Landscape Resilience Fund: Md

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

The Climate Investment team is responsible for developing and managing sustainable impact funds, as well as other facilities, vehicles and platforms for investments in climate action. Our scope of expertise covers a variety of topics related to sustainable land-use, low-carbon energy, climate-smart cities and/or clean technology, to name just a few. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you

**Job summary**:
The main purpose of the Landscape Resilience Fund (LRF), a foundation established under Swiss law, is to enable the most vulnerable people in rural landscapes in developing countries to effectively adapt to the effects of climate change.

The LRF is an impact-driven, independent foundation that mobilises private and
public climate finance for vulnerable smallholders and landscapes. In 2021, the LRF was co-developed by South Pole and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to create a scalable way to support climate adaptation in rural landscapes, alongside biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

As the Managing Director (MD), you manage the Administrative Office (“Geschäftsstelle”) of the LRF foundation and are responsible for all daily activities of the fund (cf. main responsibilities below) and directing the staff to perform its tasks. In particular, you prepare the business and implement the resolutions of the Board of Trustees, and report regularly to the Board of Trustees on the foundation activities, ensuring compliance and commitment to the LRF Purpose. Furthermore, you represent the Foundation in public, and oversee external communications and fundraising.

**Main responsibilities**
- Lead the administrative office incl. line management of three direct reports
- Implement the long-term strategy set by the Board of Trustees
- Prepare annual programme (budget and activities) and reporting for the consideration and approval by the Board
- Implement the approved annual programme and manage the day-to-day operations of the Foundation;
- Prepare financial expenditures (for subsequent approval by two members of the Board of Trustees)
- Public representation of the Foundation, and oversee external communications
- Prepare decision documents for and implement resolutions of the Board of Trustees regarding funding for SMEs and other projects
- Development and regular updating of overarching guideline for the Foundation's activities in accordance with the Purpose (e.g. environmental and social safeguards, the landscape approach, key performance indicators, transparency)
- Convening of an advisory technical committee (overall convening, meetings can be delegated to project leads)
- Preparation and conclusion of contracts with third party service providers (e.g. auditors, website providers etc.)
- Report regularly to the Board of Trustees (including Annual Report) and, in particular, on the use of the Foundation’s funds, ensuring compliance and commitment to the Purpose
- Lead and support fundraising for the LRF with public, philanthropic and corporate funders, in collaboration with all service partners

**Essential profile requirements**
- University degree, ideally at a Master’s level or higher, in a sustainability-related field
- Relevant work experience (the expectation is a minimum of 5, and ideally 10 years) within the climate or sustainable development field, within governments, large NGOs or the private sector
- Strong administrative and business management skills
- Proven fundraising experience
- Experience in leading and mentoring teams across different geographies and cultures
- Profound understanding of climate action, including climate change adaptation, and biodiversity; and ideally experience in impact and/or climate finance
- Experience in multi-stakeholder cooperation with public sector, private sector, NGOs, as well as, development finance institutions
- Strategic mindset, with the ability to further develop and implement a compelling vision for the LRF under guidance of the Board
- Solid knowledge / experience of the working modalities of a not-for-profit foundation, especially administrative and business / financial matters
- Excellent oral and written skills in English and German
- Proficient oral and written skills in French and / or Spanish are desirable
- Desirable: Resident in Switzerland, and understanding of the Swiss foundation
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, across a range of stakeholders,