Director of Strategic Advisory & Delivery – GFI Edge

Location: hybrid (home-based/London office)

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract: 1 year fixed-term contract

Reporting into: Emma Harvey-Smith, Managing Director of Partnerships

About the Green Finance Institute (GFI)

Established in 2019, the Green Finance Institute (GFI) is an independent advisor to governments and investors. It is at the forefront of shaping how finance can be used to facilitate a real economy transition, by designing, testing, and scaling financial solutions that enable capital to flow where it can deliver the greatest impact in the real economy. Bridging the gap between committed capital and impactful solutions, the GFI delivers positive outcomes for climate and nature by aligning policy, development capital, and pipeline development. As a commercially focused philanthropic organisation working with governments and partnering with financial institutions, corporates, NGOs, policymakers, academics and civil society experts, the GFI has mobilised £77bn in committed capital over six years.

The GFI is headquartered in London and has a presence in eight countries including Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Indonesia, the Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, and Spain, and its missions work in built environment, CDR, energy, transportation and nature.

What is GFI Edge?

Most sustainability and resilience strategies don’t fail for lack of ambition; they fail because they are not financeable. Targets are set, but organisations stall when it comes to translating those ambitions into investable programmes - with clear governance, credible business cases and funding pathways that work across the value chain. That is where GFI Edge comes in. GFI Edge is the strategic advisory arm of the Green Finance Institute. We work with corporates and financial institutions to turn transition priorities into board‑ready, executable programmes, combining deep sector insight with pragmatic finance design. Our focus is on options, structures and partner pathways that enable organisations to build robust business cases, unlock capital and reduce climate risk. GFI Edge is a profit‑for‑good initiative operating within GFI Solutions Ltd, the Green Finance Institute’s wholly owned commercial subsidiary. Through this structure, GFI Edge delivers fee‑earning advisory work for corporates, financial institutions, governments, development banks and other partners, alongside the GFI’s core not‑for‑profit activities. All profits generated by GFI Edge are reinvested to support the Green Finance Institute’s mission: accelerating the transition to a clean, resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by channelling capital at pace and scale towards real‑economy outcomes, creating jobs and increasing prosperity for all.

What’s the role?

As Director of Strategic Advisory and Delivery, you will play a key leadership role in growing and delivering GFI Edge's advisory business. Working alongside the Managing Director and Director of Structuring, you will be responsible for shaping, winning and delivering high-impact engagements that help corporates, financial institutions, governments and development partners turn sustainability ambitions into financeable, implementable programmes. You will lead client engagements from early-stage opportunity development through to delivery, building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and helping clients navigate complex challenges at the intersection of finance, sustainability and real-economy transition. This is a highly entrepreneurial role suited to a senior consultant, advisory leader or industry practitioner who combines strong commercial instincts with excellent client delivery capabilities. You will bring experience developing client relationships, identifying opportunities, designing solutions and overseeing multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes. Alongside client work, you will help build GFI Edge's external profile, contribute to thought leadership and support the development of new services, partnerships and market opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Client Advisory & Engagement Delivery: Translate complex sustainability, resilience and transition challenges into practical programmes, business cases and implementation strategies. Act as the senior day-to-day client lead on key accounts and programmes. Oversee engagement delivery, ensuring work is commercially successful, impactful and delivered to a high standard. Manage multidisciplinary teams drawn from across GFI and external partners.
• Business Development & Opportunity Origination: Identify, shape and convert new advisory opportunities across corporates, financial institutions, governments and development partners. Build and maintain a network of senior decision-makers and trusted industry relationships. Contribute to the growth of key accounts through repeat engagements and long-term partnerships. Identify emerging market needs and opportunities for new services and advisory offerings.
• Market Leadership & Profile Building: Represent GFI Edge at conferences, industry events, roundtables and client forums. Contribute to thought leadership, publications and market-facing content. Help position GFI Edge as a leading advisor on sustainable finance, transition and resilience challenges. Curate and support strategic events and convenings that strengthen client relationships and generate future opportunities.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Work closely with the Managing Director and Director of Structuring to support the growth and strategic direction of GFI Edge. Provide leadership and mentoring to consultants, programme managers and project teams. Foster collaboration across GFI's UK and international teams. Contribute to a high-performance, entrepreneurial and mission-driven culture.

Role Requirements

• Significant experience within management consulting, advisory, sustainable finance, climate finance, infrastructure, energy transition or related sectors.
• Proven track record leading and delivering complex consulting or advisory engagements.
• Experience working with corporates, financial institutions, governments or development finance institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, shape and secure new client opportunities.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing multiple client engagements simultaneously.
• Strong commercial acumen and comfort discussing scope, value, fees and engagement structures with senior clients.
• Excellent written communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Credibility with senior executive audiences.
• Strong project leadership and programme management capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment.
• Pragmatic, resilient and delivery-focused while also being curious, innovative and motivated by creating new solutions that unlock impact.
• Passionate about sustainability, transition finance and systems-level change.

If this sounds like you:

To apply - please submit your CV and a short cover letter (of no more than two sides). Your cover letter should include details of:

• your relevant work / educational experience.
• your skills and in particular your experience that is relevant to this role.
• how you meet the broader requirements of the role.

CVs without a cover letter will not be considered.

The closing date for applications is COB on Monday 17th August 2026. Please submit your application via the link on our website or via LinkedIn. Please note: If you do not already hold the right to work in the UK and/or require sponsorship in order to continue working here, you should think carefully before applying. The Green Finance Institute is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. If you are invited to interview and need any reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.