Program Associate / Senior Program Associate

About CPI

CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. CPI has seven offices around the world in Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States (San Francisco and Washington D.C.)

CPI is known as a leader in tracking sustainable investment trends, identifying innovative business models, and supporting the solutions that can drive the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive economy. We are unique in our focus on finance, our ability to get the right people to the table, and our analytical rigor.

About the Lab

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab) is a public-private initiative that identifies, develops, and launches innovative climate finance instruments. It aims to drive billions of dollars of private investment into climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Lab instruments address investment barriers across a wide variety of sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate adaptation, sustainable land-use, climate tech, and carbon.

Since launching in 2014, The Lab has successfully launched 68 new innovative financial instruments, has been endorsed by the G7 and collectively mobilized over USD 4.2 billion in sustainable investments. The Lab is a global program that operations through a Hub-and-spoke regional model, focused on building powerful local networks and enhancing local capacity development, while maintaining strong connections to international investors and strategic stakeholders. The Lab currently has five regional programs in Brazil, East and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, India, and the Philippines.

About the role

As the Lab enters its 10th year, the program continues to grow in terms of scope, prominence, regional, and sectoral focus, and functions as a world-leading catalyst in blended finance and climate investment. To continue to execute a vision for disruptive impact in sustainable investment, CPI is seeking an experienced Associate or Senior Associate to support the Lab’s Program Management Team.

The Program Associate’s primary focus will be advising and fast-tracking Lab-supported financial instrument towards implementation as part of the portfolio management strategy. They will form an integral part of the whole Lab program team and have the opportunity to work with the team of analysts and proponents developing each year’s class of innovative climate finance instruments.

This role requires an experienced, business-oriented professional with strong strategic, financial, and interpersonal skills. In addition, the Associate/Senior Associate should also have experience supporting high-level interactions with key stakeholders, such as clients, investors, donors, and others in sustainable finance.

• Role purpose

Key responsibilities

Includes the following and others as assigned:

• Support instruments in their fundraising process by identifying target funders and refining fundraising strategies

• Collaborate with Lab proponents and analysts to develop business plans, go-to-market strategies, financial analysis to refine ideas, and pitch materials as needed for each instrument in their path to implementation

• Support the preparation of portfolio proposals for potential investors and current partners

• Provide strategic support to expand the Lab’s network

• Support internal knowledge management and sharing processes

• Maintain contact and stakeholder management databases

• Communicate and collaborate with CPI staff working around the globe

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required and professional experience in the fields of business, finance, or economics, international development, or related fields. Master’s degree or MBA preferable

• Experience in business development, entrepreneurship, financing structuring and financial analysis

• Experience or knowledge in the areas of climate finance, blended finance, impact investing, and/or sustainable development

• Experience working with entrepreneurs, and/or with start-ups, incubators, or acceleration programs. Knowledge of challenges and solutions for start-ups financing and operations highly desirable. Developing and delivering successful fundraising pitches is an advantage

Competencies and Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical and research skills, with a track record of applying sound financial and strategic judgement in complex situations.

• Ability to confidently work autonomously and oversee the work of others effectively.

• Flexibility, professionalism, enthusiasm for working as part of a team, and an ability to interact with a diverse array of people.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, time management, and prioritization skills, and an ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.

• Deep commitment to the mission and values of CPI.

• Fluency in English required (written and verbal). Other languages is a plus

Hybrid Working & Benefits

CPI UK have adopted a hybrid working approach, with our teams spending at least 40% of their time in the office with their colleagues.

We’re also happy to discuss a range of flexible working patterns to meet your individual personal circumstances.

CPI salary offers are determined by the level of skill and experience demonstrated by the selected candidate as well as alignment to internal equity and external market levels.

To Apply

Please submit your CV and respond to our application questions by 9am (BST) on Monday 7th October 2024.

Due to the importance of this role to our CPI projects we are looking to appoint quickly and will be reviewing applications as they are submitted, therefore interested candidates are advised to submit your application at the earliest convenience. We reserve the right to remove this advert, dependent on the level of response received.

Climate Policy Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. We work hard to create and maintain a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximise their full potential. Our CPI teams reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strong commitment to a diversity and inclusion is evident through our focus on attracting and retaining staff based on skills and merit.

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.