Senior Engagement Lead

at  World Resources Institute

JOB SUMMARY

The Coalition for Urban Transitions seeks a Senior Engagement Lead to play an integral role in the Coalition core team to meet two related objectives:

• Support the development and implementation of comprehensive, high-impact engagement and evidence-based advocacy strategy for the Coalition’s global report and other complementary reports with a range of key countries, cities, and international organizations, including at the Heads of State, Ministerial, and Mayoral levels.
• Use this as the basis for developing a longer term engagement plan involving the formation of a front running Coalition of 10-20 leading countries who are committed to championing the importance of cities and multi-level governance for climate action either globally and / or through renewed domestic commitments in the run up to COP 2019 and 2020.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

You would come with a background and established set of networks in the urban and climate space, with existing contacts, an established reputation, and an ability to quickly open doors. The person should have a strong understanding of the politics across different countries and regions.
Whilst we are not expecting you to handle or directly reach out to the most senior decision-makers or Coalition ambassadors, you must have an ability to operate in a senior advisory capacity akin to a Sherpa to equip the senior ambassadors within the Coalition to hold high level meetings which are productive and lead to tangible outcomes.
We require experience and skills in designing and delivering effective engagement strategies. We also require an ability to prepare suitable C-suite materials such as policy briefs, speaking points, and slide packs to support discussions and relationships with decision-makers and their teams.
You must have strong interpersonal skills, excellent strategic thinking capabilities, as well as ability to work in diplomatic and collaborative manner with multiple stakeholders. In addition, excellent writing skills, initiative, attention to detail, and an enthusiasm for turning big ideas into action are required.

Other qualifications:

• Graduate degree in related field and at least 8 years of experience in creating and implementing engagement / advocacy / communications strategies (additional years of experience may be recognized as a substitute for graduate degree).
• Proven ability to lead on the coordination and delivery of influence and engagement strategies. Experience playing a leading role in major strategic advocacy or campaign efforts would be an advantage.
• Experience working with high level stakeholders (and / or their teams) at Heads of State, Ministerial, CEO, and senior officials / advisers, preferably in the macroeconomic, urban development, or climate space.
• Strong oral communications skills.
• Demonstrable experience in preparing written materials for a C-suite audience in strong, polished prose with a clear sense of the needs of diverse audiences.
• Professional experience and understanding of issues related to macroeconomics, climate change, and urban development.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced office environment, both independently and as part of a global team across time zones.
• Excellent inter-personal communication skills, including the ability to encourage collaboration with other programs, international offices, and partners.
• Experience in managing and guiding a small team.
• Highly motivated, proactive work style and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to think creatively and collaboratively about all elements of engagement work with preference for a proven track record of searching for and implementing innovative and high-impact approaches with clear results.
• Adaptable to rapidly changing priorities and able to manage multiple deadlines and deliver high quality work products.

Fluency in Spanish, Chinese, French, Swahili, or another major language would be advantageous.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Leading and / or supporting the development, implementation and ongoing review of the Coalition’s strategic engagement plan for the global report and other signature reports. The objective would be to secure commitments from a range of national governments to act on the Call to Action outlined above.
This would build on the Coalition’s ongoing (i) mapping of priority countries and key decision makers to reach with the global report / other signature reports; and (ii) emerging thinking for mobilizing these governments – supported by a range of global and regional Coalitions – to turn the global report recommendations into action.

You would have five main responsibilities:

• Proactively identify and pursue ways of reaching these decision-makers through public and private engagements, Coalition country programs, and leveraging existing partnerships through the Coalition’s 20 member organizations, its 16 leadership Council organizations, and network of senior ambassadors. This will include working actively to support the Executive Management Team of the Coalition and its Council Co-Chairs.
• Securing and coordinating efforts for effective high-level bilaterals with Heads of State, Ministers, Mayors, and senior civil servants globally and in key countries, including through existing or Coalition led convening moments. This would include supporting the design and securing of speakers for a range of Coalition events focused on sharing the results of the global report and other signature reports in late 2019 and 2020.
• Developing high-quality briefing materials, speaking points, or slidepacks tailored to the interests and priorities of the particular decision-makers in question, working with the wider Coalition team.
• Using the work under 1-3, play a major role in designing and laying the foundation for consensus behind the concept for the formation of (and / or support to) a front running Coalition of 10-20 leading countries who are committed to championing the importance of cities and multi-level governance for climate action, in partnership with Germany and other major sovereigns. This could include the design of a platform to support the development and / or implementation of national strategies for local climate action to support this effort in-line with the Heidelberg Declaration on Multi-Level Governance.
• Providing day to day guidance and support to the Coalition’s wider communications and engagement team to help them meet their own objectives including its partnerships and engagement officer, Gina Short, communications manager, Freya Stanley-Price, and senior political advisers. This would include establishing and leveraging relationships with NCE, C40, and WRI and other partner organizations and helping to shape the key messages of the Coalition.

The Coalition for Urban Transitions seeks a Senior Engagement Lead to play an integral role in the Coalition core team to meet two related objectives:

• Support the development and implementation of comprehensive, high-impact engagement and evidence-based advocacy strategy for the Coalition’s global report and other complementary reports with a range of key countries, cities, and international organizations, including at the Heads of State, Ministerial, and Mayoral levels.
• Use this as the basis for developing a longer term engagement plan involving the formation of a front running Coalition of 10-20 leading countries who are committed to championing the importance of cities and multi-level governance for climate action either globally and / or through renewed domestic commitments in the run up to COP 2019 and 2020