Deputy Regional Director, Africa

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

Core to C40’s value and effectiveness is an ability to be responsive to the needs of all C40 cities and focus services and support on the areas of greatest opportunity for city action and climate impact – both at the individual city level and across our regional and global networks.  

Our regional management structure better enables C40 to leverage relationships
between peer cities and technical and financial partners regionally and globally and to be more responsive to local needs and conditions. 

To manage these efforts, C40 Regional Directors are positioned in seven regions: Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Southeast Asia and Oceania, East Asia and South & West Asia. The Regional Directors acts as the ambassador for their regions, to ensure that the organisation can deliver effectively at a regional level considering specific geographic, cultural, language and other differences.

 
The Regional Director for Africa is based in Nairobi, Kenya and manages
relationships with C40 member cities in Africa. 

Position Description

The Deputy Regional Director will support the C40 Regional Director and the Steering Committee cities to ensure C40 is responsive and provides effective assistance to its member cities in Africa.

The Deputy Regional Director will work to advance cities’ participation in C40 activities and support the Regional Director in the delivery of specific function of particular importance to the C40 cities in Africa to ensure that they fully comply with the C40 Participation and Leadership Standards and are actively engaged in delivering the C40 Business Plan.

Responsibilities: 

The C40 Deputy Director for Africa will have the following focus points in close liaison with the Regional Director:

• Support the Regional Director in the work to build and maintain member city
  relationships and ensure that cities are satisfied with and benefit from their
  partnership with C40.
• Work with the relevant C40 teams especially the Research, Science and Innovation, City Intelligence, Business, Innovation & Economy teams to leverage a high level of engagement from cities in the region and ensure that they meet the mandatory C40 participation Standards and achieve year-on-year progress.
• Assist the Regional Director with member city compliance to C40 Leadership Standards, in line with the Business Plan and reporting compliance
• Assist the Regional Director and the C40 Managing Director of Regions in implementing C40’s strategy for Africa including its target to support the region’s cities in developing and implementing robust and ambitious Climate Action plans. 
• Support the Regional Director in identifying and facilitating opportunities for cities to collaborate with each other and with partner organisations within the region and globally.

• Support the Regional Director and C40 Communications and Events Teams to engage mayors and city staff and ensure global promotion of C40 cities in Africa.
• Support C40 City Advisers stationed in the member cities in the delivery of their project outcomes in the respective cities.
• And any other duties appropriate to the grade. 

Person Specification:

• Substantive   experience   of   working   in   city   and/or   central   government
  administrations or city and climate change relevant NGO or business sectors.
• Familiarity with a network of senior contacts within cities, current/potential
  partner organisations, and the Africa national governments.
• Proven ability to engage with decision makers, potential funders and important stakeholders, at a political or executive decision‐making level within cities and/or potential organisations in Africa.
• Extensive management/leadership experience, proven skills to support the operation of the team. And ability to create a team environment with a geographically dispersed team. 
• Ability to work in an international organization and across regional and cultural boundaries.
• Strong inter-personal skills to manage external and internal stakeholders and relationships.
• Strong technical or policy background in climate change and climate science
• Significant experience in a relevant field connected to climate change and/or sustainable urban development.
• Relevant academic degree ideally at Masters level. 
• Fluency inEnglish is a requirement and fluency in French will be a strong advantage.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the listed locations. Moderate regional travel and occasional international travel will be required as part of the role. 

We seek to recruit individuals who not only have the appropriate skills and experience for the role, but are committed to carrying out their roles in line with our organisational values.

Reporting To: Regional Director for Africa

Term: Indefinite Contract 

Location: Johannesburg & Nairobi -  Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application. 

Salary: (Grade 2) Nairobi KSH 8,875,610, Johannesburg ZAR 1,358,208 gross per annum - Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location. 

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday, 17th September 2025 at 5pm 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.

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