Director - Climate Finance Access Network Details

Director - Climate Finance Access Network

Rocky Mountain Institute - Basalt, CO

Employment Type : Full-Time

Application Deadline: February 15th, 2021

Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Program Overview

The Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) was established to support developing countries in accessing finance to achieve their climate objectives. By cultivating a network of highly trained climate finance advisors, CFAN builds the capacity of developing countries to (1) identify the sources and instruments for delivering climate finance, (2) establish relationships with climate finance providers, and (3) structure financing for mitigation and adaptation investments. CFAN works across developing countries with a focus on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

In 2020, the Government of Canada announced a contribution of CAD 9.5 million to CFAN. This funding will support CFAN in deploying climate finance advisors in 30 countries by year-end 2021. The CFAN Network Coordinator (initially RMI) is responsible for designing and implementing CFAN’s advisor training program, supporting climate finance advisors working in-country, building long-term country capacity beyond the tenure of CFAN advisors, and facilitating collaboration among CFAN’s institutional members. CFAN’s membership includes over a dozen organizations working to improve climate finance access in developing countries.

Position Overview

CFAN is seeking an experienced Director to oversee the Network’s global operations, including directly managing a $3.5 million annual budget and eight staff. As the primary leader of and spokesperson for CFAN, the Director will be responsible for guiding CFAN’s engagement with countries, donor institutions, and member initiatives. The Director will also be responsible for leading fundraising to support the core function of CFAN as well as additional advisors.

Successful candidates will have substantial leadership experience implementing climate finance and/or capacity building programs in developing countries. Ideally, candidates will have worked across a range of institutions in the climate finance ecosystem (donor institutions, recipient institutions, implementing agencies, civil society organizations). Successful candidates will bring extensive experience working with developing countries (with an emphasis on LDCs and SIDS) as well as experience working across public and private financial institutions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee an annual budget of $3.5 million and staff of eight in supporting CFAN’s implementation
• Manage relationships with CFAN’s established and growing network of member initiatives, who represent a diverse set of geographies, expertise, and stakeholders within the global climate finance landscape
• Beyond CFAN’s members, build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including international financial institutions, national climate policymakers and government officials in developing and developed countries, private sector leaders on climate investment, and other non-profits and research organizations
• Serve as Chair to CFAN’s Advisory Group and Steering Committee, ensuring CFAN’s strategic and operational decisions are informed by its governance structure
• Fundraise to support CFAN's annual budget (the program has currently secured funding for its first two years of operations) and to support CFAN’s member initiatives in fundraising for additional CFAN advisors
• Provide day-to-day guidance to the program team both on program development as well as processes such as budgeting, staffing, subcontracting, and recruitment
• Mentor staff at Manager level and below, building a cohesive, enthusiastic, supportive, and high-performing team culture
• Represent RMI and the CFAN team to external partners and public audiences at conferences, meetings, and through written materials
• Demonstrate organization-wide leadership jointly with other RMI Directors/Principals, helping maintain a culture of impact, accountability, and entrepreneurship

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate degree(s) in business/finance, economics, international relations, management or related fields
• 12+ years of experience leading climate finance and/or capacity building initiatives in developing countries, including direct experience managing global teams
• Deep understanding of how various public and private financing institutions (commercial banks, private equity funds, insurance companies, development finance institutions, multilateral development banks, multilateral climate funds) interact in the context of climate investment, particularly in LDCs and SIDS
• Familiarity with the international climate policy context, particularly global climate negotiations; the evolving agenda of MDBs, DFIs, and climate funds; and the variety of initiatives that exist to support developing countries finance their adaptation and mitigation strategies
• Experience with developing country operating and investment environments – preferably in-country experience with financial structuring and/or advising national governmental stakeholders (e.g., in ministries of finance or equivalent offices responsible for national climate investment agendas) on securing and structuring financing for investment in mitigation or adaptation to achieve climate objectives
• Fluency in project finance and corporate finance concepts and practices as well as with financial structuring for infrastructure projects or investment programs within the private and/or public sectors
• Experience working at the nexus of climate change, gender equality, and human rights issues
• Experience scaling a program and team in its early years and building out program offerings, including experience coordinating diverse stakeholders toward a shared goal
• Well-established networks in the stakeholder communities mentioned above

Additional Qualifications

• Collegial, mission-driven team leader with well-developed interpersonal skills and experience managing teams of eight or more through periods of change and across regions and cultures
• Strong outreach and fundraising capabilities: speaking and writing to business and donor audiences; demonstrated capability to present ideas to investors, companies, and donors
• Strong creative and entrepreneurial spirit: proven ability to find new and impactful approaches, navigate obstacles, and influence others’ thinking to achieve impact beyond one’s own activities
  

Location

This position will remain remote through the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the COVID-19 situation improves, it is expected that candidates will live near one of RMI’s U.S. locations, with a preference for New York, NY or Washington, DC.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $121,000-163,000, with the target being about $130,000-$150,000. This will be dependent on experience that will be discussed and vetted throughout the interview process. This role has an additional 20% bonus target.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 403b retirement options (5% match immediately)
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• Commuter and wellness benefits
• Casual work environment
  

Diversity

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization, ensuring that we:

• Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.
• Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.
  

Rocky Mountain Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. That is our mission. That is our passion. And every day, every member of our team of nearly 280 works relentlessly to achieve it. We are driving the global energy transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables by working in partnership with businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to advance market-based solutions. We achieve this by developing breakthrough ideas, testing and refining them, reshaping markets, and bringing solutions to scale. RMI is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an annual budget of $70 million and offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing, China.