DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL, JOIN THE DREAM TEAM AND WORK WITH US FOR CLIMATE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Flexible

Capacity: 100% of time worked

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY:

The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of more than 1500 civil society organisations in over 130 countries driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. CAN convenes and coordinates its members, namely, International Members and regional and national nodes to achieve this. CAN is an accredited observer in the UNFCCC and convenes its members to achieve maximum impact in this process and other relevant multilateral processes.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

In consultation and collaboration with the Executive Director, the Director, Strategic Management is responsible for shepherding the big picture implementation of the strategic approach and program of the CAN Secretariat, in line with the strategic priorities set by the network’s membership, and together with the various programmatic leads.

Strategic Management

• Lead in the process design and coordination of the development, integration and coherence of the CAN Secretariat strategy and work plans with the CAN network’s strategy to ensure a transformational agenda that delivers on the network’s climate and social justice goals;
• Support and facilitate the collaborative design of programmatic priorities and activities for the Secretariat, including defining clear objectives, desired outcomes and outputs to deliver impact ;
• Ensure that the overall work plan of the CAN Secretariat is fit for purpose, maximizes synergies between programmatic areas, leverages the diversity of strengths in the network, and optimizes a member-driven approach in the bottom-up spirit of the network;
• Ensure overall coordination of the series of Annual Strategy Meetings for the network;
• Oversee the production of CAN I Annual reports.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Support the Implementation of a strong MEL system that as well as measuring results, progress can be tracked, gaps addressed, while ensuring that the strategy and programmes are dynamically adapted to shifts in context, and the organization remains agile in implementation;
• Support the Senior Management Team (SMT) to maximize impact in line with resource allocations; Ensure horizon scanning for strategic trends and opportunities; and share insights with SMT and wider network as appropriate;
• Assess potential risks and issues that arise that could affect the delivery of the Secretariat’s work and propose mitigating measures as appropriate.

Strategic partnerships

• Support the ED and the Secretariat to develop, strengthen and nurture strong partnerships, including philanthropies/funders, and powerful collaborations to help build trust across the movement, as identified by the Network and Secretariat;
• Assess the influences, interests and attitudes of the key stakeholders and advise how to best align strategies and coordinate tactics where appropriate;
• Support proactive stakeholder engagement, regular feedback and identifying any barriers/potential conflicts with the aim to work through them in a genuine spirit of collaboration.

Resource Mobilisation

• Coordinate with the Head of Operations and Finance Team to develop budgets in line with resources and programmatic priorities;
• Coordinate with the ED, Senior Fundraising Manager and SMT to define fundraising priorities and resource mobilisation , provide input into funding proposals and grant reporting
• Support in developing resourcing models to increase sustainability, collaboration opportunities across the network (and in particular with nodes) and to help with mobilizing funds for innovation.

Leadership

• Line-manage a team of 2 direct (MEL and Corporate Communications) reports;
• Represent CAN at various meetings, including public speaking and donor engagement;
• Actively contribute to reporting, knowledge-management and monitoring, evaluation and learning efforts of CAN;
• Ensure the organizational culture reflects its values and ethos in its day-to-day activities.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The job holder must possess the following requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation:

Education and professional qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant field such as non-profit management, etc.

Job-related experience & knowledge:

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressively more senior experience;
• Demonstrated track-record of successful collaborative strategy development, preferably across multiple organizations and theories of change;
• Experience in a nonprofit organization with diverse member base and international operations;
• Experience of financial management and donor-requirements in a non-profit organization;
• Strong knowledge of ethics and compliance standards for non-profits.

Job-related skills/abilities:

• Excellent organizational, project and time management skills, proven ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to prioritize, adjust workload, juggle multiple assignments;
• Problem-solver mentality;
• Excellent strategic analysis, planning and leadership, astute to political and other opportunities and threats;
• Proven ability to lead teams and groups of organizations through a strategic process;
• Understanding of different theories of change and the role of different approaches in a complex strategy;
• Able to synthesize information from multiple sources;
• Deep commitment to collaboration, and ability to manage relationships throughout conflict and disagreement;
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in different socio-cultural contexts, good listener, facilitator and consensus-builder;
• Talented in the art of developing and managing high performing teams;
• Ability to take initiative, and to work independently and proactively;
• Strong identification with CAN’s values including but not limited to transparency, honesty, inclusiveness, empathy, solidarity and respect.

IT Skills and requirements:

• Computer skills: advanced competence in MS Office & project management tools
• Ability to coordinate meetings and work plans in a virtual environment and using digital tools

Language ability:

• Fluency in spoken and written English required
• Any additional language will be an advantage

Travel:

• Ability to travel internationally up to 40% of the time.