Climate Finance and Innovation Specialist

Climate Finance and Innovation Specialist

Start date: December 2024

Duration: 2 years 

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Deadline for application: 28 October 2024

Are you passionate about shaping innovation in climate finance and building a more resilient society?

Leverage your expertise in environmental and climate projects to help direct private financing and investment towards climate change adaptation. Become part of a dynamic, international team of professionals, working alongside renowned organizations and leading technical experts across Europe.

About us

Based in Copenhagen, World Climate Foundation (WCF) has a diverse team of specialists working on WCF’s global platform focusing on action and impact on climate, biodiversity and health resilience. We facilitate large-scale collaboration between governments, businesses, financial institutions and international organisations, accelerating the transition to a green resilient economy and society. By creating powerful cross-sectoral partnerships, we foster innovation and investment for sustainable solutions.

Since September 2023, WCF has been leading CLIMATEFIT, a Horizon Europe project and the first EU-funded initiative solely focused on climate adaptation finance. CLIMATEFIT aims to significantly boost financing for climate adaptation across Europe by fostering collaboration between governments, financial institutions, including banks, and other key stakeholders. With 32 partners from 8 European countries, the project delivers new insights, innovative approaches, and collaborative platforms to help public authorities and financial institutions align on financial strategies for building climate resilience.

Opportunity

World Climate Foundation is currently looking for a member to strengthen its passionate CLIMATEFIT team. You will be working between 3 to 4 days per week, equivalent to 22.5 to 30 hours per week. Your contract will be of fixed term, two years, with possibility of extension and increased hours depending on funding availability and performance. The starting date is December 2024, preferably, or January 2025.

Role

The Climate Finance and Innovation Specialist will play a key role in driving research and innovation efforts that empower local governments and financial institutions to collaborate more effectively for accelerated climate adaptation. In addition, the Specialist will actively support project coordination by working closely with the Project Coordinator to ensure optimal use of project resources and partner collaboration. The role will also involve a smaller focus on project management, including coordinating with the European Commission, the project’s Advisory Board, and WCF’s operational department.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement research and innovation initiatives focused on fostering collaboration between public and private sectors for climate change adaptation.
• Lead work packages and project tasks in close coordination with the Project Coordinator, technical partners, public authorities, and financial institutions.
• Enhance adaptation finance catalogues by identifying financial sources and instruments that support informed decision-making for public authorities in adaptation finance planning.
• Co-develop innovative methodologies to create adaptation investment strategies, plans, and case studies for public authorities across Europe.
• Support the design of incentive mechanisms and investment concepts for collaboration between public authorities and financial institutions.
• Lead the validation and testing of innovative funding and financing solutions developed throughout the project to unlock private financing and investment for climate adaptation.
• Co-design capacity-building programmes on climate adaptation finance tailored to both local governments and financial institutions.
• Oversee the development of a new European one-stop shop, coordinating sub-contractors for design and delivery, while engaging project partners in content creation and dissemination.
• Conduct desktop research to produce cutting-edge insights on adaptation finance, informing technical partners and stakeholders.
• Manage project operations, including financial management, data management, branding, EU reporting, and administrative tasks such as grant agreement amendments.
• Promote the CLIMATEFIT project and expand its network across Europe by managing social media, attending conferences, and engaging in key industry events.

Qualifications

We are looking for a dedicated professional who is passionate about addressing significant societal challenges. Whether your enthusiasm lies in environmental and climate issues, corporate sustainability, or sustainable finance, your drive will be essential. You should have a keen interest in deepening your knowledge of climate adaptation finance - a rapidly evolving field with global significance.

• A relevant master's in environmental sciences, climate change, sustainability, business, finance or a related field.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in environmental, climate, or sustainability initiatives and projects.
• Proven ability to produce technical tools or insights in collaboration with diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with climate adaptation planning processes, including the challenges and enablers faced by municipalities.
• Basic understanding of banking and capital markets related to climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Knowledge of public and private policies on sustainable finance and EU climate
• A strong willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment of policy, innovation, and practice.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary and multi-cultural
• Background in project management or consultancy is a plus.

Preference

• Strong network connections in climate adaptation, sustainable finance, or related fields.
• Completion of certified courses in climate finance, sustainable investment, or similar areas.
• Direct experience in climate finance with a focus on adaptation.
• Proficiency in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian, Czech, Slovenian, or Romanian is a plus.

Personal skills

• Positive-minded and with problem-solving attitude.
• Proactive and capable of working independently.
• Flexible team worker and culturally sensitive.
• Emotional intelligent and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced field of innovation
• Excellent written and oral communication

Apply

Please send your application in English, consisting of a CV (max 3 pages) and a cover letter (max 1 page).

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible, no later than 28 October 2024, at 12:00 CET. Interviews will be conducted over the following three weeks.

Please note that, due to legal requirements, applicants must hold EU citizenship or a valid EU residence permit, as well as a valid Danish work permit. Unfortunately, applications that do not meet these criteria cannot be considered.

WCF is an equal opportunity employer, and we consider all applicants on the basis of qualifications and competencies regardless of and not limited to race, national origin, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and/or marital status. We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organization and applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

More about CLIMATEFIT

The project supports EU territories in their journey toward climate resilience by tackling their lack finance. CLIMATEFIT partners are providing critical insights and tools, and building the capacities of public authorities to identify, orchestrate and attract various financing sources. The consortium is also enabling financing and investment entities to identify and access investment opportunities associated to climate adaptation projects and initiatives. The main beneficiaries of CLIMATEFIT are 20 European local and regional governments and private-sector financing and investment entities that will work in partnership to build viable financial solutions for climate adaptation across Europe. Read more on the project’s website.