Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£91,268 per annum

About the Role
Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate also oversees regeneration (non-housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

The Environment and Energy unit leads on policies and programmes related to the Mayor’s ambitions around the natural environment, climate adaptation and the net zero 2030 target. The 25-strong Climate Change team sits within this unit and leads three key areas: climate mitigation, adaptation and green finance.

Climate mitigation focuses on London’s net zero strategy, including external partnerships such as C40 and internal initiatives like climate literacy training. Adaptation covers London’s response to extreme heat and flood risk, as well as delivering the Mayor’s commitment to clean and healthy waterways. Green finance supports the London Climate Finance Facility, including the £500m Green Finance Fund and the climate finance taskforce.

This senior leadership role will be pivotal in advancing the Mayor’s net zero ambitions. The Head of Climate Change will lead an expert multidisciplinary team of around 25 people, fostering a high-performing and inclusive culture while navigating periods of change.

The role requires strong strategic leadership, policy development and programme delivery skills across multiple areas. Key responsibilities include overseeing delivery of the manifesto commitment to clean London’s waterways, scaling green finance for decarbonisation projects, and setting the strategy for achieving net zero by 2030.

The postholder will develop strong working relationships with the Deputy Mayor, the wider Mayor’s Office, government bodies, London Councils, GLA Group functional bodies, agencies, utility providers and third sector partners to ensure successful delivery.

As Programme Director for the Mayoral programme ‘Reducing Non-Residential Emissions’, the Head of Climate Change will support governance, delivery of key outputs, risk mitigation and budget management to maximise value for money.

This role offers a critical leadership opportunity to influence London’s climate sector in reducing carbon emissions and adapting to climate impacts.

Experience
- Senior leadership of a large, diverse, multidisciplinary team or department within a complex organisation.
- Proven track record of building a high-performing, inclusive team culture aligned with organisational priorities.
- Experience providing high-quality professional advice to senior staff and politicians, building trust and confidence with elected members or equivalent office holders.
- Extensive background in senior-level strategy development and leading complex policy work in high-profile subject areas.
- Strong programme management skills with a structured, outcomes-focused approach to delivering projects on scope, budget and timeframe.
- Sound financial management experience including budget formulation, monitoring and corporate resource management to achieve best value.
- Excellent relationship management and collaboration skills across organisational structures, with ability to build strategic partnerships with government, industry and key stakeholders.

About You
You will be a strategic and inspiring leader with the ability to manage change and uncertainty while maintaining team focus and morale. You will demonstrate excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with a passion for climate change and delivering impactful outcomes for London.

You will be committed to fostering an inclusive culture and have the resilience and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications
Relevant senior leadership experience in climate change, environmental policy, or related fields is essential. Formal qualifications are not specified but a strong professional background and demonstrable expertise in the sector are required.