Senior Engagement Manager, Data and Tools

Position description

The Joint Program, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brings together C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to work with partners on a shared agenda to:

• Increase cities’ access to finance for projects that combat the climate crisis and improve resilience;
• Ensure nation states upgrade their national climate commitments as a result of working with cities, with particular focus on city climate action being included in nation states’ climate action plans which are due in 2025 (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs);
• Improve the quality and ease of access to climate data so cities can start implementing the most impactful climate actions as quickly as possible. 

Climate Action Planning and Innovation (CAP&I)

The Climate Action Planning and Innovation (CAPI) team supports cities in developing and updating climate action plans (CAPs) consistent with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, supporting cities to set ambitious goals, targets and actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, whilst improving equity and also exploring innovative ways to accelerate action and unlock barriers to support transformation across the full scope of city life. Specifically the CAPI team supports cities:

• capture and analyse the underlying data needed to inform effective, equitable and ambitious climate actions 
• with expert guidance for the development and mainstreaming of equitable and inclusive city-wide climate actions including addressing emissions created globally from city consumption patterns
• to institutionalise systems to implement, monitor, evaluate and report outputs, outcomes, and impacts; and 
• identify and share their innovation solutions to accelerate action and/or overcome systemic barriers. 

Position Description

The Senior Engagement Manager of Data and Tools for the C40 x GCoM Joint Program will lead the pilot program in Brazil to support Brazilian cities to develop a climate action plan and best prepare the prioritised actions eligible for implementation finance by COP 30. The Brazil pilot program will support the Brazilian cities to understand their GHG emissions, and climate risk in order to identify high impact climate actions, enabling cities to get started with action implementation by the end of 2025 and make a measurable collective contribution to Brazil’s NDC.

This role focuses on engaging cities, supporting them to gain improved access to climate data and tools, thus enabling these cities to embark on and/or continue along the climate action planning journey. In collaboration with C40 and GCoM teams, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in identifying and collaborating with third-party data and tool providers and connecting them to Brazilian cities. 

Ultimately, the goal is to engage cities to use simplified, effective, semi-automated climate data and tools, to take data-driven climate action and report on implementation. This role will lead the testing and validation of selected data and tools with pilot cities and provide training to city authorities and partners. 

The ideal candidate will combine experience in stakeholder engagement with a technical background, an in-depth understanding of the climate data and tools landscape, and an awareness of the ongoing evolutions in this field, including emerging technologies and new data sources. Preferably, the candidate should have substantial experience in assisting city governments, especially smaller ones in Brazil through the climate action planning process.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the engagement and coordination with Brazilian cities and other stakeholders and support the engagement at national level, to ensure the actions from sub-nationals are aligned with and contributing to NDC, and demonstrating Brazil’s leadership on climate change.
• Collaborate with GCoM, C40 teams and partners to identify and leverage emerging climate data sources and tools that can be used in Brazilian cities, from global and local providers. This is to facilitate access to fit-for-purpose data and information, aiding streamlined climate action planning, particularly for cities embarking on the journey in resource and capacity limited contexts – and engage with opportunities that can scale emerging and advanced technological solutions across cities in priority countries.
• Work with consultants on the simplification and automation of climate action planning processes, to provide Brazilian cities with accessible, no/low-cost, ready-to-use and credible climate data and tools. 
• Collaborate with cities, partners and providers for the enhancement and broadening of climate datasets and tools, ensuring their accessibility, interoperability, and integration into city decision making. 
• Lead the test and validation of selected data and tools in pilot cities and engage local authority associations and municipalities on use of the data and tools. Provide guidance for 3rd party data suppliers to help them improve the quality of their data in Brazil and in other countries where applicable.
• Work with relevant colleagues and consultants to lead cities’ engagement on the climate action planning journey, including understanding data/evidence and the action selection process prioritising short-term, high-impact climate mitigation and adaptation actions.

Person Specification:

• Significant experience in engaging stakeholders of diverse backgrounds on climate action, connecting interests with action and finance for implementation. 
• In-depth knowledge of climate strategies and actions, ideally applicable to Brazilian cities. Preferably, experience in climate action planning in smaller cities.
• Experienced in developing tools and resources for climate action planning, including GHGI; scenario modelling and strategy identification; project-level emissions accounting, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Experienced in developing tools and resources for climate action planning, including Climate Risk and Impact Assessment and strategy identification and monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with advanced proficiency in MS Excel and data management. Experience with new data sources (e.g., remote sensing, sensor data) and emerging technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning) is advantageous. 
• Experience in government, business or NGO sectors with a focus on sustainability and/or climate change, and experience working with or within municipal governments, preferably direct working experiences with Brazilian cities.
• Demonstrative experience in developing resources – including succinct and concise presentations, guidance and other knowledge products around capacity building.
• Demonstrated experience in working as part of a team, and in multicultural settings and across different time zones, and ability to manage multiple parallel tasks.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, combined with excellent English and Brazilian Portuguese fluency and ability to write technical materials and documents, in these two languages is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work remotely via Zoom and with limited supervision.
• Passionate about cities, climate change and evidence-based climate action.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in Brazil. Some travel may be required as part of the role.

Reporting To: Head of Data and Tools, C40 x GCoM Joint Program & Climate Action Planning

Term: Fixed term contract until 31st December 2025

Location: Brazil

Salary: (Grade 3) Brazil (IC)USD 76,745 per annum
 

Application instructions

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