Job Description
Description
Job Title: Climate Mitigation Finance Specialist, NetZeroCities
Team: Cities Team
Contract: Fixed term for 12 months, with possibility of extension
Level: Intermediate /Advanced
Please refer to our Capability Framework
Salary: Competitive for Not-for-profit organisation
Location: Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, The Netherlands , Austria, UK
ABOUT US
At Climate KIC, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a diverse and representative team and an inclusive workplace that values different life experiences and perspectives, and we encourage personal development, learning and growth.
When recruiting, we look to achieve diversity in the candidate pool. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are happy to consider reasonable adjustments that will foster success in potential colleagues from diverse backgrounds and life situations. And because our team has differing needs and personal circumstances, we offer a high degree of flexibility to accommodate working patterns. We’re happy to discuss your situation during the interview and see how best we can support you. Don’t let Imposter Syndrome stop you from applying!
Climate KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) is Europe’s foremost climate innovation initiative. We understand that global temperature rise is exceeding 1.5C and this demands unprecedented change. It requires new social dynamics, ways of doing business, capital flows, policymaking, economic models, and new ways of living. That is why our mission is to leverage the power of systems innovation to transform whole places, industries and value chains by 2030, working across sectors to develop and scale ambitious programmes. Climate KIC’s strategy 2024-2030, Transformation, with Urgency, is available here.
Climate KIC operates as a not-for-profit foundation working through public-private partnership, wielding both public and private funding. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Amsterdam, we orchestrate a community of more than 150 organisations including large corporations and SMEs, municipal and regional governments, universities and research institutes, as well as non-governmental organisations and civil society actors.
Climate KIC leads the implementation of the European Union’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and the launch pilot of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, both with the objective of catalysing rapid and deep transformation on a large scale, creating the precedent and economic transition conditions for demonstration, learning, capacity building, fast followership and investment. Achieving the EU Cities Mission will mean avoided scope 1 and 2 emissions alone of an estimated 0.7GT CO2e between now and 2040.
Climate KIC has a Remote-First approach, where colleagues work remotely from home based in one of the countries where we have a branch or employing entity (and can work out of local offices or co-working seats, where they exist). We meet at our local offices to exchange and connect and use online collaboration tools to work with each other and with our community. On occasion, we meet in person as teams, and once per year as an organisation.
As a mission-driven organisation dedicated to climate transformation, we consider the climate impact of our own actions, for example travel, catering, or IT equipment.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Climate-KIC is seeking a Climate Mitigation Finance Specialist to support the delivery of the NetZeroCities Climate City Capital Hub. Climate City Capital Hub is a key mechanism created to help Mission Cities secure funding for their climate actions by supporting projects towards transaction readiness, facilitating access to finance, and engaging with investors.
This role aim to convert climate ambition into financed and implemented mitigation investments at city scale, particularly where traditional finance models fail due to risk, fragmentation or limited revenue certainty. The Specialist will work on complex, concrete projects where public policy and finance must be addressed simultaneously.
Working closely with NetZeroCities Climate City Capital Hub team, finance consortium partners, and City Finance Specialists (CFS), the Specialist will provide hands-on project finance and transaction support to cities to overcome financial and institutional barriers, improve project investment readiness, and mobilise capital for real implementation on the ground.
The role requires practical experience in developing and financing climate mitigation projects and mechanisms that combine multiple funding instruments (including grants, guarantees, concessional finance and private capital) across sectors such as the built environment, mobility, energy, waste and water.
Key Responsibilities
Structure investment-ready projects: work with the Climate City Capital Hub, CFS, Mission Cities to develop financeable climate mitigation projects. This includes defining business models, identifying funding sources and de-risking instruments, and strengthening overall investment-readiness. Provide hands-on support on financial modelling, risk assessment and project preparation to increase project maturity and attract investors.
Develop and deploy blended finance instruments: support the design and structuring of mechanisms and programmes that combine private, philanthropic and public capital to de-risk urban mitigation investments and mobilise financing at scale.
Engage with capital and technical assistance providers: engage directly with investors, banks, funds, philanthropies, development finance institutions and technical assistance providers to match city project pipelines with appropriate sources of capital or support.
Support the mainstreaming of adaptation: working closely with adaptation specialists, ensure that adaptation is considered and integrated, where relevant, within broader investment plans and mitigation projects, including through the integration of resilience considerations into project design and financing structures.
Generate and share knowledge : capture lessons from project transactions and financing processes. Translate them into practical guidance, tools, case studies and capacity-building materials for cities.
Key Working Relationships
NetZeroCities Climate City Capital Hub
NetZeroCities City Finance Specialists and City Advisors
NetZeroCities Investment and Finance Consortium Partners
NetZeroCities Consortium Work package Leads
Finance and Climate Departments, and other city stakeholders
Investors, banks, DFIs and philanthropic partners
Requirements
ABOUT YOU
Experience and Qualifications
At least 7 years of practical experience in in project finance, climate mitigation finance, infrastructure finance or blended finance, ideally located in the EU.
Demonstrated experience structuring, financing, or advising on real climate mitigation projects in an urban context.
Experience working with or for cities, regions or public project owners.
Track record engaging with financial institutions, investors, capital providers.
Knowledge of, or experience with, climate adaptation and resilience finance is considered a strong asset.
Good understanding of local and regional governance, public finance processes, and investment constraints faced by municipalities and regions in the EU is an asset.
Familiarity with EU funding and policy frameworks is an asset.
Skills
Fluent in English, preference for at least one additional language commonly in use in Europe.
Strong capabilities with collaborative IT applications (we use Office365 and Microsoft Teams, as well as Notion, Miro, Zoom, etc.).
Intermediate Excel skills, advanced skills are a plus.
Strong time management skills will be essential, with a track record of delivering on objectives according to established timelines.
Strategic thinker with a problem-solving mindset and collaborative approach.
Qualities, Personal Style, and Approach
Proactive and service-, impact-oriented, with a focus on delivering tangible outcomes for cities.
You like thinking strategically and have some experiences working with systemic approaches and innovative-oriented programmes, but also enjoy more practical work on the ground.
You are a quick and adaptable learner, happy to explore new territories.
You like challenges and you are keen on working at the edge of innovation.
You are open to work in a multicultural environment.
You are an optimistic, strong team player.
At Climate KIC, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a diverse and representative team and an inclusive workplace that values different life experiences and perspectives, and we encourage personal development, learning and growth.
When recruiting, we look to achieve diversity in the candidate pool. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are happy to consider reasonable adjustments that will foster success in potential colleagues from diverse backgrounds and life situations. And because our team has differing needs and personal circumstances, we offer a high degree of flexibility to accommodate working patterns. We’re happy to discuss your situation during the interview and see how best we can support you. Don’t let Imposter Syndrome stop you from applying!
