Director of City Coordination, Fixed Term Contract (End of 2024)

We are supporting an International Organisation compiled 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 the organisation 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.

The team of 200+ staff is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Joburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations, with the Office of the Chair based in Los Angeles.

The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of mayors which is chaired by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

The Governance, Political Strategy and Executive Director’s Office manages the day to day functioning of the Chair, Steering Committee, Board of Directors and Executive Director. The team is responsible for ensuring the direction from the Chair, Steering Committee, Board of Directors and Executive Director is operationalised, working alongside the Deputy Executive Director and wider Management Team.

Position Description

This role will be a critical connection point between the organisation and the London Mayor’s Office. The post holder will coordinate all external engagements for the Chair, all internal and external briefings to the Chair and his wider team and feedback to internal teams. The Director of City Coordination works closely with the Executive Director, the Managing Director of Governance/ Chief of Staff to the Executive Director, the Chair’s Head of Communications and the wider Management Team in managing relationships between the organisation and the Mayor of London’s Office and wider GLA teams.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Chair’s team and the Executive Leadership team to set and communicate strategic vision of the Chair both internally through the organisation and externally.
• Support the Managing Director of Governance to ensure that the Chair’s strategic vision is being delivered.
• Draft and disseminate all internal and external briefings to the Chair and his staff
• Coordinate all communications between the Chair’s staff and internal teams on a day to day basis
• Work with the Diplomacy team to ensure regular international diplomacy briefings are delivered to the Chair and his wider team
• Work with the Head of Chair Communications and Communications and Events team to ensure our communications output is aligned with the Chair’s strategic priorities
• Work with the Senior Manager of the Steering Committee, Senior Manager of Diplomacy and Managing Director of Governance to ensure the smooth functioning  of the Steering Committee including all communications with the Vice Chairs.
• Represent the organisation at public engagements including speaking opportunities.

Person Specification:

• Significant experience in government, business or NGO sectors in the region with focus on policy development, project management or community organization, including inter-organizational cooperation, strategy and negotiation.
• Significant experience of working with or within municipal government, with senior officials and environmental teams and projects required, particularly in the specific geographic region.
• Bachelors and/or relevant Masters Degrees required.
• Ability to lead strategic discussions to help facilitate action-oriented approaches.
• Experience living and working in the region.
• Strong policy background in climate change or sustainability essential.
• Excellent organisation skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent diplomatic skills.
• Ability to work as a team player and operate in a matrix environment.
• Resourceful, motivated, efficient, pro-active and customer service oriented.
• Ability to protect confidential and sensitive information of the organisation.
• Ability to perform and adapt under pressure.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and the demonstrated ability to effectively interface with senior level colleagues, both verbally and written.
• Ability and desire to build and maintain strong relationships with the internal team and applicable internal and external contacts.