Senior Program Manager

POSITION TITLE: Senior Program Manager

PROJECT TITLE: China Program

REPORTS TO: China Director

EMPLOYER: Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)

LOCATION: Shanghai/Beijing, China

TRAVEL: Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, mostly within China

Who We Are:

The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), founded in 1991, is a climate organization with a mission to create equitable, climate change solutions around the world. We do this by forming collaborative, people-focused partnerships that support communities disproportionately impacted by the global climate crisis. For more than 30 years, ISC has utilized a unique, bottom-up approach to ensure solutions emerge from within communities, rather than being imposed from the outside.

Through a deep understanding of and commitment to communities that are the least likely to cause global climate change yet face the highest impacts, ISC develops creative and inclusive solutions, demonstrated in our work in the US and Asia. We actively partner with frontline organizations, subnational governments, and the private sector to co-create programs that support underinvested communities, women, and people experiencing poverty who comprise the global majority. ISC remains cognizant of communities' varying needs, and we tailor our approach to support those needs. We believe equity and inclusion are fundamental to building healthy, prosperous, and peaceful communities and are committed to furthering equitable climate action.ISC is implementing programs in the U.S. and Asia. Learn more at sustain.org.

What You’ll Do:

ISC is seeking an experienced professional to oversee the development of a Resilient Communities Leadership Accelerator (RCLA), a 3-year program aiming to support the inclusion of women and girls in localized climate action, mainstreaming women's participation in environmental and climate governance in China. This program will contribute to the achievement of China's carbon neutrality goal by 2060 and catalyze gender-inclusive climate action among a cohort of environmental community-based organizations (CBOs) working at the subnational level. RCLA will engage local CBOs in planning and implementing gender inclusive climate action in two types of priority geographies: 1) low-income and under-invested communities, and 2) regions facing high climate risks and impacts. Key project components include financial grants for pilot initiatives that hold promise for advancing the empowerment of women and girls in climate efforts; cohort-based capacity building and technical assistance; and support to position community leaders as experienced climate actors.

The RCLA program will equip community-based organizations with technical expertise and resources to build more resilient communities and advance gender and climate through community-based planning and actions. Success will be measured by the completion of pilot projects demonstrating improved climate resilience in under-invested, climate vulnerable communities.

The project will be overseen by our international portfolio strategy lead in our U.S. headquarters and operationalized by our China program team. ISC’s partnership with China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO) will significantly enhance the scope and impact of the RCLA.

Senior Program Manager

●Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the RCLA program to support ongoing collaboration, productivity, and strategic program implementation.

● Work with ISC’s prime partner CANGO and selected CBOs to establish, grow, advise, and oversee the RCLA program in China. Develop and implement program strategy, including a clear work plan and timeline for deliverables in compliance with grant expectations.

● Assess program data, track outcomes, and program effectiveness.

● Coordinate program activities to equitably serve the interests of women and girls.

● Design & deliver technical assistance to advance program outcomes.

● Work closely with CANGO and partners to develop knowledge products, including a Guidebook for Gender-Equitable and Climate-Resilient Communities

● Lead Gender and Climate portfolio in China, contributing as a thought leader.

●Provide professional inputs for grant reports, case studies, success stories, training workshops, etc., and represent ISC China program at conferences, webinars, public events, etc.,

● Identify and pursue Climate business development opportunities for China.

●Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with internal teams, government counterparts, donor organizations, CBOs, and local and regional partners.

● Perform other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring:

●Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in program management, successfully addressing sustainability, particularly in gender and climate within the non-profit sector. Three years of supervisory experience.

●A master’s degree in sustainability, social study, or relevant field, or equivalent experience

●Demonstrated experience with program development and implementation including resource allocation, partnership development, developing work plans, and managing teams.

● Demonstrated capabilities in working effectively with the subnational governments, communities and CBOs in China.

● Experience working in empowerment of women and girls in campaigns, and advocacy

● Experience with monitoring and evaluation frameworks

● Knowledge and Experience with supporting and training NGOs to build capacities on resilient community planning and management in China.

● Fluent in verbal and written English

● Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote environment.

● Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and passion for ISC’s mission and values.

TO APPLY:

This is a full-time position, with an anticipated start date of January 1st, 2025.  Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter and resume/CV by email to: pantao@sustain.org or ISC’s job portal no later than Dec 10th, 2024.

ISC is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workplace.

We encourage all applicants, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and ability, to apply.