Head of Programme Delivery, Laneshift

C40 Cities is seeking a Head of Programme Delivery for Laneshift in South Africa. This role involves collaborating with city governments to advance electric vehicle infrastructure and reduce emissions. C40, a network of global mayors, focuses on climate action and community resilience. The position requires a commitment to diversity and equity, aiming to enhance decision-making through varied perspectives in tackling the climate crisis.
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.

Laneshift

In partnership with cities, Laneshift accelerates the development of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and the deployment of EV trucks across cities in India (Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune) and Latin America (Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Mexico City in Mexico, Bogotá and Medellín in Colombia, and Quito in Ecuador), reducing emissions, cleaning up the air, generating green jobs and working towards a just transition for workers.

Laneshift works with city governments, businesses and financial institutions to overcome infrastructure and financing obstacles. The project provides technical assistance for cities to develop zero emission freight incentives, demonstrates the readiness of electric truck technology with real-world demonstrations and pilot projects, and works with financial institutions to lay the foundations for further

growth.

Position Description

The Head of Programme Delivery will oversee the delivery of C40’s Laneshift programme in India, Brazil and Mexico, in partnership with The Climate Pledge. They will lead a small team coordinating programme management across C40 regional delivery teams and global programme support.

The postholder will be an exceptional and experienced programme manager, with exemplary skills and experience in project management, coordination and reporting, preferably with experience in managing programmes with corporate funding. A natural collaborator and convener, they will bring together C40 teams to achieve common goals, maximising efficiency and impact.

The role requires a highly experienced programme manager with prior experience of working with corporate funders. The candidate needs to be proactive, and able to work with a wide range of individuals and multi-disciplinary teams (including city finance, air quality, zero emission transport, inclusive climate action, communications and stakeholder engagement). They will have experience of managing teams across different locations and time zones; as well as working with a diverse range of cities and local contexts to find practical solutions to unlock barriers to ambitious action.

Responsibilities:
• Lead a small global team delivering all global Programme Management needs of a $10m multi-region city focused zero emission freight programme.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Heads of Implementation based in India and Latin America to support successful programme delivery through their regional teams, ensuring that objectives and outcomes are aligned with funder KPIs, C40 business plans, leadership standards and high impact actions.
• Ensure all programme management requirements of the regional teams, the cities and donors are met. This includes oversight of a global budget, monitoring progress against workplan, supporting teams to adapt and implement work plans, monitoring and mitigating risk, reporting to donors and working with senior management on future strategy.
• Support the Directors of Climate Action Implementation and Transport to maintain the governance models, internal operations and coordination mechanisms, staffing structures, and programme proposals for the delivery of the Laneshift programme, in collaboration with C40 teams.
• Capture and leverage synergies between the projects in India, Latin America and from across C40.
• Be the primary point of contact with strategic delivery partners in external transport, city and climate-related NGOs. Build and maintain ongoing relationships with funders and other relevant external partners and allies to identify opportunities for collaboration or influence in order to break down barriers for cities to accelerate zero emission freight adoption.
• Ensure effective results reporting for the Laneshift programme and the regular sharing of programme successes to key internal and external stakeholders, alongside other C40 teams.
• Work closely with C40’s Corporate Services team to ensure all contracting models, financial management plans, recruitment strategy and risk management frameworks for the Laneshift programme are maintained.
• Directly manage a small core team whilst working closely and supporting matrix management of a global virtual team for programme implementation
• Work with senior leaders and colleagues based in global regions to develop and seek funding for new projects.Advise senior colleagues within C40, and represent C40 externally to senior stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Person Specification:
• Significant programme management experience, including of large and complex programmes. Experience managing global programmes (e.g. across multiple countries and regions) is highly desirable.
• Experience managing large and complex project budgets.
• Experience in government, business and/or NGO sectors with a strong focus on programme management and delivery. Climate change experience preferred, experience working with freight or vehicle decarbonisation is a plus.
• Strong experience of working with funders preferably in the corporate sector.
• Ability to work with a global and remote team, with experience leading a virtual team preferred.
• Superior organisational skills and acute attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving, interpersonal and strategic thinking capabilities coupled with an outcome, delivery-oriented approach required.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience of practical use of a variety of project management tools.
• Very strong written and verbal communication skills coupled with excellent convening skills. Experience organising events is desirable.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written); proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese desirable.
• Experience of staff management and team leadership, including in a matrix structure
• Experience of fundraising is desirable.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the listed locations. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.

Reporting To: Director of Transport

Term: Fixed Term contract until 30th June 2026 (subject to grant extension signature

Location: Copenhagen, Johannesburg, London, New York, Washington DC

Salary: (Grade 2) Copenhagen DKK 806,914 , Johannesburg ZAR 1,358,208, London GBP £75,419, New York USD 125,419, Washington DC USD 125,419

Application Process:

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 29th April 2025 at 5.00pm BST. C40 reserves the right to close this job opening before the closing date for applications so please do 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. Kindly note that this email address is for recruitment related queries only. We are unable to accept CVs and cover letters sent to this inbox. We can only accept and process applications that are submitted via our website.