Programme Officer, Zero Emission Freight LATAM

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 two core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies 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, Latin America, East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Central East Asia, and South & West Asia. The Regional Directors, guided by the C40 Regional Business Plans, act as the ambassadors for their regions, to ensure that the organisation can deliver effectively at a regional level considering specific geographic, cultural, language and other differences. This post sits within the Latin America Regions & Mayoral Engagement department, which is responsible for managing the delivery of climate action for the 13 C40 cities in the region.

Team Description

This post sits within the Latin American team of the Regions & Mayoral Engagement department. This team is responsible for managing the delivery of climate action for the 13 C40 cities in the region. The team is led by the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director, along with the Director of Implementation, who are ultimately responsible for the implementation of cities’ Climate Action Plans, C40’s Regional Business Plan, Leadership Standards and High Impact Actions, and the objectives agreed with government, philanthropic and commercial donors.

The position will be part of a team managing and coordinating the day-to-day delivery of this and other zero emission mobility projects in Latin America. They will work closely with the rest of the regional team in Latin America, and other C40 colleagues working on transport, finance, inclusive climate action, air quality, business engagement, etc., to provide input, insights and support on the adoption of inclusive, fair and just approaches to accelerate the deployment of zero emission freight in Latin America. C40 aims to provide cities with the adequate tailored resources they need so the implementation of climate actions have a transformative impact in urban systems, governance and socio-economic structure.

Position Description:

The postholder will be a key member of the Zero Emission Vehicles team at C40 and will support the Latin American Regional team on Zero Emission Freight Programmes implementation and support effective collaboration across multiple C40 teams. The postholder will work with the Head of Zero Emission Vehicles and the Senior Programme Manager of Zero Emission Freight to support programmes operations by:

• Supporting contracting processes, ensuring that contracts are compliant with C40’s internal policies and funder requirements;
• Oversee budgeting for programme activities in Latin America, working closely with the Senior Programme Manager and Head of Zero Emission Vehicles to ensure all costs are forecasted and tracked properly;
• Coordinate with C40’s finance team to process payments in a timely manner;
• Design and lead the implementation of programme-monitoring tools (e.g., dashboards, trackers), these tools should make information updated, visible, accessible, and user-friendly for internal teams;
• Help produce presentations and briefings for the programme.

Responsibilities:

• Grant and Budget Management: Support the development, administration, monitoring and reporting of grant budgets planning, monitoring, and financial processes in collaboration with the different workstreams and C40 Finance team, ensuring accurate and timely tracking of expenditures, providing forecasts, and ensuring compliance with donor and C40 requirements.
• Programme Operations and Coordination: Support programme management and carry out procurement and contracting processes with the C40 legal and accounting teams, and provide ad hoc support across the Latin America Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) team, and the teams involved in the programmes activities.
• Policy Compliance and Oversight: Assist in ensuring service providers and team members comply with all C40 policies and internal administrative procedures. Flag issues or discrepancies to line manager for resolution; and support the relationship with consultants supporting the delivery of the program in all stages of engagement.
• Project Oversight: Oversee project management tools and processes, including timelines, deliverables, contracts, budgets, legal procedures and reporting. Ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.
• Communications and Reporting: Produce high-quality written and visual materials, such as presentations, reports, and briefings, for internal teams, external partners, and donors. Ensure clarity and impact in communications.
• Stakeholder Engagement Support: Help plan and organise meetings, workshops, or consultations with partners, funders, and stakeholders, including preparing agendas, papers, and notes.
• Event Support: If necessary support on the planning and delivery of virtual and face-to-face events, stakeholders convening and in person meeting and other relevant tasks, ensuring logistical efficiency and alignment with programme objectives.
• Additional Responsibilities: Undertake additional duties as required to support the team and organisation, demonstrating flexibility and proactive problem-solving.

Person Specification:

The ideal candidate is a highly organised, proactive, and adaptable professional who has strong analytical and administrative skills; also with experience supporting climate-related urban projects in Brazil and/or Colombia. The ideal candidate will have expertise in the use of MS Office and Google Workspace tools for developing spreadsheets, slide decks and so on.

The post holder will have strong interpersonal skills and work effectively in intercultural and multidisciplinary teams, building positive and collaborative relationships and have a high degree of comfort coordinating multiple stakeholders, be able to keep track of multiple tasks and processes simultaneously, and thrive within a high pace, short deadlines environment. They are fluent in English, and desirable in both Spanish and Portuguese, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely in both written and verbal formats. The candidate demonstrates excellent project coordination and time management skills, capable of managing multiple tasks simultaneously and supporting the timely delivery of programme activities.

They are comfortable working remotely and supporting the coordination of teams across multiple locations, using digital tools to maintain communication and ensure accountability. With a postgraduate degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field, they are able to contribute to reporting, programme monitoring, and research, while providing reliable operational support to enable the successful delivery of Zero Emission Vehicles across Latin America. We welcome applications from candidates whose experience and skills align with these requirements and who are motivated to contribute to C40’s mission of driving ambitious urban climate action.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills in intercultural and multidisciplinary settings.
• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders, building productive working relationships.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Spanish or Portuguese, with the ability to present complex technical and strategic information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports, presentations, and other materials for internal and external audiences.
• Confident in representing the team in meetings and workshops, while also capable of taking detailed notes and producing clear summaries to support follow-up.

Organisational and Project Management Skills:

• Excellent organisational, project, and time management skills, with the ability to support multiple activities simultaneously.
• Ability to prioritise tasks effectively, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables are of high quality.
• High level of organization, accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to deliver quality results within tight timeframes.
• Skilled in designing and implementing project management tools, monitoring frameworks, and reporting systems.
• Experience supporting senior teams and working in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple different tasks and subjects and adjusting prioritisation in accordance with guidance from senior staff on a day to day basis.
• Flexibility and adaptability: Willingness to undertake a range of tasks to support the team and respond to changing priorities.

Remote Work Capability:

• Comfortable working in virtual / remote working international environments and collaborating with colleagues based in a number of different locations.
• Able to work independently and reliably in a remote environment, demonstrating accountability for assigned tasks while supporting colleagues across multiple locations, different cultures, languages and time zones is preferable.
• Proficient in using digital collaboration tools to coordinate work and maintain clear communication.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish.
• Experience working in government, business, or non-governmental organisations, particularly with a focus on cities, sustainability, and/or climate change.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the location they are applying for. No travel will be required for this position.

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: Senior Programme Manager, Zero Emission Freight LATAM

Term: Fixed term until 30 June 2026, (with possibility to extend if further funding is available)

Location: Brazil & Colombia - 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 5) - Brazil (IC) USD 51,086, Colombia COP 91,000,000 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 Monday, 26th January 2026 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. For how

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