Director, Climate Change

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization working to empower people in the world’s poorest communities to overcome the chronic lack of decent housing. Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

We believe that adequate and affordable housing can be built sustainably. We believe we have a responsibility to recognize that climate change has a disproportionate impact on the people we serve, and that to be accountable to them, we must address that impact through resilient housing, both through adaptation and mitigation. We believe we must have the courage to use our voice, experience and influence to create change within communities and the broader housing sector — changes that will usher in more inclusive, sustainable and future-focused policies, practices and outcomes.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director - Climate Change provides overall technical leadership on climate change programming and mainstreaming to Habitat for Humanity entities internationally, as part of our global HQ structure.

This covers a wide remit, from development of strategies and standards through to key external stakeholder engagement through to support for proposals and projects across the full program cycle. The postholder also collaborates closely with peer Subject Matter Experts in other technical areas within the Program Effectiveness team in addition to others in the Integrated Program team. Reporting to the Sr. Director - Program Quality, this position is remotely based in the United States, the United Kingdon, Kenya, Slovakia, Vietnam or Costa Rica. Candidates must be eligible to work in the stated location without visa sponsorship. There is up to 30% international travel.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Leadership & Support

• Develop and lead global strategies, standards, guidelines, tools and capacity building approaches for HFHI’s climate change programming and mainstreaming (including defining organizational approaches to adaptation and mitigation in relation to the housing ecosystem)
• Establish, lead and coordinate the efforts of a climate change Community of Practice across the HFH network (bringing together relevant focal points from HQ, Area Office and US programs teams), including sharing learning and documenting best practice
• Provide subject matter expertise across the full program cycle to HFH entities in the areas of climate change adaptation, mitigation, and other relevant approaches, focused on housing and the housing ecosystem
• Assess and report on the scale and quality of work taking place across the Habitat network focused on climate change
• Lead on holding colleagues accountable for meeting the climate pledge made with InterAction
• Carry out an initial scoping of options for assessing Habitat for Humanity’s climate footprint as the basis for organizational mitigation or adaptation, and recommend how best to proceed
• Be an advisor to design financial interventions with Habitat’s housing finance systems team, that influences climate adaptation and mitigation efforts across the housing ecosystem

Collaboration & Integration

• Work with Senior Director of Technical Partnerships in the development of strategic partnerships with complementary organizations in addressing holistic challenges of climate change, with a focus on housing and the housing ecosystem
• Work with Government Relations and Advocacy team on broader influencing related to climate change
• Work with Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter team on market systems approaches in relation to climate change
• Develop and present materials together with Communications team that communicate the direction, focus and achievements of HFH’s climate change programs to internal and external audiences
• Support fundraising teams in their development of funding strategies to support HFHI’s climate change programs.
• Carry out other reasonable duties as requested by supervisor

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain relationships with external partners and experts in the climate change sector, including through participation in InterAction’s climate working groups; ensuring that HFH’s programs align with sector norms and standards
• Represent HFHI, in coordination with relevant colleagues, at key relevant events related to climate change (e.g. COP27), coordinating planning and sharing lessons from HFHI programming and partnerships

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in environmental science, development studies, sustainable development, international relations or other relevant discipline (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in provision of program technical expertise in the international development sector, including at least 5 years’ experience focusing specifically upon climate change mitigation and adaptation, including elements related to housing and human settlements
• Demonstrated understanding of program quality standards and management best practices in international development
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to provide effective technical leadership and support to a complex federated organization globally, without direct line management authority
• Deep understanding of complex dynamics of climate change and poverty, disaster response and mitigation, including in relation to low-income settlements, developed through significant international experience
• Exposure to the actors, systems and processes of global climate change decision making and discourse (experience with the UNFCCC, UNEP, or global programs focused on mitigation/adaptation)
• Experience of leading a process to secure a relevant certification for a global organization (e.g. IFC green-building certification)
• Well organized and able to lead, coordinate and engage effectively with multiple processes simultaneously
• Experience in proposal development and project design
• Experience in program management
• Excellent research, writing and communication skills
• Experience in advocacy and in policy development and influencing
• Advanced skills with MS Office and online collaboration IT programs
• Fluency in English. Ability to speak other languages such as French, Spanish etc. would be an added advantage
• Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation processes
• Active support of HFHI Values:
  • Humility – We are part of something bigger than ourselves
  • Courage – We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
  • Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.