptation Initiative, Regional Directors and/or city leads to develop and implement network strategy;
- Draft and deliver a comprehensive network workplan;
- Facilitate bilateral and multilateral city interactions and convenings, including working with key strategic partners to support cities;
- Manage network logistics, such as: convening city calls and webinars (including developing agendas and drafting minutes to follow up on meetings), coordinating collaborative network projects & workstreams, conducting interviews with cities and tracking and reporting on interest in the network, and planning for in-person network meetings;
- Facilitate peer-to-peer exchange, enable direct support, and research/knowledge management support through the network(s) with a focus on priorities identified by cities, responding flexibly when such priorities change;
- Work with the Head of the Water and Adaptation Initiative, and/or Regional Directors to develop and manage partnerships which will direct resources to C40 cities;
- Work with other staff to facilitate delivery of technical support to C40 cities participating in networks, largely through managed partnerships, strategically prioritising based on potential impact and feasibility;
- Develop case studies and external communication on best practice in water security;
- Prepare reports to funders on progress, as well as preparing additional funding applications as agreed with the Initiative Head;
- Work with the Head of Water and Adaptation Initiative to support delivery of the other project and priorities of the Adaptation Team;
- Additional duties as requested.
Person Specification:
- Appropriate qualification (equivalent of Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferable) in sustainability, environmental studies, urban planning or engineering;
- Considerable experience in relevant government, business, research and/or NGO sectors with a strong focus on climate change adaptation, urban resilience, water management and/or disaster risk management;
- Experience in water management in urban areas desirable;
- Experience of developing and implementing strategy required, preferably through working in or with city governments
- Proven track record in working collaboratively and effectively with partners, such as NGOs, multilateral development banks, or the corporate sector;
- Strong problem-solving, interpersonal and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with an outcome/delivery-oriented approach;
- International experience, particularly working across different cultures, languages and time zones;
- Strong English language skills required and second language desirable;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills;
- Expertise and interest in facilitation of in-person workshops as well as virtual meetings or webinars.
Other Requirements: Applicants must already have the right to work in South Africa. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.
Location: Johannesburg
Term: Fixed term contract until February 2022
Salary: ZAR 691,158 per annum
Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday, 16 July 2020.
