Lab Program Manager

ABOUT CPI 

CPI is an analysis and advisory organization with deep expertise in finance and policy. Our mission is to help governments, businesses, and financial institutions drive economic growth while addressing climate change. CPI has seven offices around the world in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

CPI is known as a leader in tracking sustainable investment trends, identifying innovative business models, and supporting the solutions that can drive a transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. We are unique in our focus on finance, our ability to get the right people to the table, and our analytical rigor. 

ABOUT THE LAB 

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab) is a public-private initiative that identifies, develops, and launches innovative climate finance instruments. It aims to drive billions of dollars of private investment into climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Lab instruments address investment barriers across a wide variety of sectors, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate adaptation, sustainable land-use, climate tech, and carbon.   

Since launching in 2014, The Lab and its initiatives have successfully launched 68 new innovative financial instruments, have been endorsed by the G7 and collectively attracted over USD 4+ billion in seed capital through the instruments that were endorsed by the Lab Members. 

In addition to the Lab’s global thematic programs, the Lab includes five regional programs in Brazil, East and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, India, and the Philippines.    

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab) is a public-private initiative dedicated to mobilizing private investment into climate mitigation and adaptation solutions in developing countries. As The Lab continues to scale its impact, the Lab Program Manager will play a crucial role in managing relationships, overseeing program execution, leading strategic program improvements, and driving collaboration across multiple stakeholders, with the aim to scale the Lab acceleration program globally. In addition, the Lab Program Manager will be responsible for team oversight and business development efforts.  

CPI is seeking a seasoned professional with a mix of expertise in sustainable development, climate innovation, and accelerator/incubator programs  as well as a strong background in program management, relationship management, stakeholder engagement, and process optimization. Reporting to the Director of Innovative Finance, the Lab Program Manager will lead strategic efforts across The Lab’s  initiatives while ensuring seamless execution of its annual cycles.  

This role will involve guiding and supporting the Lab’s team of 20+ staff and consultants, while coordinating with CPI staff and global partners to deliver impactful results. 

• ·        Job Title: Lab Program Manager                   
• ·        Reports to: Director of Innovative Finance    
• ·        Location: Preference for applicants in San Francisco. Applicants based in either Washington D.C. or            London will be considered.       
• ·        Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,0000 p.a. depending on experience

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Program Oversight & Management 

• Lead The Lab’s annual cycle, overseeing a complex and matrixed technical support program, ensuring smooth execution of all phases (pre-selection, selection, and endorsement) with efficiency and transparency.
•  Align program operations with global and regional objectives, ensuring consistency in execution and deliverables. 
• Oversee budget planning and financial reporting in collaboration with the Project Delivery Lead, ensuring resource optimization and compliance with donor requirements.
• Directly manage and mentor regional Lab leads and other team members to foster collaboration, professional growth, and alignment with organizational goals. 
• Coordinate cross-regional efforts to promote collaboration across geographies and thematic areas. 
• Collaborate with Portfolio Services Manager on overall process improvements, impact measurement, and alignment.  
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and program scalability. 
• Guide and oversee engagement with Lab consultants and other partners to ensure effective program delivery alongside CPI team members. 
• Coordinate with the wider Innovative Finance team on cross-program strategy and collaboration, including with the Catalytic Climate Finance Facility, and Learning Hub.
• Provide leadership for the Lab team,  leading global and regional Lab meetings, and ensuring aligment across teams  

Business Development & Fundraising 

• Lead business development efforts to secure new funding for The Lab and its regional initiatives. 
• Develop funding proposals in collaboration with Innovative Finance team leadership, ensuring alignment with programmatic objectives and donor priorities. 
• Build and maintain relationships with potential funders, impact investors, and development finance institutions to strengthen The Lab’s financial sustainability. 
• Collaborate with stream and regional leads to map and enhance capital connections for supported instruments. 

External Engagement, Communications & Event Management 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Lab members, funders, and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment of interests and continuous engagement. 
• Develop and refine The Lab’s value proposition to ensure members derive meaningful benefits from their participation. 
• Oversee funder engagement efforts, including relationship management, reporting, and budget oversight. 
• Represent The Lab at key industry events, fostering relationships and enhancing The Lab’s visibility in the climate finance ecosystem. 
• Implement structured feedback mechanisms to continuously enhance stakeholder engagement strategies. 
• Lead global and regional Lab selection meetings, overseeing coordination and ensuring effective execution
• Work closely with the Communications team to align messaging with program objectives and ensure effective outreach. 
• Oversee event planning efforts, in collaboration with Communications and Lab Program Associate to maximize engagement and impact, ensuring key stakeholders remain actively involved. 

Regional Lab Development 

• Lead efforts to expand The Lab’s presence in Africa and Asia-Pacific by building partnerships with financial institutions, impact investors, and regional organizations. 
• Secure funding to sustain and scale regional labs, collaborating with regional leads and the fundraising team. 
• Customize program approaches to reflect the unique needs of different regions, ensuring context-appropriate solutions. 
• Oversee team allocation and capacity planning to support regional growth initiatives. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

• BA or BS degree in Business, Finance, International Development/Affairs, Public Policy, or demonstrable equivalent experience. Masters degree preferable 
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant career experience, including in development banks, major consulting firms, technology companies or other relevant corporates, financial services firms, incubators/accelerators, or major third sector institutions in climate finance or international development.  
• Demonstrated success in people and team leadership. 
• A strong network and reputation in the sustainable finance and development space.  
• Experienced program leader with demonstrated direct experience leading a project with at least USD $1 million in annual budget. 
• Experience with incubators, accelerators, or multi-stakeholder partnerships desirable.
• Experience managing government grants (European, UK, or US Federal) highly desirable.  
• Fluency within the Microsoft Office Suite. Candidate must be very comfortable working in Excel particularly. 
• Experience with project management software especially Oracle Netsuite and Notion. 
• Written and spoken fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of a second language is an advantage, particularly Spanish or Portuguese.   

COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES   

• You have excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• You thrive in a flat and collaborative organizational culture.
• You are a competent, inspirational, and confident leader, who has impeccable soft skills and the ability to gain consensus across diverse perspectives, cultures, and communication styles. 
• You are a stickler for detail, have strong organizational skills, and are passionate about project management and process improvement. 
• You can juggle multiple tasks and priorities, and adhering to set deadlines while keeping the big picture in mind.
• You are self-motivated and dependable with a passion for learning.  
• You can keep calm under pressure and perform all tasks with absolute professionalism and sensitivity to internal and external client demands.
• Your values are aligned with CPI’s – you believe in the importance of aligning finance with low-carbon and climate resilient pathways and want to be part of a positive change in the world. 

TO APPLY 

To apply please upload an up-to-date CV and respond to our 3 application questions. The deadline for submitting your application is midnight PST Friday, April 18, 2025.  

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to submit at the earliest opportunity. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please be sure to add notifications@app.bamboohr.com to your contact list to ensure delivery of all correspondence from us. 

Climate Policy Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization. We work hard to create and maintain a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals can maximise their full potential.  Our CPI teams reflect a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences. Our strong commitment to a diversity and inclusion is evident through our focus on attracting and retaining staff based on skills and merit.