Climate Officer

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

This is an exciting opportunity to support Christian Aid Ireland's climate-related programme work at a time when climate change is deepening poverty, inequality, conflict, displacement, food insecurity and humanitarian need.

Climate change is also a justice issue: those least responsible for the climate crisis are often the people most affected by its impacts. Christian Aid Ireland’s partnership approach recognises that people living in poverty and crisis, and the local organisations rooted in their communities, are central to identifying needs, shaping solutions and holding power to account.

At Christian Aid, we pursue a transformative climate justice agenda that places the most vulnerable and marginalised at the centre of efforts to catalyse change. Our deep solidarity with partners and the communities with whom we work lies at the heart of our work.

 Learn about our vision, mission and values

About the role

The Climate Officer will provide practical and technical programme quality and development support to Christian Aid Ireland's climate-related work. The role will help country programme teams, regional offices, partners and Ireland-based colleagues to integrate climate risk, adaptation, resilience and climate justice into programme design, learning products and technical support.

Working under the guidance of programme managers, and reporting to the Head of International Programmes and Global Head of Peacebuilding, the post holder will contribute technical analysis, programme support, drafting, coordination and evidence gathering. The role will support Christian Aid Ireland’s partnership-based approach and Stronger Together strategy.

The role will focus on supporting the full and effective delivery of Christian Aid Ireland’s climate work, ensuring programme quality and technical excellence, and helping to develop the portfolio of climate-related programming.

You will provide technical support on areas including climate change adaptation, resilience, climate justice, disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, early warning, climate information services, resilient livelihoods, agroecology, sustainable energy and nature-based approaches where relevant.

You will also support proposal development and resource mobilisation, helping to develop strong climate-related concept notes, proposals, funding submissions, donor engagement materials and evidence summaries. The role will involve working closely with programme, institutional funding, finance, MEAL, advocacy and country colleagues to identify and analyse relevant climate funding opportunities.

A key part of the role will be partner accompaniment and capacity strengthening. You will work with local partners and Christian Aid colleagues to strengthen climate programming capacity in a way that is collaborative, respectful and rooted in local expertise. This will include supporting workshops, webinars, learning sessions, guidance notes, practical tools and partner-to-partner learning.

The role will also support evidence, learning and knowledge management by gathering and synthesising learning, case studies and evidence from Christian Aid and partner climate work. You will help connect programme learning with advocacy, communications and supporter engagement where appropriate.

The post holder will work across teams to ensure climate programming is locally led, gender-responsive, conflict-sensitive, rights-based, accountable, environmentally responsible and informed by the lived experience of affected communities.

About you

Essential

• A relevant third-level qualification, or equivalent professional experience, in climate change, environmental science, international development, humanitarian action, agriculture, food systems, or a related field.
• At least 3 years' relevant experience in climate change adaptation, resilience, environment, livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, climate justice, international development or humanitarian programming.
• Good understanding of climate change adaptation, climate risk, vulnerability, resilience and the links between climate change, poverty, inequality and injustice.
• Experience supporting programme design, proposal development, donor applications or technical concept notes, donor reporting and/or learning products.
• Experience supporting programme quality, implementation or learning in climate, resilience, livelihoods, DRR, humanitarian or development programming.
• Experience working with or supporting local partner organisations, preferably in an international NGO, faith-based, civil society, humanitarian or development context.
• Experience using, adapting or supporting climate risk, vulnerability, environmental screening or programme quality tools.
• Practical understanding of project cycle management, theories of change, logframes, indicators and MEAL.
• Experience with Irish Aid, EU / INTPA, ECHO, FCDO, UN, foundation or climate finance proposals.
• Strong writing and analytical skills, including the ability to produce clear proposal text, technical summaries, guidance notes, case studies and donor-facing materials.
• Experience applying gender equality, social inclusion, accountability, safeguarding, do-no-harm and conflict sensitivity considerations in programme work.
• Strong facilitation, coordination and communication skills, including the ability to explain climate issues in accessible language and work effectively across countries, cultures and disciplines.
• Good organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Commitment to Christian Aid Ireland's values, partnership approach and vision of dignity, equality and justice for all.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification or specialised training in climate change adaptation, resilience, climate justice, DRR, sustainable development, gender and climate, or climate finance.
• Experience in fragile, conflict-affected or humanitarian contexts.
• Knowledge of climate-resilient agriculture, agroecology, sustainable energy, climate finance, loss and damage, anticipatory action, early warning systems, climate information services or nature-based approaches.
• Experience in one or more Christian Aid programme countries or regions.
• Experience supporting advocacy, policy analysis or campaigning on climate justice.
• Experience developing capability statements, donor pitches or funding pipeline analysis.
• French, Spanish, Arabic or Portuguese language skills.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. To discuss this role in greater detail, please contact   pquinn@christian-aid.org

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

We participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

You can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, please refer to the benefits booklet for your location to see our full list of employee benefits.