Head of Strategy

Grade: IS-7
Deadline: 27 August 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 198,000 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

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 314 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 18.0 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 able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 

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 Head of Strategy will report to the Director of the Department of Strategy, Policy and Innovation (DSPI).

The Head of Strategy at the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is responsible for leading a team of multi-disciplinary subject matter experts developing the organization’s long-term corporate strategy to deliver results aligned with the Paris Agreement, the Fund’s vision and mandate, and ongoing guidance from the UNFCCC COP.

S/he leads the Strategic Planning and Corporate Performance monitoring and reporting, and also support Insight and Innovation as well as Thought Leadership activities.

The Head of Strategy plays a critical role in ensuring that the GCF’s strategic plans are aligned with 50x30 Vision and NCQG ambitions. S/he also plays a key role in ensuring that the GCF remains a science-driven, innovative, and globally influential institution in the fight against climate change.

Purpose

Strategic Planning:

• Leads development, evolution and communication of the GCF’s long-term corporate strategy, ensuring alignment with the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable
• Development Goals’ and alignment between the Updated Strategic Plans, 50by30 (until 2030), and ongoing guidance from Parties to the UNFCCC. This responsibility requires extensive Board and stakeholder consultation.
• Co-develops and deploys organization-wide theories of change, impact pathways, and frameworks for driving transformative climate action.
• Enables the translation of GCF strategy into strategic initiatives, programming ambitions and business plan, replenishment objectives and integrated work programmes and strategic initiatives.
• Leads the development and evolution of the GCF’s Strategic Planning and Management System (SPMS) as the primary means of communicating, cascading and enabling implementation of the GCF’s long-term corporate strategy and Strategic Plans. This includes facilitating the strategy delivery cycle and adaptive management, where necessary. 

Corporate Performance:

• Oversees the translation of the Funds strategic priorities into measurable objectives, tracked through objectives and key performance indicators/outcomes, and their use to support learning, accountability and decision making across the Secretariat.
• Oversees the tracking and reporting of progress against corporate strategies, business plans and key performance indicators/outcomes.
• Conducts targeted maturity analyses and workshops to drive adjustments and, if needed, identify additional levers to improve impact, efficiency and quality.
• Supports change management efforts through effective planning and coordination with various groups throughout the design and implementation of the GCFs long-term corporate strategy and Strategic Plans.

Insight and Innovation:

• Supports the identification, analysis and prioritization of mega and emerging trends, technologies, risks, and opportunities that could affect the GCF’s ‘50by30’ vision and position in the climate finance landscape, theory/ies of change, impact pathways, and frameworks for driving transformative climate action.
• Supports the development of insights, analytics, scenario analyses and planning exercises to support strategic decision making and development of innovative instruments for delivering funding, innovative partnership models and technologies
• Helps synthesize insights from innovation pilots, global partnerships, and strategic planning efforts to inform decision-making by senior leadership. 

Thought Leadership: 

• Supports the prioritization, preparation and promotion of strategic thought pieces, reports, and flagship knowledge products that (a.) contribute to the global climate finance landscape and dialogue on effective climate action and (b.) position the GCF as a thought-leader.
• Engages with think-tanks, CSO and academic institutions to increase GCF influence and visibility.

Engagement

• Ensures that the latest scientific knowledge and solutions relevant to the GCF’s mission are available to the ELT and staff.  
• Engages with relevant external organizations to build understanding of, and to help inform/refine, the GCF’s long-term corporate strategy and strategic plans.
• Supports all departments to develop sub-strategies aligned with the GCF’s overarching theories of change, long-term corporate strategy, and Strategic Plans; and build capacity for high-quality strategic planning.
• Supports alignment between the GCF’s strategic choices and budget allocation decisions, and provides performance insights to senior management to inform resource allocation and strategic decisions.
• Assists the ELT to identify and analyze strategic trade-offs. 
• Collaborates to inspire and motivate staff to contribute to delivery of GCF mandate and strategy, enabling understanding and engagement with strategy and linkage to individual contributions

Delivery

• Advises Offices and Departments across the Fund on alignment with the GCF’s corporate strategy. 
• Coordinates with senior leadership to ensure all departments understand and are aligned with the GCF’s overarching corporate strategy and strategic plan, working closely with departmental teams to integrate the Fund’s strategic priorities into their sub-strategies, Work Programs, Action Plans, and day-to-day decisions.
• Works closely with the OED, the OCIO-FO, DRM, and DCOM to define and promote the GCF’s unique value proposition within the international landscape of climate finance, and specific capability to deliver transformative climate actions.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• PhD, Masters or higher-level degree in climate change science, economics, international relations, business management, international development or other areas relevant to GCF's work;
• At least 15 years of experience, including at a management level, in the development and implementation of corporate and/or impact strategies;
• Track record of using megatrends and innovation to inform strategy development and operations in an organization with a core focus on international development, climate finance, or a related field;
• Demonstrated experience developing and successfully executing institutional strategies and managing complex change initiatives in complex, multi-stakeholder and highly dynamic environments; 
• Proven experience forming trusted advisor relationships with senior executives and Boards, advising and facilitating decisions on strategic issues;
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop and manage relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders and partners;
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, managing and leading teams, and mentoring/coaching culturally diverse and highly skilled technical teams; 
• Fluency in both written and spoken English; knowledge of one or more languages is an advantage.

Competencies

• Demonstrates competencies for vision, leadership, empowering others and managing performance, including through the following behaviors:
• Inspires and guides teams to achieve organizational goals through effective decision-making, vision-setting, and motivation;
• Strong communication, collaboration, presentation and negotiation skills. Conveys information clearly and effectively, fostering open and transparent communication within the team and across the organization and the GCF ecosystem;
• Thinks strategically, analyzes complex situations, and makes informed decisions aligned with organizational objectives;
• Reflects integrity, discretion and political awareness in interactions with stakeholders across the organization and the GCF ecosystem; 
• Builds and nurtures high-performing teams by fostering collaboration, recognizing individual strengths, and promoting a positive work environment;
• Values all staff members’ input and expertise and shows appreciation for achievement and effort;
• Assesses and provides ongoing performance feedback and coaching to staff;
• Maintains high ethical standards, ensuring fairness, respect, and integrity.

The closing date for application is 27 August 2025. 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 to apply.