Project Officer, High Carbon Advertising Bans

C40 Cities is hiring a Project Officer in Johannesburg, South Africa, to manage a project aimed at phasing out fossil fuel advertising on public transport. The role involves day-to-day project management and supporting C40 cities in this initiative. C40 is committed to diversity and equity, promoting an inclusive work environment for all applicants.
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.

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.

We welcome applicants that are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.

Position Description

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting C40’s work on an exciting new project with cities to phase out fossil fuel advertising on their public transport networks. The role will support the day-to-day management of the project to support and empower C40 cities in the phase out of high carbon advertising.

The Project Officer will also support the operations of the Public Transport and Walking and Cycling networks to disseminate learnings from the project and other relevant information on reducing the influence of high carbon transport.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive individual, able to manage their work independently and make the most of a complex portfolio in a high profile area of C40’s work. The Project Officer will join a team of dynamic C40 staff and be connected to leading cities and partner organisations around the world.

Responsibilities:
• Support the management of the project to facilitate and promote high carbon advertising bans in cities including monitoring milestones and budgets, preparing updates and reports, and managing meetings and action points:
• Liaise with the Public Transport Senior Manager and Technical Lead for Transport to ensure timely and accurate budget management.
• Support the cross-team project group with colleagues from the Transport team, External Engagement team and Research Team.
• Lead on internal communications ensuring that relevant internal stakeholders remain regularly informed of project developments
• Collate, summarise and communicate the programme outcomes.
• Support with funder management including the delivery of funder reports
• Support the delivery and logistics of key milestone activities:
• Organise meetings with relevant city officials to identify key barriers and potential areas for support, and then maintain contact as that support is delivered.
• Organise a peer support network of cities with regular meetings and communication channels for sharing best practice
• Manage procurement of consultancy services and freelancers to deliver technical assistance to cities.
• Develop briefings and other effective knowledge content for city staff and C40’s teams.
• Support Public Transport Senior Managers with logistics and coordination for activities and events, including workshops and webinars.
• Support day to day communication and information requests from network member cities.
• Support the compilation of newsletters to member cities sharing information on activity in cities and related research and project updates.
• Provide ad-hoc support to the Transport team as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Person Specification:

Essential:
• Demonstrable commitment to the values of C40 and the urgent need to get the world off fossil fuels.
• Desktop research experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including knowledge and understanding of concise, effective communication and leading on the development of presentations, briefing documents and other communication or campaign materials, with the ability to relay the ‘big picture’.
• Strong project organisational skills including experience coordinating the delivery of complex projects across teams and familiarity with project management tools.
• Good time management skills and ability to be a self-starter and work independently.
• Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Have an open and collaborative approach to work.
• Strong problem-solving and interpersonal capabilities coupled with an outcome/delivery-oriented approach is required.
• Good attention to detail.
• Experience working with partners to drive a common goal.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office / Google Suite.
• Fluency in English is required.
• International experience, particularly working across different cultures, languages and time zones, is desirable.
• Knowledge of global best practices and different approaches to public transport, 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: Senior Manager, Public Transport

Term: Fixed Term Contract until 30th April 2026 (The appointment and the duration of the role are subject to the final approval of the grant)

Location: London & Johannesburg

Salary: (Grade 5) GBP £44,843, ZAR 493,620 (gross per annum)

Application Process:

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 9th May 2025 at 5pm 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.

C40 is an equal opportunities employer.