Global Director, Policy Engagement

This is a rare opportunity to lead an international, multi-theme program of policy work in one of the world's leading environmental NGOs. CDP works to engage national and international policymakers to take ambitious action on climate, water and deforestation using evidence and insights from the private sector and from cities, states and regions.

Managing a small team directly and a wider international team through matrix management, the post-holder will lead CDP's policy work on climate, water and deforestation as well as leading cross-thematic policy work relating to sustainable finance (particularly corporate governance and financial disclosure) and the Sustainable Development Goals. The post-holder will have strategic ownership of CDP's global policy plan and will chair an internal board which oversees its implementation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic accountability for delivery of CDP’s global program plan for policymakers and policy influencers, including building and managing an effective global team and chairing an internal Policy Board;
• Line management responsibility for a small team in London which conducts policy engagement in the UK and at international level, together with matrix management of a wider international team which conducts policy engagement in Europe, China, Latin America, South-East Asia and other geographies;
• Acting as CDP media spokesperson on policy issues, and supporting the integration of policymaker needs into CDP’s wider communications strategy;
• Providing strategic advice to CDP management and colleagues on environmental policy issues;
• Representing CDP externally on policy issues, including representing CDP on policy within several multi-stakeholder collaborations (e.g. We Mean Business, The Investor Agenda);
• Contributing to the development of CDP plans and strategies, and to fundraising efforts.

Required skills and experience:

Essential:

• Team leadership – both directly and via matrix management;
• Strong knowledge of international climate change policy, and knowledge of one or more of the following policy areas (again on an international basis): deforestation, water, sustainable finance, SDGs.
• Substantial experience of engagement with policymakers, including evidence-based advocacy;
• Good project management skills, and experience of managing projects under restricted funding which have specific deliverables and reporting requirements;
• Experience of working in an international context across geographies and time zones, and within multi-stakeholder collaborations/coalitions;
• A good balance of diplomacy and assertiveness, including the ability to chair a senior-level Board;
• Experience of public speaking and/or engaging with media;
• Fluent English.

Desirable:

• In-depth knowledge of corporate environmental reporting policy on an international basis, including emerging regulatory approaches to climate risk disclosure;
• A good understanding of the drivers of deforestation and approaches to address these through public-private partnership approaches;
• Additional languages beyond English.

This is a full-time role that can be based in London, New York, Berlin or Brussels at CDP’s offices and reporting to the Director of Stakeholders.

Salary and benefits: Range £52,000 to £60,000 per annum (dependent on skills and experience), annual discretionary bonus, 24 days’ holiday (increasing to 30), generous non-contributory pension provision, life assurance and others.

Interested applicants must be eligible to work legally in either the UK, US or EU.

Before you apply

We’ll only use the information you provide to process your application. For more details on how we use your information, see our applicants privacy notice. By emailing us your CV and covering letter, you are permitting CDP to use the information you have provided for recruitment purposes.

To apply please email your CV and a covering letter setting out how you meet the required skills and experience or key responsibilities, which should be no more than two pages, to james.sawyer@cdp.net with ‘Global Director, Policy Engagement’ in the subject. The deadline is 1700, July 19th 2018