Director of Strategy, COP26

Reporting to the Director General (CEO) of the COP26 unit, the post holder will be responsible for the ongoing development and delivery of the COP26 strategy for the UK 2021 presidency.
Ensuring that the presidency has a coherent plan for delivering success during the planning and preparation for the summit, the successful candidate will oversee a team of officials and be responsive to the rapidly evolving international political, economic, social, environmental and technological contexts of COP26.
You will lead and motivate a mixed team of government and non-government professionals and experts to provide guidance to the presidency on the delivery of COP26 priorities whilst proactively championing and leading change.

Responsibilities

- Lead the ongoing iteration and delivery of COP strategy that brings together all policy areas in the COP26 unit in addition to cross-government ministerial offices and delivery teams (including HM Treasury, FCDO, DEFRA and BEIS), as well No10 and the COP26 high level action champion and team;
- Oversee the strategy on key COP26 issues that will shape its political success such as engagement with vulnerable countries, key negotiating issues and the sequencing of climate priorities through other major events in the year. This will involve engagement via a cross-government director steering/working group;
- Deliver regular strategy products for cross-government and Cabinet committee scrutiny, ministerial briefing and governance boards. Lead regular look-aheads, raising critical issues, reporting on key metrics, adapting the unit’s priorities and reflecting on progress to date;
- Oversee regular progress reporting via key delivery products to the COP26 President and Prime Minister;
- Work closely with the directors of communication and partnerships and engagement to develop and deliver the COP26 narrative, embedding it into strategic communications and stakeholder planning as well as wider external-facing COP26 work;
- Act as the COP26 strategic lead, engaging directly with key senior civil society and NGO actors around the globe – many of whom will define presidency success in the public climate sphere – to align strategic campaigning outside of government, share insights and develop wider buy-in for presidency approach/narrative. This will include presenting at public events and private briefings;
- Develop and manage relationships with key climate organisations and individuals;
- Lead and motivate a diverse team of senior civil servants, consultants and secondees to work across a complex and sensitive stakeholder landscape to achieve COP26 strategic objectives; and
- Represent COP26 Director General (CEO) at relevant meetings, presentations and cross-government discussions.