Head of Finance, Multilevel Partnerships

Role Overview

This leadership position places you at the heart of a global initiative aimed at unlocking climate finance for cities and regional governments. You will set the strategic direction for how subnational actors access funding, translate real-world lessons from Kenya and Colombia into influential policy recommendations, and drive advocacy with major financial institutions. Working across WRI, the NDC Partnership, and CHAMP, you will ensure that local and regional priorities are embedded in national climate finance systems and that governments, development banks, and climate funds turn commitments into tangible investment pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, execution, and monitoring of the climate finance workstream, ensuring global policy efforts, country-level platforms, and technical assistance in Kenya and Colombia remain closely aligned.
• Analyse country experiences and international practice to identify what makes subnational climate finance work, then convert those findings into clear recommendations for governments, development banks, and investors.
• Organise an annual knowledge-exchange series where national and subnational officials, platform coordinators, funders, and development banks compare approaches to city pipelines, access to finance, and innovative financial instruments.
• Shape CHAMP's advocacy agenda on subnational finance, formulating specific demands for multilateral development banks and climate funds, and supporting engagement at major international climate and finance events.
• Support CHAMP-endorsing countries in building inclusive country platforms that give subnational governments a genuine voice in governance, pipeline development, and investment decisions.
• Help coordinate technical assistance in Kenya and Colombia so that national climate strategies and investment plans reflect local priorities and identify realistic domestic and international funding sources.
• Track and document lessons from all activities, maintaining detailed project plans with milestones, risks, and mitigation actions, and overseeing budgets, contracts, and financial reporting for the workstream.
• Collaborate with colleagues leading governance, national action, fundraising, and partner organisations such as C40 and GCoM to ensure consistent delivery and shared insights across the broader programme.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A degree in economics, finance, international development, public policy, or a closely related field; advanced qualifications are an advantage.
• Substantial international experience in climate finance, public finance, development banking, or related fields, ideally with direct exposure to subnational or urban climate investment.
• A proven record of advising governments or financial institutions on climate finance policy, investment planning, or coordination mechanisms, with demonstrable results.
• Deep understanding of how multilateral development banks, climate funds, and public development banks operate, including the financing instruments available to local governments.
• Demonstrated ability to engage senior officials, bank representatives, and other stakeholders to build consensus and drive institutional or financial system reforms.
• Strong programme management experience, including oversight of multi-country projects with complex deliverables and cross-team coordination.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills, particularly the ability to translate technical finance topics into compelling strategies for varied audiences.
• Existing work authorisation is required for UK- or Kenya-based candidates; visa sponsorship is not available in those locations.

What We Offer / Why Join

• Access to WRI's global network, giving you opportunities to learn from and exchange ideas with colleagues working on sustainability challenges across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the US.
• A mission-driven environment with meaningful impact, plus training and career development opportunities to help you grow.
• A workplace committed to diversity and inclusion, with employee working groups and affinity groups that shape the organisation's culture and priorities.
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements and generous leave provisions that increase with tenure.