Technical Lead, Ports & Shipping Finance

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.

Departmental Descriptions

C40’s City Finance Programme works to address a range of municipal climate finance challenges, at different stages of project maturity, and across major urban infrastructure groups, including clean energy, zero-carbon buildings, transportation, waste, air quality and ports, and climate adaptation & resilience. By scaling up investment in these areas, and simultaneously divesting from fossil fuels, mayors are creating safer, healthier and more economically sustainable communities for the current and future residents of their cities. The team’s strategic focus is on strengthening city financial capacity, increasing the supply of climate finance and funding available to cities, facilitating engagement with finance providers, and building enabling environments that support urban climate investment. The City Finance Programme oversees and/or coordinates with sectoral programmes and initiatives within C40, including the C40 Ports & Shipping Programme, which is the focus of this job description. 

The C40 Ports & Shipping Programme convenes an ambitious community of action through public-private partnerships with cities, ports, and industry. The programme incubates and supports port-city collaboration to decarbonise shipping, cut greenhouse gas emissions, drive zero-emission supply chains, and operationalise green shipping corridors. Through collaborative climate action plans, we support a just transition that creates green jobs for local communities and improves air quality. 

The C40 Ports & Shipping Programme is currently focused on delivery through: 

• Providing a platform for knowledge sharing across Green Shipping Corridor initiatives, supporting sector-specific capacity building efforts, and removing hurdles to accessing green capital;
• Convening cities and ports and the other maritime stakeholders to mobilise knowledge, build coalitions, catalyse policy, and inform infrastructure investment to accelerate zero-emission technologies and fuel adoption;
• Developing the business case for green corridors and the green transition with port operation, including infrastructure investment needs, technical assistance projects, and consortium-building for unlocking capital; and
• Supporting mayors and subnational leaders’ engagement and advocacy efforts in global discussions and forums focused on maritime decarbonisation.

Position Description:

The Technical Lead for Ports & Shipping Finance will hold responsibility for developing, supporting, and implementing C40’s finance support related to decarbonising ports and shipping.

The role will develop and manage relationships, knowledge products, events, and activities aimed at increasing the supply of finance available to support green ports. They will lead capacity building efforts, which will include managing a working group, identifying data and technical assistance needs, addressing information gaps related to finance among all stakeholders, defining innovative business models and opportunities, and ensuring timely and authoritative advisory support is available. The role will also have a connector function, ensuring relevant stakeholders from financial institutions, governments, port authorities, maritime industry actors, and others have support in problem-solving issues around port/shipping decarbonisation and implementing financial solutions.

The postholder will be an exceptional and experienced project manager, with exemplary organisational skills and experience in project development, coordination, reporting, and partnership building and, preferably with experience working across multiple geographies in a matrix work structure on large programs. 

Responsibilities: 

Role responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Workstream Development & Project Management

• Lead the advancement and delivery of the port city finance workstream in line with the programme workplan and funder deliverables
• Engage with relevant staff in the City Finance and Ports & Shipping Programme to set up work plans, set goals, identify procurement needs and establish project milestones.
• Regular coordination with other C40 teams, including Regional Teams, Air Quality, Climate Budgeting, Transportation, Resilience, and Air Quality.
• Together with consultants, deliver ongoing deliverables related to the Sustainability Linked Loans (SLL) framework for ports and cities.
• Engage with member cities and ports to integrate their priorities in the work
• Manage the budget for the workstream, including tracking invoices and payments with consultants and contractors
• Workshop engagement
• Participate in global shipping and finance events on behalf of the Ports & Shipping team

Knowledge Management & Reporting

• Lead knowledge production for the workstream. This includes managing peer-to-peer activities such as the working group, and coordinating the creation of knowledge products (e.g., studies), to ensure program learnings are transferred across cities supported by the Ports & Shipping Programme and beyond.  
• Prepare and share the regular updates of city delivery projects to highlight successes of the Programme to key internal and external stakeholders, including partners and funders.
• Lead strategic sessions with relevant staff to share lessons learned across projects, manage shared delivery risks and improve processes on a regular basis.

Person Specification:

• Experience related to climate finance and the maritime sector including ports, shipping, and related industries
• Demonstrable project management experience, including oversight of concurrent activities, invoicing and budgets, and consultants
• Experience developing, managing, and implementing strategic projects required, preferably through working in or with financial institutions, city governments, port authorities, energy utilities, consultancies, or related entities.
• Strong abilities to work with others, both as a facilitator and an agenda driver with a highly collaborative approach to problem solving 
• Experience with business case development, financial modelling and/or quantitative analysis in relation to climate change is highly desirable
• Ability to work with a range of stakeholders, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, capital markets authorities, microfinance institutions, government officials, project investors, etc.

• Proactive, independent, structured, and strategic thinker with a collaborative mindset.

• Ability to work with a global and remote team, with experience leading a virtual team and projects preferred. Willingness to work across time zones with a flexible work arrangement.
• Familiarity with working in a matrix environment across internal teams is a strong asset.
• Superior organisational skills and acute attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential. English fluency required.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the country where they apply. Moderate 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: Director, City Finance

Term: Fixed Term until 31 December 2026

Location: Denmark, South Africa, UK & US - 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) Denmark DKK 806,914, South Africa ZAR 1,358,208, UK  GBP £75,419 & US USD $125,419 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:

To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae and Cover letter. The closing date for applications is on  Thursday, 6th November 2025 at 5pm GMT. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications, so please 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 any queries about the role, please contact careers@C40.org

C40 is an equal opportunity employer.