Global Finance Program Director, Sunrise Project

The Sunrise Project is a global network of independent organizations dedicated to driving the transition beyond fossil fuels by scaling social movements through strategic grant-making and campaigning. Sunrise Inc, as part of this network, fosters a dynamic and adaptable organizational culture, supporting its team in addressing the urgent challenge of climate change. Emphasizing the strength that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences, the organization actively encourages applications from First Nations people, people of color, those living outside cities, individuals with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and LGBTQIA+ people, while continually striving to create an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Based in Europe, North America or Asia, Sunrise Inc seeks to appoint a

GLOBAL FINANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Since 2017, Sunrise Inc has been building a global program to grow powerful networks that can rewrite the rules of the financial system to end finance for fossil fuels and scale resources for clean energy that delivers for everyone. With experienced teams working across core strategic projects in private and public finance, and at the intersection of government and corporate action, our programs have been creating global impact through our unique model of network organizing and campaigning.

The Program Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of this program. Working closely with the Deputy Director, they oversee a team of Program Directors and over 60 staff members, ensuring impactful outcomes across various initiatives. This includes developing global strategies to shift the financial system, identifying new opportunities for real-world impact, and addressing cross-cutting issues. The role also involves extensive collaboration with campaign partners, finance sector allies, grassroots activists, the executive team, board, and philanthropic partners to align resources and drive transformative change.

Key responsibilities of the Program Director include:

• Oversees Sunrise Inc’s Global Finance Program Strategy, with accountability for developing the program’s overall strategy and priorities, ensuring the program has clear objectives, measures, and achieves outcomes that align with Sunrise Inc’s mission and values.
• Supports Program Directors and Project Leaders to design high-impact strategies that drive real-world change, actively identifying and cultivating synergies within and between different strategies, and fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative culture that enhances the program’s collective impact.
• Works closely with the Executive Director and Philanthropic Partnerships team to engage philanthropic partners and to secure and align resources effectively.
• Manages and supports the Global Finance Program Manager to ensure appropriate planning, resource allocation, and systems and processes are in place to support the team in delivering on the strategy.
• Works closely with the research team to track and analyze emerging trends, threats, and opportunities, supporting strategic pivots and incubating new strategies.
• Enables open and honest evaluation of the program’s work and impact, fostering a culture that values risk-taking, failure, learning, and accountability in pursuit of greater impact.
• Contributes to an inclusive and life-affirming culture in the wider organization, including leadership on the commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the team, partnerships, and program strategies.
• Manages staff as required, leading on high performance, collaborative, and sustainable teamworking by fostering Sunrise’s culture and hiring, managing, and developing talented individuals.
• Oversees budgets, manages risk, and meets compliance obligations associated with the program.

The Program Director must meet the following criteria:

• Significant leadership skills and experience in a similar or related role, including unpaid, grassroots, or lived experience.
• Finance sector knowledge and expertise, specifically an understanding of the role that private and public finance and financial regulation play in accelerating the energy transition.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze power and apply an understanding of how effective campaign strategies achieve real-world change.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating networked change and a deep understanding of how social movements achieve change, including both elite engagement and grassroots organizing and mobilization strategies.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to articulate complex strategies in simple and compelling ways.
• A global perspective and experience working internationally.
• A strong understanding of what it takes to create a healthy, vibrant, and inclusive culture, including a high level of emotional intelligence, excellent interpersonal communication, and strong coaching and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated experience in raising and managing multimillion-dollar budgets.
• A flexible and open leadership approach, the ability to give and receive feedback skillfully, and to manage change in a rapidly changing world.
• A passion for action on climate change and a demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Desired skills, knowledge and experience:

·        Demonstrated experience and understanding of the political and corporate cultures across a variety of countries and regions.

·        Proficiency in more than one language.

Please note the below Job Requirements:

• You must have full working rights for the country you are living or working in, as The Sunrise Project is unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.
• Employment background checks are required.
• Intermittent travel will be necessary with advanced notice.
• Flexibility to adjust work hours to accommodate multiple time zones is essential

• Apple computer
• Stipend for personal work space
• If US-based, health, dental and vision insurance
• Professional development annual stipend
• 5 weeks PTO
• Phone stipend
• Additional "life leave" provided for emergencies

Email your application (only CV required) by Friday 31st January, 2025 to callum@actionappointments.co.za