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.
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.
C40’s Air Quality Program
C40’s Air Quality Program works with city governments at the political and technical level to raise mayors' ambition, overcome gaps in data and evidence, and design and deliver effective air quality-climate solutions. The C40 Air Quality Program provides a range of support, from deep engagement in pilot cities to technical assistance across a broader group, while connecting cities through peer to peer networks and creating tools and resources available to all cities. The Air Quality Program also includes deeper assistance programs, a global technical assistance initiative that partners with cities in developing and implementing air quality management activities and the African Cities for Clean Air initiative, a regional program supporting African cities in implementing air quality actions. C40, working with its partners at the Clean Air Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies, is launching a major new air quality initiative, Breathe Cities, to enable clean air progress in cities around the world.
Regions and Mayoral Engagement
Core to C40’s value and effectiveness is an ability to be responsive to the needs of all C40 cities and focus services and support on the areas of greatest opportunity for city action and climate impact – both at the individual city level and across our regional and global networks. Our regional management structure better enables C40 to leverage relationships between peer cities and partners regionally and globally and to be more responsive to local needs and conditions.
The Regions and Mayoral Engagement Team is one of the most diverse teams in C40, with staff members located in every region of the globe, representing C40 and coordinating with local cities on the ground. Key objectives of the C40 Regions and Mayoral Engagement team are regionally aligned delivery (ensuring city satisfaction and that C40 remains responsive and relevant to the needs of cities); political engagement (ensuring that C40 builds strong relations with mayors, city officials and regional entities); and effective operations (ensuring data-driven regional strategies and effective processes that support organisation-wide delivery).
African Cities for Clean Air (AC4CA)
With 55% of the global population living in cities, mayors have a critical opportunity to address this challenge. As such, the overwhelming majority of C40’s African cities have taken a stand to improve local air quality and protect their constituents from the devastating consequences of air pollution. On May 19, 2022, at the 9th Africities Summit in Kisumu, Kenya, C40 launched the African Cities for Clean Air Programme which supports African cities as they work to improve air quality and achieve new air quality commitments. At the event, C40 announced that 11 African cities had signed its Clean Air Accelerator. By signing the Accelerator, the mayors of these cities recognise that breathing clean air is a human right and committing to work toward safer air quality that meets World Health Organisation Air Quality Guidelines. The African Cities for Clean Air programme, supports African member cities in addressing their urban air quality challenges. The programme’s goals are to
(1) connect African cities for knowledge sharing and collaboration focused on best practices and successful solutions;
(2) build capacity among city staff to measure air quality, assess air pollution sources, and evaluate health impacts;
(3) support cities to identify, evaluate, and prioritise effective measures to mitigate air pollution;
(4) build awareness around air pollution, including its danger to health in vulnerable populations; and (5) increase political engagement and inspire mayors to take bold actions. City staff, working with C40 global and regional teams, have and will continue to participate in peer to peer collaboration, work with technical assistance partners, and engage with mayors and their staff to fulfil commitments and air quality priorities.
Position Description
The Project Manager will play a key part in the African Cities for Clean Air Programme, working closely with the Regional Technical Advisors, the Technical Head for Breathe Cities, Africa and the Head of Air Quality and Health Technical Programmes, supporting on regional management, delivery and covening functions of the programme. The post holder will provide coordination and administrative support, manage the delivery of workshops and events, support on reporting and public dissemination of project learnings.
The African Cities for Clean Air Project Manager will be passionate about addressing climate change and improving public health and be excited by the opportunity to work with pioneering cities in Africa through in-person and virtual workshops and events to foster collaboration and learning and creating platforms for African leaders to tell their stories to inspire global action. The post-holder will have meticulous attention to detail, supporting on the ground technical assistance and bringing together high quality workshops.
Responsibilities:
- Manage planning, operations and logistics for technical workshops, including all event logistics, travel, delegate engagement, and interpretation support activities.
- Manage all operational aspects, scheduling and logistics for virtual convenings of AC4CA such as webinars, peer to peer learning sessions webinars and other engagement activities.
- Support the development of agendas for AC4CA workshops, webinars and events drawing from best practices and lessons learned across the Air Quality Programme and C40 strategic priorities.
- Liaise and coordinate with other relevant C40 teams in the development of AC4CA events as needed.
- Provide administrative and coordination support across the programme, including procurement, budget tracking and team coordination needs such as scheduling, agenda development and follow up on agreed action points.
- Support project management and work tracking activities, ensuring all project management materials are organised, easy to access, and up to date.
- Centralise and update relevant information on work done in technical assistance cities that can be used to prepare reports, shared with the Air Quality Network and/or communicated to other C40 programs.
- Support communication and advocacy efforts associated with AC4CA and liaise with relevant C40 teams as needed.
- Prepare program presentations, summary documents, and other materials for communication with stakeholders, funders, cities, and other partners. Seek and coordinate input from relevant technical staff.
- Coordinate with regional and global staff reporting of workshop highlights and other C40-led events (virtual and in-person).
Person Specification:
- Demonstrable project management skills, including excellent organisation skills with the ability to meet a variety of deadlines.
- Strong problem-solving, interpersonal and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with an outcome, delivery-oriented approach required.
- Knowledge of city policy making approaches and air quality desirable.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Fluent in English essential; fluent in French is a plus.
- Proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently and be part of a team.
- Strong coordination and event management (logistics) experience
- Problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities, attention to detail and a delivery-oriented approach.
- Relevant prior events management qualification will be an advantage.
Other Requirements:
Applicants must already have the right to work in the country where they apply. Some travel may be required as part of the role.
Reporting To: Technical Head of Africa, Breathe Cities
Term: Fixed term contract to 15th January 2025
Location: Kenya, South Africa
Salary: (Grade 4) Kenya -KSH 4,163,825, South Africa - ZAR 715,392
Application Process:
Closing date for applications is Tuesday 7th May 2024 at 5.00pm 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
C40 is an equal opportunities employer.