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Chief Programmes and Impact Officer

  • Clientheart
Brussels, Belgium
Full-time
Published:
Application Deadline: December 9, 2024
  • Clientheart
Brussels, Belgium
Full-time
Published:
Application Deadline: December 9, 2024
Apply now
 JOB PURPOSE:

This is job is mission-critical for ClientEarth. It leads the development and delivery of our strategy; ensures happy, effective, and high performing teams; and champion our work externally with donors, partners and in the media. The Chief Programmes and Impact Officer (CPIO) is accountable for ClientEarth’s global impact strategy and ensuring our regional programme legal teams deliver our intended impact in the world. A member of ClientEarth’s Executive Team, the CPIO plays a significant role in global strategic oversight and decision-making, and on our mission, strategy, culture, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and values.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

The Chief Programmes and Impact Officer works with colleagues across ClientEarth to deliver on our mission. They will manage large parts of the organisational budget of over £30 million in 2025. They will direct line management for Deputy CPIO and Regional Directors and will be indirectly responsible for 130+ colleagues delivering impact across 9 ClientEarth office locations in Europe, the US and East Asia. Key relationships for this role will be with the:

  • CEO: The Chief Programmes and Impact Officer reports to the CEO and works in lockstep with her (and the rest of the Executive Team) ensuring strategic alignment on the organisation’s strategy and impact, and inspiring and motivating our teams. The CPIO also has an important role to play, as an alternate to the CEO, in representing ClientEarth externally with ClientEarth’s donors, supporters and partners, and at high level events;

  • Directors, Heads and broader programme staff: Regional Programme Directors and the Deputy Chief Programmes and Impact Officer report to the Chief Programmes and Impact Officer. Works with the Directors, Heads and leaders across Programmes & Impact to maintain strong alignment to ClientEarth’s global impact strategy and prioritise resource allocation to maximise our impact on a global and systemic level;

  • Executive Team: The Chief Programmes and Impact Officer works closely with the other members of the Executive Team to align ClientEarth’s impact strategy with the organisation’s financial plans, ensure alignment on organisational objectives and provide collective corporate leadership;

  • Leadership Group: The Chief Programmes and Impact Officer works collaboratively with the organisation’s broader Leadership Group to embed an impact-led culture across ClientEarth teams and foster alignment with ClientEarth’s impact objectives and strategy.


KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Define and Champion ClientEarth’s Global Impact Strategy

  • Lead ClientEarth’s programmatic strategy cycle; spearhead the development and refresh of ClientEarth’s Global Impact Strategy, including the determination of strategic priorities and key global impact metrics, capacity development plans, and resource plans (and related budgets) to deliver the strategy;

  • Provide effective leadership and management of our legal, programme and impact professionals, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities and decision making to build a collaborative high performing team culture where colleagues can thrive and do their best work;

  • Plan, approve and vigorously champion alignment of ClientEarth’s strategies at global, regional, and national levels, ensuring strong resource deployment towards the achievement of the Global Impact Strategy deliverables, rallying teams behind a unified purpose and strategy;

  • Provide thought leadership for the most important areas for investment in the strategy based on evidence emerging from programme implementation across region; including, strategic advice on geographic decisions, such as the opening of new offices or applications to register new legal entities;

  • Work collectively with the CEO and Executive Team on corporate leadership of the organisation, major new initiatives, such as decisions to approve major investments or large grants.


External engagement

  • Build effective relative relationships externally, working collaboratively with Regional/Programme Directors, Executive team and Development and Communication teams to boost our financial resilience and champion our impact work. The CPIO is key contributor to our fundraising activities;

  • Demonstrate ClientEarth’s value add to the ecosystem through thought leadership in opinion pieces, at conferences, in the media;

  • Engaging with Board members, current and potential funders, working closely with the development and communication teams, to ensure ClientEarth’s programmatic priorities are spotlighted and resourced;

  • Champion ClientEarth’s refreshed partnership approach, focusing on equitable and decolonial approaches, closely collaborating and learning from our partners, funders and thought leaders.


Professional standards and regional programme delivery

  • Accountable for global programme delivery as outlined in ClientEarth’s Global Impact Strategy;

  • Makes global resource prioritisation decisions to maximise impact on the global systemic level and within ClientEarth’s available resources. Accountable for overall financial performance against Programme and Impact teams annual budgets (c£20m per year);

  • Strong oversight of our international work and programme works in Africa and South America and Caribbean where ClientEarth does not have a physical presence;

  • Provide strategic support to ClientEarth’s programme effectiveness including; risks and opportunities assessment, theory of change-anchored approaches, innovative global litigation strategies and comprehensive programme and case management;

  • Champion an impact evaluation culture, support the Global team to demonstrate ClientEarth’s programmatic impact, using robust research methodologies, science and data informed tools, and best practices, promoting a culture of knowledge sharing, learning and continuous improvement.


LOCATION:

The CPIO position can be based in either the London or Brussels office (expectation of visible leadership in the office, 2-3 days per week). The role will involve travel within Europe and to our offices and partners in the United States, Asia and other parts of the world.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Essential

  • Law degree or other legal qualification;

  • A professional legal practice qualification;

  • Currently or formerly a practicing lawyer;

  • Evidence of continuous professional development including current thinking on legal strategies;


Diserable

  • Leadership and management training.


EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE:

Essential

  • Substantial experience as a practising lawyer and/or legal academic;

  • Experience of litigation and / or legal advocacy, using the law as a tool to achieve impact;

  • Substantial strategic leadership and senior management experience in complex organisations;

  • Strong understanding of environmental issues, particularly with a global/international perspective;

  • Broad understanding of geopolitical and socioeconomic and science-based issues and how these may impact a global not for profit organisation.


Desirable

  • Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector including working on programme strategy and impact measurement.


KEY COMPETENCIES:

Essential

  • Fluent (CEFR level C2) in English;

  • Strategic thinker with the ability to look at issues holistically and see the big picture;

  • Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and positive mindset when motivating teams, building and maintaining positive strong trusting relationships (internally and externally);

  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and ability to represent ClientEarth at the highest levels;

  • Resource planning and budgeting: ability to oversee large and complex budgets with multiple sources of funding;

  • Creative thinker, willing to innovate and take calculated risks to achieve high impact;

  • Practical, solutions-focused problem solver working with and through others to deliver objectives to high professional standards;

  • Strong alignment with ClientEarth’s values and commitment to our vision, and mission and equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy objectives;

  • Cultural understanding and sensitivity – ability to adapt approach and when working in different regions and cultures;

  • Comfortable with remote or matrix management and working in a global organisation.


Desirable

  • Fluent (CEFR level C2) in at least one other language (preferably French, German, Spanish, Polish or Mandarin);

  • Understanding of charity financial structures.

Apply now
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