Governance and Executive Engagement Intern

Department: Governance and Executive Engagement

Reporting to: Head of Internal Engagement and Steering Committee

Location: London

Salary: (Intern) GBP £31,161 gross per annum

Term: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2027

Background

C40 is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities, who are working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis, and create a future where everyone, everywhere can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities.

Diversity statement

C40 is committed to supporting and promoting equity and diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for everyone. We believe that when people with different life experiences are involved in decision-making, we deliver better. Our goal is for C40 to be an environment where everyone, from any background, can flourish and can be themselves whilst contributing to our mission.

Department description

The Governance and Executive Engagement department stewards the Executive Director, C40 Co-Chairs, Steering Committee and Board in their role as ambassadors and decision makers of C40. The department represents the C40 leadership both internally and externally.

Position description:

C40 Cities is looking for a proactive, detail-oriented Intern to join the Governance and Executive Engagement team. You will be working at the very heart of the organisation, working across the department to support the coordination of high priority projects. This position is a fantastic opportunity for an early-career professional to gain hands‑on experience working in international climate diplomacy and non-profit governance.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Co-Chair’s Office (40%)
• Support to the Co-Chairs office, including tracking, project coordination, scheduling and meeting notes
• Support to the C40’s Steering Committee Secretariat as required, including developing project timelines, project coordination, creating paper packs
• Executive Office operations (40%)
• Support to the fundraising team on tracking, due diligence research, triaging incoming requests and organising team workflows
• Administrative support on special projects as required – including project coordination, developing concept notes, tracking, scheduling, meeting notes and filing
• Cross departmental support (20%)
• Provide support to the Priority Initiatives and Events team as needed, including supporting the project administration of Leadership Priorities and the delivery of world‑class climate events as required
• Quality controlling key documents, including designing slides, formatting documents
• Suggesting key ways to make administrative workflows more efficient
• Ad hoc research tasks as required.

Person specification:

• Highly organised, with proven experience of administrative and project coordination excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while meeting strict deadlines.
• Comfortable communicating with diverse teams across different time zones and seniority levels.
• Passionate about C40’s mission.
• Self-starter, willing to get stuck into a variety of projects.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly in scheduling, data entry, and record-keeping.
• Proactive approach to organizing meetings and supporting complex administrative workflows.
• Poise and resilience when working under pressure or with shifting priorities.
• Discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive information.

Other Requirements:

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Moderate travel will be required as part of the role.

C40 offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employee well-being and work-life balance:

• Paid Time Off: Full-time employees receive 35 days of paid time off annually, which includes all national holidays.
• Company Close-downs: In addition to the standard paid time off, C40 provides two non-contractual, non-statutory close-down weeks each year (mid-year and end‑of‑year) for a full break.
• Parental Leave: All employees are eligible for up to 52 weeks of parenting leave. The first 16 weeks are paid at 100% of the employee's current salary.
• Flexible Working: C40 supports flexible working arrangements to enhance work-life balance, provided they align with business requirements.
• Time off in Lieu (TOIL): Employees can take TOIL to recover following periods of excessive hours or travel in line with C40’s Toil Policy.
• Sick Leave: Entitlement to sick leave increases upon the successful completion of the employee's probation period.
• Employee Training: Training and development opportunities are available to all staff after they have completed and passed their probation period.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Confidential services, such as counselling, are accessible for short-term support.

Application process

Interested applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter. The closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday, 19th August 2026 at 4pm BST.