Head of Climate Response

Head of Climate Response

£75.4k-£85.3k, plus excellent benefits

Blackfriars, London - Hybrid Working

We are recruiting for a Head of Climate Response to join Challenge Works. The successful candidate will be passionate about harnessing the power of entrepreneurship and technology to mitigate climate disaster and enable adaptation. We are looking for someone with substantial experience in innovation associated with climate response, who can come up with ambitious ideas and build credible partnerships and teams to deliver meaningful change.

Challenge Works

Challenge Works is world-leading in the development and implementation of high-impact challenge prizes that attract and enable innovation to solve pressing societal problems. Our model shines a spotlight on specific problems and opportunities, inspiring and guiding the most creative and dynamic groups of innovators to deliver impact.

As a team of 40, we believe it has never been more urgent to incentivise innovators to develop radical solutions for societal benefit. Our new Head of Climate Response will be responsible for developing our Climate Response priority area, working with our brilliant team of researchers, designers, programme managers, and comms experts.

The role

As the primary expert on innovation in climate response within the Challenge Works team, you will lead the development of a portfolio of related prizes, creating new ideas, securing partnerships, and unlocking funding to take these forward.

You will have flexibility to shape the portfolio, exploring opportunities (both in the UK and globally). The opportunities could be across both mitigation and adaptation, and you will need to be aware of the connections between the two to explore integrated approaches.

Key Responsibilities

Opportunity Development

1. Develop a strategy for this theme exploring new areas where you identify the opportunity for prizes to have an impact.
2. Build partnerships with ambitious organisations, securing funding to take these ideas forward.

Delivering impact

1. Oversee and grow a portfolio of multi-million-pound climate response challenge prizes, providing strategic leadership across complex, multi-stakeholder programmes.
2. Lead and support programme delivery teams, ensuring implementation of best-in-class methodologies.
3. Serve as the primary expert on climate response innovation, maintaining a strong awareness of developments in this area.

Thought leadership

1. Contribute to thought leadership by working with our research and communications teams to create compelling content and promote our work.
2. Maintain a strong understanding of key stakeholders within the Climate Response ecosystem.
3. Identify emerging trends and innovation opportunities through the network of stakeholders.

Leadership

1. Contribute to the leadership and management of Challenge Works, working with the senior leadership team to execute the strategy.
2. Foster a collaborative environment and model behaviours that support continuous improvement.
3. Directly line manage 3-4 Senior Programme Managers or Programme Managers.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone with substantial experience in innovation associated with climate response, who can build credible partnerships and teams to deliver these. You should be able to navigate the landscape of climate change confidently and have strong networks.

Experience:

1. A strong track record of leading teams or organisations and delivering at pace.
2. Experience in coming up with big ideas and scoping new opportunities.
3. Excellent partner and client relationship management.
4. Experience securing funding and negotiating complex programme scopes.
5. A skilled communicator and influencer adept at engaging with senior audiences.

What we offer:

Salary: The salary band for this position is Band 6 (£75,400 - £85,300) plus an array of benefits.

Location: This role is based in London, Blackfriars, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office.

Term: Permanent

Hours: Full-time but could be reduced to 80% for the right candidate.

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on Monday 2nd of December 2024.

We actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates and are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need.