About the C40 x GCoM Joint Program
The C40 x GCoM Joint Program, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brings together C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to work with partners on a shared agenda to:
- Increase cities’ access to finance for projects that combat the climate crisis and improve resilience;
- Ensure nation states upgrade their national climate commitments as a result of working with cities, with particular focus on city climate action being included in nation states’ climate action plans which are due in 2025 (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs);
- Improve the quality and ease of access to climate data so cities can start implementing the most impactful climate actions as quickly as possible.
About the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships
The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) initiative, endorsed by 72 national governments, was launched at COP28 in Dubai by the COP28 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, to drive forward multi-level partnerships for climate action towards enhanced NDCs.
The C40 x GCoM Joint Program, sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, is one of the key partners supporting the implementation of the initiative. Other city networks and partners form a wider coalition of CHAMP partners convened by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the COP28 Presidency for delivery. Through their combined support to the CHAMP initiative, the partners aim to enable nation states to upgrade their national climate commitments as a result of working with sub-national governments, and for sub-nationals to finance and deliver accelerated climate action.
A highly skilled team within the Joint Program, composed of C40 and GCoM staff is dedicated to supporting the success of the CHAMP initiative. Their activities include diplomatic engagement in multilateral processes and with national governments, advocacy to maintain the momentum of CHAMP, knowledge sharing and bilateral technical engagement to support the domestic delivery of multi-level partnerships in CHAMP endorsing countries. Their goal is to demonstrate the impact that the CHAMP coalition has had on global climate ambition, on delivering more ambitious and urban NDCs and on helping cities deliver action on the ground that improves lives and livelihoods.
Position Description:
The Lead on CHAMP Brazil and COP30 Engagement will join the C40 and GCOM Joint Program team working on the CHAMP initiative. The post will support the success of the CHAMP initiative in Brazil both as a domestic agenda of multi-level partnership (domestic implementation) and as a global leadership opportunity for Brazil to use their COP30 Presidency to promote multi-level partnerships globally, taking the lead on the overall engagement of Brazil to advance joint programme priorities, including supporting the development of programmes and policies delivering CHAMP implementation in Brazil, liaising with the federal government, agencies, Brazilian partners, and cities. The postholder will also devise and implement strategies, and act as liaison & support for the COP30 Presidency leading on translating Joint Program global strategy goals into actionable Presidency opportunities and activities.
This position will ensure alignment with the COP30 Presidency’s priorities and the broader CHAMP international agenda. The selected candidate will coordinate multilevel climate actions, and facilitate strategic coordination between national and subnational governments. Their role will include leading on a strategy of engagement in the COP process and events in Belém (Brazil) to ensure the visibility of CHAMP as a positive influence over climate ambition and action, and to ensure its enduring contribution to the process beyond COP30. The successful candidate will also support the laison with the federal government for its participation and coordination for the C40 World Mayors Summit, which will take place in November in Rio.
The successful candidate will have excellent knowledge of the Brazilian Federal government, as well as of the intergovernmental climate process, COP events and the overall UNFCCC ecosystem. They will have a good understanding of and experience with subnational networks or associations.\ (such as a national, regional or international cities or regions network).
The successful candidate should ideally have demonstrable advocacy, diplomacy or public and institutional relations experience as well as excellent skills in coordinating groups of partners/ coalitions.
The role will report to the Special Advisor, CHAMP National Engagement with dotted lines to theDirector of CHAMP Global Strategy and Engagement and the Regional Director for Latin America but coordinate closely and work across both C40 and GCoM organisations with the teams responsible for delivering specific aspects of our COP30 strategy (policy, mayoral engagement, communications, events, etc.).
Lastly, the role will be in direct contact with the C40 and GCoM focal points among the COP30 Presidency within the Brazilian federal government.
Responsibilities:
The Lead on CHAMP Brazil and COP30 Presidency will play two critical coordination functions: one internal within the Joint Program (ensuring alignment between all the teams and staff with activities and objectives related to Brazil, COP30 and our Brazilian stakeholders) and one external at the interface between the COP30 Presidency and the C40 x GCoM Joint Program (funnelling efficiently coordination and conversation with the COP30 Presidency and Brazilian stakeholders relevant for our two-pronged Brazil strategy of domestic implementation and global leadership). Specifically:
- Lead the engagement of Brazilian federal ministries and agencies with Joint Program activities, specifically on programmes relevant to CHAMP implementation and financing urban climate action, including:
- Prepare briefings and documents on events and key deliverables related to Brazil;
- Participate in strategic events and meetings with the federal government on behalf of C40, and represent the C40 x CGOM Joint Program.
- Activate other contacts in the federal government for a successful engagement and coordination of CHAMP;
- Prepare, raise awareness of and respond to opportunities for engagement relevant to our two-pronged Brazil Strategy.
- Manage day-to-day relationship with identified stakeholders in the COP30 Presidency within the Brazilian federal government and other relevant stakeholders identified in relation to COP activities - working closely with the C40 Regional Director for Latin America..
- Identify and deliver activities at COP30 and in the run-up (events, meetings, bilaterals, and stakeholder activation) that will give visibility and recognition for the CHAMP initiative and promote and amplify the climate action of cities globally and the leadership of C40 and GCoM cities.
- Encourage and support the Brazilian COP30 Presidency to leverage their leadership to keep CHAMP alive.
- Working closely with the C40 and GCoM global Advocacy team, contribute to devising and delivering a strategy to secure support for CHAMP beyond COP30.
- Represent the interests of C40 and GCoM with the COP30 process and team, in relation to the Joint Program’s objective of demonstrating the impact and benefits of CHAMP,
- Coordinate with LGMA and CHAMP partners to formulate and deliver a consolidated set of expectations and ideas to support the COP30 Presidency’s Action agenda, Cities agenda and overall engagement with the landscape of subnational networks and stakeholders (in terms of advocacy, events, comms and engagement with Parties).
- Deliver agreed activities at COP30 and in the run-up, working closely across C40 and GCoM, with external partners (CHAMP funders, partners, endorsers) and cities.
- Contribute and/or lead on the development of briefings for spokespeople, leadership and partners.
- Support the CHAMP Global Ambassador and contribute to their activation strategy as needed with briefings and bilateral engagement support in relation to relevant Brazilian stakeholders and COP activities.
Person Specification:
- Between 5-10 years of experience working in climate policy at international, national or local level.
- Excellent knowledge of the intergovernmental climate process and experience engaging in COP negotiations, COP events and the overall UNFCCC ecosystem.
- Good understanding of and experience with subnational networks or associations is also desirable (such as a national, regional or international cities or regions network).
- Experience with Brazilian climate governance and diplomacy stakeholders, including the national government as well as relevant public institutions and partners.
- Demonstrable advocacy, diplomacy or public and institutional relations experience, including managing politically complex partnerships, processes and negotiations.
- Excellent skills in coordinating groups of partners/ coalitions.
- Ability to work and create consensus in complex and fast-moving global multi-stakeholder partnerships.
- Ability to think critically, to analyse evolving situations, identify opportunities of influence and to propose creative and impactful engagement and advocacy activities.
- Ability to manage your time and workload efficiently and independently, experience managing projects and events.
- Excellent team spirit, fair and collaborative attitude.
- Outstanding writing and communications skills, especially impactful brief writing.
- Fluency in English and Portuguese is required.
Other Requirements:
Applicants must already have the right to work in the listed locations. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.
Reporting To: Special Advisor, CHAMP National Engagement
Term: Fixed Term until 28th February 2026 (The appointment and the duration of the role are subject to the final approval of funding)
Location: Brasilia, Brazil
Salary: (Grade 2)(IC) USD 95,463 (per annum)
Application Process:
Closing date for applications is Friday, 11th April 2025 at 5pm BST. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.
To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.
For any queries about the role, please contact careers@C40.org. Kindly note that this email address is for recruitment related queries only. We are unable to accept CVs and cover letters sent to this inbox. We can only accept and process applications that are submitted via our website.
C40 is an equal opportunities employer.
Diversity Statement
C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better.
We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.
We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.
C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.
Background
C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.
C40’s team of 400+ staff is based in offices in London, in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations.
The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors, which is chaired by Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, responsible for operational oversight. A regionally diverse management team, led by Executive Director Mark Watts, leads the day-to-day management of C40. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.
Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.
About The Global Covenant of Mayors For Climate & Energy
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM or Global Covenant), is a global coalition of cities and local governments with a shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate change and move to a low-carbon, resilient society. The alliance unites and inspires its stakeholders to strengthen global climate coherence, accelerate the energy transition, and generate locally-tailored solutions for a common purpose: creating an inclusive, just, low-emission, and climate-resilient future for all.
Co-chaired by former New York City Mayor and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, and European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and with the support of global and regional city networks, the Global Covenant of Mayors represents the strongest and clearest signal to national governments that cities are not only acting to stop the effects of climate change, they are leading and leading together. Mayors from across all global regions serve on the Board, and represent city networks, Regional Covenants and bring locally specific perspectives – ensuring that the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is truly led by mayors.
C40 Cities is the fiscal sponsor of the Bloomberg Philanthropies funded parts of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). As the host organisation, C40 provides financial, administrative, and operational services to GCoM. C40 and GCoM are working closely together on aligned programmes and areas of activity.