This role is no longer live but keep your eyes peeled for future postings! And still check out the details below to get to know C40 Cities.

Summary

Location: London

Type: Full-time, indefinite

Salary: (Grade 2) £75,419

Other Requirements: Applicants must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom. Some travel may be required as part of the role. The successful candidate should be able to work from the London office at least a few days a week.

Reporting To: Director, Strategic Communications and Press Secretary to Co-Chair (You will manage a global team based in a number of locations).

Deadline: Closing date for applications is Monday 4th March 2024 at 5.00pm GMT. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications early.

Application via this link (when asked ‘How did you hear of this vacancy’, remember to select ‘other’ and enter Knownimpact.co 😁) . Please make sure you read all the details below before applying. You will be asked for a CV, cover letter, and other general personal and administrative information. Here is the link again in full text: https://c40.bamboohr.com/careers/502

Minimum experience: Executive

Full job description and context

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.

Department description

The C40 Communications team is responsible for strategically positioning C40 as one of the world’s most impactful climate organisations by celebrating the ambitious, equitable action underway in C40 cities and establishing our mayors as global leaders of the climate movement. Through our global communications we aim to shift the narrative and inspire real progress on the greatest challenge humanity is facing today.

Position Description

An exciting and challenging opportunity to develop and lead C40’s global media team. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate excellent news judgement, strong leadership, story-telling skills and delivery impact. You will be responsible for positioning C40 and C40 mayors as global climate leaders, and significantly building their profile on a local, regional and global stage.

You will manage a global team based in a number of locations.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a media strategy for the organization, building the profile of C40 and mayoral climate action with global audiences.
• Contribute to the development of the overall C40 communication and campaign strategies.
• Build and maintain excellent media contacts across global outlets, extending C40’s reach to new audiences.
• Advise and support the C40 President, C40 Co-Chairs, C40 Executive Director, Management Team and relevant senior staff when speaking to / being interviewed by journalists.
• Work closely with the comms leads for the C40 Co-Chairs in securing high profile coverage in the international media for the Co-Chair’s priorities.
• Responsible for the production and maintenance of talking points, key messagings, op-eds, presentations and media pitches in support of C40 and C40 mayors.
• Support C40 member cities in securing high profile coverage in the international media.
• Support C40 Managing Director and Director of Strategic Communications on special projects as required.
• Manage a high performing global media team situated in several time zones, and ensure regional media managers are closely involved in the development of regional plans.
• Manage PR agencies, freelancers, consultants or other relevant suppliers hired to support C40’s communications campaigns or events, prior to, during and after C40’s milestones and main events.
• Maintain a quick response function for press enquiries within the media team.
• Lead engagement with C40 and partner organisations to plan media launches for thought leadership and reports on key policies and campaigns.

Person Specification:

• Substantial and proven media relations experience, with 10+ years working in a busy press team and/or media outlet – preferably experience in both.
• Experience working in city hall and advising mayors on media/ communications.
• Track record of achieving substantial national and international coverage in globally influential print and broadcast media, especially in a fast paced news environment.
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of international media outlets and approaches across a range of global news markets.
• Excellent media contacts across global print and broadcast.
• Demonstrable experience of securing and maintaining long term media partnerships.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in an engaging way to a variety of target groups. Ability to draft press releases, quotes, opinion pieces and blogs for attribution to senior managers and mayors.
• Experience working on cross-organisational initiatives, often with competing priorities, and building relationships with counterparts in partner organizations to help deliver coverage.
• Experience of reputational risk management, and of delivering crisis communications support.
• Experience delivering communications and media-relations function for major international events, including delivering press conferences featuring high profile speakers and international media.
• Strong leadership qualities, including experience of managing and motivating busy teams in a fast moving international environment.
• Substantial interest in global issues, including the climate change agenda.
• Strong planning skills, including the ability to set priorities, meet deadlines when working under pressure on a number of projects.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the United Kingdom. Some travel may be required as part of the role. The successful candidate should be able to work from the London office at least a few days a week.

Reporting To: Director, Strategic Communications and Press Secretary to Co-Chair

Term: Indefinite

Location: London

Salary: (Grade 2) £75,419

Application Process:

Closing date for applications is Monday 4th March 2024 at 5.00pm GMT. 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.