Grade: D
Deadline: 13 May 2026 (11:59 PM KST)

Introduction

The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 353 projects across 134 countries, with a total commitment of USD 20.2 billion to date.

In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 

GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. 

You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  

You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.

You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.

You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 

Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.

Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people.

Position Objective 
The Special Policy & Strategy Senior Specialist will critical foresight function, tasked with anticipating global climate challenges and positioning the GCF at the forefront of policy innovation and strategic leadership, as a key advisor to the Executive Director. This role requires a dynamic and experienced professional who can leverage deep technical expertise and political acumen to inform the GCF's policy positions and external engagements, ensuring the Fund remains agile and responsive to evolving global priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Specialist, Special Initiatives will be responsible for a portfolio of work supporting the strategic focus of the Executive Director under four key pillars:

  • Broad-based Systems Transforming Programmes: You will support policy analysis and writing to communicate GCF’s work in systems-transforming programmes, which could include: health, jobs, ecosystems, energy access and generation technologies, new approaches to adaptation. In supporting sectoral investment leads, this would draw in external policy guidance, support analysis on lessons learned and help deliver the message externally. Reciprocally, this would include support in mainstreaming these lessons and policy guidance for internal programme This includes preparing high-level briefs for the Executive Director on these topics.
  • Support to the Most Vulnerable: A critical component of this role is on providing support to the vulnerability programming, particularly on managing our proactive approach to Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCAS), climate security and underserved countries. You will lead manage analysis and evidence-building, identify opportunities, build partnerships to inform policy, support advocacy and influence investment decisions. You will assist in preparing the Executive Director for high-stakes engagements on these topics.
  • International Finance Architecture: You will support initiatives to position GCF in an evolving financial architecture. This involves connecting with senior leadership on – for example - international taxation, carbon markets, debt swaps, and bonds, and drawing in external policy developments and analysis and supporting to position GCF in terms of thought leadership and external engagement. You will prepare talking points, decision papers and strategic notes for the Executive Director's meetings with key stakeholders on these initiatives.
  • Future Work Exploration: You will lead the exploration of new and emerging areas of climate policy, risk and opportunities. This includes working with foundations to develop policy and strategy recommendations on emerging climate challenges, which could include youth, the future of employment, the role of AI, the evolution of cities and the role of nature. You will be responsible for presenting these forward-looking analyses to senior management to inform future policy direction.

This could also include new and emerging pieces of work as priorities evolve.  

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in climate policy, development studies, political science, or a related field; or a first-level university degree in law, in combination with the required work experience plus two additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
  • A minimum of 11 years of experience in the development field, including experiences in International Organizations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and advocacy groups, philanthropic foundations and other relevant public and private entities. Track record in international relations, multilateral processes and/or diplomacy and/or multilateral development banks. 
  • Exposure to programming design, data analysis, communications and resource mobilization preferred. 
  • Excellent understanding and knowledge of climate finance and broad understanding of climate policy;
  • Proven ability to develop strategic positioning plans and execute them
  • Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain excellent relationships with key partners;
  • Demonstrated ability to represent the organization and interface effectively with senior governmental representatives, private sector, and non-sovereign donors;
  • Ability to identify and analyse trends, opportunities and challenges climate policy action;
  • Excellent skills in research, analysis and writing;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development matters;
  • Ability to lead formulation of policy analysis and evaluation, external strategies and implement 
  • Excellent drafting and presentation skills;
  • Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of another United Nations language is an advantage.

For details on grade levels, salary scales and benefits, please refer to: https://www.greenclimate.fund/document/staff-regulations

The closing date for application is 13 May 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

*The person assessed by the Selection Panel as most suitable for the position will be proposed for appointment. Selection among short-listed candidates will also take into account performance at interview, appropriate testing, and references.

Applications from women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged.

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