Senior Manager, Climate and Migration

Background 

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before. 

C40’s team of 400+ staff is based in offices in London, in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations. The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors, which is chaired by Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, responsible for operational oversight. A regionally diverse 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 and Realdania. 

Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership. 

Diversity Statement 

C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better. 

We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work. 

We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process. 

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort. 

About the Mayors Migration Council 

The Mayors Migration Council (MMC) is a mayor-led coalition that accelerates ambitious global action on migration and displacement to create a world where urban migrants, displaced people, and receiving communities can thrive. 

To achieve our mission, we provide mayors with advocacy, coordination, and communications support to influence policy decisions at the national and international level. We also connect city governments to the knowledge, technical, and financial resources that they need to accelerate and scale local solutions.      

Created by mayors for mayors, the MMC is guided by a Leadership Board of global city leaders from Amman, Bogotá, Freetown, Kampala, Kuala Lumpur, Milan, Montréal, San Antonio, and Zürich. We operate as a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, with support from philanthropic and government donors. 

About the C40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate & Migration

The C40-MMC Global Mayors Task Force on Climate and Migration is a mayor-driven coalition of cities from across the world, committed to raising awareness about the urban dimension of climate migration and to accelerating global, national and local responses, leveraging the track records of both C40 and the MMC on inclusive climate action and migrant inclusion.

Established in 2021, the Task Force has emerged as the primary vehicle for leading mayors from across regions to elevate their lived experience at the forefront of climate migration responses. Its work is informed by a first-of-its-kind Action Agenda – led by mayors and designed for mayors. Over a period of more than four years, the Task Force has engaged a total of 14 mayors from across five regions, under whose leadership C40 and the MMC have successfully delivered direct funding and technical assistance for inclusive climate migration responses to more than 24 cities in the Global South, as well as research and policy analysis to fill crucial knowledge gaps for cities and their partners. 

Position description:

As part of C40’s Inclusive Climate Action team, the Climate & Migration Senior Manager will be responsible for developing and executing the day-to-day tasks deriving from the C40-MMC partnership, and the C40-MMC Task Force, in particular. The Senior Manager will be responsible for managing day-to-day activities and communications with the  Mayors Migration Council, and they will support the ICA Senior Manager, Diplomacy and Campaigns, the Head of ICA Global Leadership and the ICA Programme Director to serve with the MMC as mutual advisors; contributing to their respective areas of expertise and  leveraging their relationships and networks to inform content and make key strategic decisions. 

To this end, the Senior Manager will oversee the design, delivery and evaluation of activities related to (among  others):  

• Mayoral advocacy and diplomacy - building on the C40-MMC Task Force’s leadership and targeting both the climate and the migration diplomatic space. 
• Research and thought leadership - equipping cities and mayors with solid evidence and arguments to position at the forefront of climate migration advocacy and responses.
• City engagement and peer-to-peer exchange - maintaining the Task Force active and engaged, showcasing innovative solutions and creating a growing community of practice on topics related to climate migration. 

Responsibilities: 

Lead delivery of main project outputs:  

• Ensure regular engagement of C40-MMC Task Force’s member cities, as well as strategic reach-out and commitment of senior city officials and political leaders, when relevant and needed. 
• Oversee and support the effective consultation process of senior city officials and subject-matter experts to identify emerging policy priorities and inform wider advocacy campaigns.
• Organise regular convening of city leads, mayors and – where needed – of international experts and practitioners.  This may involve:
  • Up to three city leads meetings per year, to discuss the C40-MMC Task Force cities’ priorities. 
  • One mayoral meeting per year to validate the C40-MMC Task Force’s strategic direction.
• Facilitate mayoral access to major diplomatic milestones in the climate, migration and international development space; as well as targeted national engagement wherever viable. 
• Commission ad-hoc research and policy analysis when gaps are identified, bringing partners onboard and building coalitions of thought leaders on new emerging issues.
• Lead and support planning and execution of key communication and diplomacy activities and  moments. These may include media launches and side events.  
• Ensure alignment and coordination with overall C40’s and MMC’s communication strategies and  campaigns. 
• Liaise with the Mayors Migration Council team in the development and execution of all of the above. 

Cross-team and cross-organisational coordination:

• Regular coordination with the Mayors Migration Council as main delivery partner. 
• Regular coordination with C40’s regional and functional teams - including Diplomacy, Campaigns and Communications. 
• Oversight of recruitment and line management (of one position and / or consultants) may be asked.  

Reporting and grant management:

• Ensure timely and effective grant management, in close coordination with the Head of ICA Leadership and in regular liaison with the MMC.
• Keep track of activities and monitor progress against the project’s Key Performance Indicators. 
• Compile interim and annual reports in a timely manner, liaising with C40’s Grants and Finance teams. 

Person Specification: 

Essential: 

• Significant experience in economics, social, political or environmental science, international  relations, geography or relevant discipline.  
• Significant experience in international high-level decision-making processes, related to climate and/or migration multilateral space - such as the Global  Compact for Migration, the UNFCCC and other UN processes (2030 Sustainable Development  Agenda, New Urban Agenda, etc) – engaging as Party or stakeholder, hosting/ presenting/ moderating sessions; convening high level bilateral and multilateral meetings; supporting VIPs. 
• Significant experience in or very strong understanding of working in or with city governments and municipal public policy. 
• Working experience in government, non-profit, environmental research and/or consulting.
• Proven knowledge and/or solid understanding of equity, climate, migration issues in cities and good  understanding/awareness of inclusive climate action in cities, including awareness and comfort  moving among and understanding key policy frameworks that influence the climate and migration  diplomacy spheres. 
• Strong experience in global campaigning design, political and diplomatic advocacy strategy.
• Proven track record in working collaboratively and effectively with major global partners, such as  NGOs, the corporate sector, multilateral development banks, and/or UN agencies and global  coalitions, including acting as point of contact for high level partners. 
• Proven experience in engaging with high level political leaders at local, regional, national or global  level. 
• Experience and understanding of virtual and in-person stakeholder engagement challenges and  opportunities; demonstrated ability to promote active participation and co-learning through  creative engagement activities and to promote understanding of concepts that are sometimes  difficult to grasp.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating complex information in a clear and compelling way; possessing a great degree of comfort and experience in public speaking, press/VIP relations, negotiation and dialogue. 
• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with an outcome, delivery orientated approach. 
• Strong interpersonal and convening skills and ability to engage professionally with C40 and third party teams; to work across teams and to engage with different typologies of counterparts (city officials, partners, etc.) 
• Strong PowerPoint skills. 
• Fluency in English. 
• Genuine passion for cities, urban and natural environments and a personal commitment to protecting our planet and its inhabitants. 

Desired:  

• Postgraduate degree in politics, international relations, climate diplomacy, migration, or relevant discipline. 
• Strong experience in global campaigning, political and diplomatic advocacy. 
• Awareness, understanding and ability to analyse the intersectional nature of delivering inclusive climate action with an emphasis on migration, migrants and climate risks, as well as the broader topic of climate migration. 
• International experience, particularly working across different cultures, languages and time zones • Awareness and understanding of key global funding mechanisms that have in the past been used to support cities in responding to the challenges of the climate and migration crises. 
• Understanding of the interconnections between climate change, migration and climate action, with critical understanding of related challenges and opportunities across different regional contexts.
• Proven experience in engaging with high-level discussions and decision-making processes related to climate migration is a plus.
• Fluency in other languages, in particular French, Spanish and/or Portuguese. 

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the listed locations. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role. 

Reporting To: Head, Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) Global Leadership 

Term: Fixed term until the 31st December 2025

Location: Brazil, South Africa & UK -  Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application. 

Salary: (Grade 3)Brazil(IC) USD 76,745, South Africa ZAR 1,036,800 & UK GBP £63,323 gross per annum - Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location. Therefore, we do not engage in salary negotiations.

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday, 5th June 2025 at 5pm BST. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities. 

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