Head of Strategy

About the Green Climate Fund
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund, with a mission to support developing countries in responding to the challenges of climate change. Established in 2010 by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Fund has committed USD 18 billion across 314 projects in 133 countries to date. Following a 2023 pledge of USD 12.8 billion, GCF is set to scale up its ambition toward becoming a USD 50 billion fund by 2030.

GCF operates under a country-driven model and works across sectors with public and private partners to deliver transformative climate action. Its Readiness Programme builds national capacities, while its broad financing instruments help mobilize public and private investment aligned with national development goals.

With a diverse team of over 300 professionals representing nearly 80 nationalities, GCF is headquartered in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of the Department of Strategy, Policy and Innovation (DSPI), the Head of Strategy is responsible for shaping the GCF’s long-term corporate strategy. This leadership role ensures that the Fund’s operations and strategic initiatives align with the Paris Agreement, the 50by30 Vision, and guidance from the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP).

The Head of Strategy leads strategic planning, performance monitoring, innovation insight, and thought leadership efforts. This position requires a strategic thinker with a strong grasp of complex global climate issues, deep policy and institutional knowledge, and the ability to mobilize and lead diverse, high-performing teams.

Core Responsibilities
Strategic Planning
Lead the development and evolution of the GCF’s corporate strategy, ensuring alignment with global climate targets, national priorities, and GCF’s replenishment cycles.
Facilitate the integration of theories of change, impact pathways, and strategic frameworks across the Fund’s programming.

Develop and manage the GCF’s Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS), ensuring it enables internal strategy communication and implementation.
Corporate Performance
Translate strategic goals into measurable objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Oversee reporting and analytics to track progress and inform decision-making at the Secretariat level.
Support adaptive management by identifying performance gaps and initiating targeted improvement actions.
Lead corporate maturity assessments and foster continuous learning across teams.
Insight and Innovation
Analyze emerging global trends, technologies, and risks to inform strategic direction and innovation.
Support scenario planning and innovative financial instrument development.

Draw insights from pilot initiatives and global partnerships to enhance GCF’s agility and relevance.
Thought Leadership
Guide the development and dissemination of strategic publications, reports, and thought pieces.
Strengthen GCF’s presence in the global climate dialogue by engaging with think tanks, civil society, and academia.
Engagement
Ensure that the latest scientific insights inform GCF strategies and decision-making.
Collaborate with departments to align sub-strategies with the overall GCF vision.
Promote strategic coherence between budgetary planning and corporate priorities.
Support senior leadership in analyzing strategic trade-offs and resource allocations.
Delivery
Advise departments and offices on how to operationalize strategic goals in programming and daily decision-making.
Coordinate with key units—such as the Office of the Executive Director (OED), Chief Information Office (OCIO), and Division of Resource Mobilization (DRM)—to define and promote GCF’s unique value proposition in the international climate finance ecosystem.
Qualifications and Competencies
Education and Experience
A PhD, Master’s degree or higher in climate science, economics, international relations, business management, or a related field.
Minimum 15 years of experience, including senior leadership roles, in strategic planning or impact-oriented organizations.

Proven track record in driving institutional strategy, leading complex change, and utilizing emerging trends and innovations.
Technical and Leadership Competencies
Strong ability to synthesize complex global trends into actionable strategies.
Demonstrated success in advising senior executives and boards on strategy and performance.
Proven experience leading diverse teams and managing multi-stakeholder processes.
High-level communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Fluency in English is required; knowledge of additional languages is an asset.

Salary: USD 198,000 per year (plus a comprehensive benefits package)

Equal Opportunity
GCF is an equal opportunity employer. Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.

Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit their applications no later than 27 August 2025 (11:59 PM KST). Late submissions may not be considered. Final selection will be based on interviews, assessments, and reference checks