Senior Communications Associate, Climate Finance Tracking

ABOUT CPI:

CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. We are unique in our focus on finance, our ability to get the right people to the table, and our analytical rigor.

CPI has offices in Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

POSITION DETAILS:

• Role: Senior Communications Associate
• Reporting to: Manager
• Location: Cape Town, South Africa
• Contract Type: 2-year Fixed Term Contract
• Visa: Regrettably CPI is unable to provide visa support for this role; Applicants must have the right to work in South Africa before applying.
• The position may require occasional international travel.
• Working Arrangements: Full time, Mon-Friday (40 hours per week). CPI is a hybrid working environment, where employees are expected to work 40% from our Cape Town office.

POSITION SUMMARY:

CPI is seeking a Senior Communications Associate who will play a key role on CPI’s global communications team, with a focus on supporting communications for CPI's international

climate finance effectiveness program, and our growing Africa regional program.

You will possess the ability to translate economics, finance, and policy analysis into clear, concise, and accessible insights for investors and policymakers. You will be responsible for

leveraging a broad range of communications tools and skills to ensure CPI’s expertise is visible to, and helps provide actionable guidance to, decision makers at the highest levels of business, finance, and government. Candidates should have a strong, demonstrated interest in sustainable business, investment, finance, and economics, and dedication to CPI’s mission and impact.

You will report to a Communications Manager based in London, work very closely on a

daily basis with our climate finance effectiveness teams in US and UK, work regularly with our growing South Africa office team, and will collaborate with communications, analysts, leadership, and operations colleagues around the world. You will also work with external stakeholders including funders, investors, partner NGOs, government representatives, and media.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Includes the following and other duties as assigned:

• Develop and carry out integrated, external communications strategies that are aligned with influencing the intended audience and have measurable KPIs
• Be primarily responsible for communications strategy and implementation of communications support for the key initiatives under the climate finance effectiveness program, including the Climate Finance Reform Compass, the FiCS Innovation Lab, and the Net Zero Finance Tracker
• Guide content development--including storyboards, key messaging, and structure—and editing of all CPI’s climate finance effectiveness
• publications
• Oversee production of program
• outputs including reports, data tools, websites, presentations, fact sheets, talking points, blog posts, op-eds, social media content, and press materials, targeted for various stakeholder groups.
• Manage the communications calendar and timelines for program initiatives, publications, and events, including to communicate deadlines and expectations clearly with analysts, leadership, communications team members, and external stakeholders
• Secure and coordinate event and speaking opportunities including to develop talking points for analysts speaking roles at high-level events
• Place stories in top-tier business, financial, and energy sector media
• Manage social media and web content, working with CPI’s digital communications team
• Train and mentor analysts and leadership on effective communications, including in writing and presentation skills
• Assist with other communications activities as needed

COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

Essential:

• Progressive multi-years’ experience or demonstrable equivalent skills in a role similar to this one, whether through communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field
• Independent worker and strategic thinker, who learns quickly and is able to successfully navigate unchartered territory
• Advanced English fluency, especially with writing and editing skills (high proficiency with technical and business content), with the ability to restructure as well as copyedit
• Outstanding organizational, project management, and prioritization skills, with ability to manage multiple deliverables,
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships in a cross-cultural, global working environment, including polished, diplomatic interface with internal and external stakeholders to overcome barriers, meet deadlines, and achieve project goals
• Ability to turn technical economics, policy, and finance information into accessible insights for investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders
• Ability to work flexibly and with a solutions-oriented approach, under pressure, and on tight deadlines
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are heavily used)
• Experience writing in a variety of formats – web, print publications, briefing papers, press releases, etc.
• Experience with media outreach and public relations.

Desirable:

• Experience with development finance and/or climate policy and finance topics and stakeholders
• Experience with social media and online content management systems, including WordPress, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Hootsuite, or equivalents
• Experience in event management and managing stakeholder relationships
• Experience with Airtable or other CRM systems
• Experience with financial media

To Apply:

Visit our website to submit an application.

With your application, attach: (1) CV/resume, (2) a cover letter, (3) two writing samples: one authored by you, and one from another author edited by you. Your cover letter should outline why you want to work with CPI and how your skills and experience align with the position requirements. The writing sample(s) should be provided as external links or uploaded as additional pages in your CV.

The position will remain open until we find the right candidate to join our team. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and we therefore encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

CPI Commitment:

Climate Policy Initiative is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We seek to establish a working environment where all board members, staff, volunteers, and contractors feel respected and valued regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, or education. We want to create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are openly valued as critical to the success of our organization and the achievement of our mission and vision.

If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application. We will then work with you to identify the best way to assist you through the recruitment process.