Interim Secretariat Director - LIFE-AR

Interim Secretariat Director (FTC)
Hybrid (within or outside of the UK) with occasional travel to the UK offices and LDC countries

About Us

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is a policy and action research organisation promoting sustainable development and linking local priorities to global challenges. We are based in London and work across five continents with some of the world’s most vulnerable people to strengthen their voices in the decision-making arenas that affect them. With more than 150 members of staff working with associates and partners around the world, IIED has been at the forefront of evidence-based policymaking in sustainable development for over 50 years.

The Initiative for Effective Adaption and Resilience (LIFE-AR) is an LDC (Less Developed Countries) led and owned initiative with the objective of developing long-term climate adaptation delivery mechanisms that enable investment behind local priorities, strengthening national institutions, domestic systems and capabilities, and influencing the climate finance architecture to improve LDC’s ability to access climate finance for transformational adaptation. IIED is currently acting as the ‘interim’ Secretariat for LIFE-AR.

We are hiring a Secretariat Director to join us on a full-time basis (or a minimum of 70% FTE) for a fixed-term contract of two years. It is envisaged this role would move to a new legal entity once it is established for LIFE-AR.

Key Benefits

- Salary of £75,542 - £87,429 per annum, depending on experience
- 25 days' annual leave per year, increasing with service
- Closure between Christmas and New Year with additional paid holiday
- 7.5% employer's pension contributions
- An employee protection scheme offering a flexible menu of benefits
- Flexible working options
- Support for learning and development

If you are a leader accomplished in managing complex programmes across multiple countries and partners, and exceptional experience in driving strategic development, this is the perfect opportunity to join a dynamic, geographically diverse team of people.

You’ll have the chance to make a real difference to Least Developed Countries, making a global impact and enabling far-reaching effects for those most vulnerable to climate change.

The Role

As the Secretariat Director of the LIFE-AR (interim) Secretariat, you will lead the scale-up and delivery of the LIFE-AR strategy, implementing Board decisions and ensuring all LIFE-AR stakeholders have an equal voice at the table.

Overseeing the development of the LIFE-AR Platform you will ensure the success of LIFE-AR, working closely with LDC colleagues to provide strategic and technical expertise across the Initiative. The Director will lead on the transition design to an LDC owned legal entity that can deliver accessible climate finance where it is most needed.

You will also lead stakeholder engagement, governance support, partnership management, and impact delivery, ensuring LIFE-AR's success and influence in the climate finance landscape.

Additionally, you will:

- Oversee the execution of grant agreements and LIFE-AR compliance function
- Lead the interim secretariat's support to the LIFE-AR Board
- Influence the climate finance architecture through sharing insights
- Manage relationships with existing development partners and attract new finance to LIFE-AR
- Collaborate with LIFE-AR leadership to strengthen impact delivery

About You

To be considered for the role of LIFE-AR Secretariat Director, you will need:

- Substantial experience of leading at a senior management level with involvement in the strategic development of a charitable or international organisation with Board accountability
- Experience in philanthropy, grant making, research and evaluation, strategic planning, advocacy, facilitation, and programme development
- Substantial experience of working in adaptation in LDCs
- A strong track record of leadership and delivery in a multi-faceted organisation, with experience of initiating and implementing change
- Experience of leading with diversity, equity and inclusion, with strong knowledge of decolonisation and antiracist practice
- Strong relationship and network-building skills
- An advanced degree (or equivalent qualification) in relevant discipline or equivalent experience

Please note, this role is also open to those who live outside the UK, as long as you have the right to work in that country and the location makes sense to supporting the LIFE-AR initiative. IIED will support a UK visa for this role if re-location is requested.

The salary range advertised in GBP is applicable in the UK only, and the salary offer in another country would depend on the local terms and conditions. We only use the UK salary structure to determine starting salaries, but it will not apply to salaries outside the UK thereafter.

IIED is a hybrid working organisation and you are likely to be working from home most of the time. As such, you will need a suitable place to work and a reliable, fast internet connection.

The closing date for this role is the 1st November 2023.

Other organisations may call this role Head of Administration, Director of Admin, Head of Secretariat, Administration Director, or Temporary Secretariat Director.

Webrecruit and Institute for Environment and Development are equal opportunities employers, we value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you want to join our outstanding organisation as an Interim Secretariat Director, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.