Head of Corporate Services (DCS)

Grade: IS-7
Deadline: 01 September 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 Corporate Services (DCS) will lead the Corporate Services function at GCF, assembling and maintaining high performing and motivated delivery teams, as well as creating and driving the strategies and policies necessary to provide GCF with state-of-the-art corporate services, hence enabling GCF’s workforce to meet the overall institutional goals and objectives.

The Department of Corporate Services is made up of three teams: 1) Procurement, 2) Events and Travel, and 3) General Services – this latter encompassing the areas of Crisis Management and Business Continuity, Facilities Management, Safety and Security, Employee Experience, Protocol Administration, and the relationship with various Host Country governmental entities.

The Head has responsibility and accountability for managing, planning and implementing all matters related to Corporate Services, which involves ensuring the relevant policy frameworks are complied with, and thus holds the role of approver of exceptions and signing the respective contracts on behalf of the Fund, in accordance with the procedures and limits outlined in the Delegation of Authority.

Overall, the Head of Corporate Services will be accountable for ensuring:

1.    Optimal configuration: resources will be strategically deployed to account for the scope of the Corporate Services mandate.
2.    Continual improvement: processes will be continually and systematically reviewed and improved.
3.    Engagement with stakeholders: services delivery will be responsive striving to meet stakeholder expectations, while keeping compliance with the applicable frameworks.
4.    Strategic value addition: functional achievements will be connected with GCF’s strategic objectives.

The incumbent will direct a multidisciplinary team of about thirty (30) GCF staff, consultants, and interns. Additionally, commissioned consulting or project delivery services to external third parties will accordingly report administratively to the Head of Corporate Services. Some travelling to support Board Meetings, oversee the setup of regional offices, or network with industry stakeholders, shall be expected.

Purpose

• Leadership of the Corporate Services strategy and implementation: Directs Corporate Services strategies, workplans, roadmaps, policies, and procedures by evaluating organizational outcomes; identifying risks and areas for improvement; evaluating trends; anticipating institutional requirements; and ensuring the team stays abreast with best practices in the industry.
• Develop the Corporate Services strategy and lead the implementation of an efficiency and compliance-oriented Corporate Services deployment through: 
  • Fully understanding the climate finance value chain and recognizing where the Corporate Services functions are business partners and enablers to maximize GCF’s impact, and design the delivery mechanisms for Corporate Services accordingly.
  • Determine the development roadmap for each of the Corporate Services units, including capacity building, team objectives, policy frameworks, and the systems and platforms provided to personnel for accessing said services.
  • Engage leaders across GCF to ensure the Corporate Services strategy is driven effectively throughout the organization, resulting in a high adoption rate for the solutions and procedures deployed as well as a satisfactory user experience.
• Business Continuity: Create and maintain a robust business continuity framework, backed up by specific contingency plans and procedures that are diligently tested and put into practice ensuring personnel preparedness for crisis response.
• Procurement: Safeguard the principle of best-value-for-money in the best interest of the Fund through establishing a competent manager for the Procurement team, and ensuring they have adequate capacity and the professional background to effectively act as business partners to other Departments.
• Events and Travel: similarly as with Procurement, the Head of Corporate Services shall establish a robust team that provides the efficient and effective suite of events management and travel administration to meet the needs of the Fund.
• Facilities Management: Oversee the premises management to ensure the working spaces are fit for purpose and contribute to a positive working experience to personnel.
• Employee Experience: Lead the delivery of a robust programme from onboarding to offboarding of staff that facilitates their integration and departure to their work station – whether that is the Headquarters in Korea or elsewhere.
• Health, Safety and Security: Conceive and oversee the strategies and programs that establish the institutional framework for GCF to meet its Duty of Care obligations to the wellbeing of its personnel in the context of the execution of their duties.
• Protocol Administration, and relationship with various Host Country governmental entities. Lead the interaction with the governmental entities from the Host Countries relevant to GCF in order to ensure the adequate implementation of the provisions envisaged in the respective Country Hosting Agreement.
   

Engagement

• Work closely with the relevant stakeholders to define, agree and deliver the portfolio of Corporate Services initiatives and solutions that enable the delivery of GCF's strategic and operational objectives.
• Build alliances across the institution and maintain strong relationships with senior staff to identify organizational needs, improvements and development of business solutions.
• Establish and drive consistent adoption and compliance with the relevant standards for provision of Corporate Services, i.e., the Procurement, Travel, and other policies that are in place to safeguard the principle of best value-for-money when acquiring goods and services.
• Strategically drive communications on Corporate Services offerings and regulatory frameworks to ensure adequate awareness of static and dynamic developments within the organization.
• Manage Corporate Services governance processes and mechanisms, including the Institutional Procurement Committee, Crises Management Team, amongst others.
• Identify potential threats to the institution and coordinate prompt responses in crisis scenarios. This involves as well planning for business continuity and timely recovery from potential physical safety and security incidents.
• Establish and maintain relationships with senior members of governmental agencies to advocate for the effective delivery of Host Country commitments.
• Identify growth opportunities and coaching pathways for the middle managers directly reporting to the Head of corporate Services, and in turn, to the rest of the team members in all Corporate Services units.
• Take firm decisions on issues often sensitive to personnel and fully assume responsibility for those decisions and for the regulation and/or rationale in which they are grounded.
• Actively cultivate GCF’s interaction with and participation in international organization networks (e.g., IFIs), with a focus on the Corporate Services remit, leveraging these to secure additional knowledge and capabilities, as appropriate.

Delivery

• Organizational Effectiveness: Accountable for best-in-class Corporate Services provided to key stakeholders and internal clients that contribute to organizational effectiveness.
• Strategy: Evaluate the existing Corporate Services processes, practices, platforms, systems, and strategy, to create a roadmap driving efficiency and consistency.
• Team: Build a lean and high-performing Corporate Services department, foster a strong outcome-oriented team and excellent, affordable and transparent support for all of GCF’s staff and stakeholders.
• Business partnering: Proactively partner with regional leaders to understand their needs and design a Corporate Services operating model and strategy aligned with short- and medium-term goals.
• Monitoring and insights: Drive the use and availability of data, relevant to the Corporate Services mandate, as a critical asset to inform decisions through key insights and, ultimately, drive business strategy.
• Integrity and compliance: Assure strict adherence to all applicable regulations, including the Headquarters Agreement, local immigration laws, occupational health and safety laws and construction laws.
• Continuous improvement: Tangibly improve the quality of, and materially expand the range of services provided. Continuously identify opportunities for improvement of Corporate Services, including potentially structuring new teams and restructuring the department as necessary.
• GCF values: In internal decision-making and in external engagement, tangibly exemplify GCF values.

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

• Seasoned professional with 15+ years of experience leading the corporate services administrative functions in a leadership, managerial and strategic role, ideally as the most senior officer.
• Strong problem-solving skills; experience with project management, budget & financial management, audit/risk management, establishing and managing a central Corporate Services department for a global institution, and implementing organization-wide and shared solutions which span countries and continents. 
• People Leader: Led international teams covering a range of administrative disciplines.
• Stakeholder Management: Built relationships and influenced across a business at all levels to further strategic objectives and enable effective change.
• Management Education: Master’s degree in business administration or related fields, or a relevant Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Industry background: Experience working in multilateral development bank with international stakeholders and / or an institution with global presence would be an advantage.
• Language: Fluency in English required. Working knowledge of one or more UN languages would be beneficial.

Competencies 

• Passion for managing administrative functions and engaging as a business partner to deliver corporate services.
• Forward-looking for opportunities and risks to the business.
• Demonstrates the ability to formulate and articulate a compelling and forward-looking vision, aligning strategies with long-term goals.
• Possesses exceptional communication skills and the ability to persuasively convey ideas, gaining buy-in and inspiring action from others.
• Strong problem solving, change management, organizational/project management, and creative skills as well as the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on timely and accurate analyses.
• Exhibits tact, discretion, and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal relationships, particularly in high-stakes or politically sensitive situations.
• Encourages and embraces innovation, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances and emerging trends.
• Leads and develops high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
• Able to develop effective partnerships and engage effectively with various stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and community-based organizations in promoting GCF’s mandate and strategy.
• Maintains high ethical standards and demonstrates honesty and fairness in actions.

The closing date for application is 01 September 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.