Scope & Duties: Chief Heat Officer

Title: Chief Heat Officer

Job Summary
The Chief Heat Officer will be responsible for leading and coordinating existing heat protection efforts and initiating new work that reduces the risks and impacts of heat stress and extreme heat for communities in Freetown. 

This role may include developing and launching a Heat Health Task Force composed of internal and external stakeholders with a focus on heat risk reduction planning and response. The Chief Heat Officer will put special emphasis on protecting the health and livelihoods of community members who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat.

The ideal Chief Heat Officer is strategic and results-oriented and will be responsible for managing key relationships within Freetown City and beyond. The Chief Heat Officer will also work with stakeholders, government agencies, community organizations, donor partners, corporate partners and Freetown residents.

The ideal candidate is also adaptable and innovative with knowledge of developing and implementing key climate resilience strategies that will help the city to withstand, respond to and adapt more readily to short-term extreme heat events and long-term heat stress.

The CHO also works closely with the extreme heat resilience alliance (EHRA) and acts as a liaison in exchanging knowledge, best practices, pilot initiatives, experience and performance data.

The Chief Heat Officer will be responsible for the following:

• Strategic Planning
  • Work closely with internal stakeholders (e.g., relevant GoSL departments and the Mayor’s Office Climate and Environment team) around long-term planning for heat risk mitigation and short term response to extreme heat events.
  • Work with the city climate committee and relevant stakeholders to develop the Heat Health Task Force concept, structure, and activities to build a collaborative team of extreme heat and public health stakeholders in Freetown.
  • Over a six- to twelve-month process, work with the Heat Health Task Force and data team to develop a cohesive Heat Action Plan for Freetown, assessing and prioritizing the greatest heat-related threats to the city’s residents, harnessing the expertise and resources across Freetown, other jurisdictions, and the community.
  • Periodically update the Heat Action Plan in coordination with the Heat Health Task Force.
• Outreach and Engagement
  • Coordinate with stakeholders from the City of Freetown and the Western Rural District around joint endeavors and overall strategic alignment.
  • Foster external relationships with partner municipalities, regional organizations, civic groups, community foundations, elected officials, local businesses, and residents with a goal of improving communication, training and educating stakeholders, promoting synergy, eliminating duplicative work or processes, and ensuring active and inclusive
  • Coordinate community outreach programs in Freetown focusing on informal settlement with the aim to educate, sensitize and raise awareness on heat issues.
• Program Managements and vulnerable communities
  • Manage projects by planning, delegating, and executing tasks; managing employee time and capacity across extreme heat-related workstreams.  
  • Coordinate with the Climate and Environmental Management teams on project implementation to align around resilience planning.
• Communications–Work closely with the communications team Climate committee and Environmental Management team to plan a communications strategy for Freetown’s extreme heat-related work, including the Heat Health Task Force. 
• Development – Work with the internal & external partners to support fundraising opportunities; and assist in outreach and engagement to funders. 

Qualifications:

The successful candidate should possess:

• A minimum of 5 years relevant (operations and strategy in organizations focused on climate change adaptation, urban planning, health, Sanitation, development, conservation) work experience and/or other relevant areas within government service, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and/or academia; 
• Superior writing and communication skills; 
• Excellent organizational and management skills; must be able to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately;
• Excellent people skills; must be able to inspire and manage staff and contractors, and work well with colleagues, external officials and partners;
• Proven track record in managing multiple projects simultaneously and a demonstrated ability to work efficiently and collaboratively with colleagues.
• Proven track record of scaling new initiatives. 
• Ability to effectively communicate with, rapidly draft and edit reports for, and dynamically represent the Office of the Mayor of and Freetown to external constituencies.  
• Accomplished track-record in managing small teams, fundraising, and financial management; excellent organizational, logistical, and administrative skills. 
• Entrepreneurial and both a team player and an internal team coach, who can balance multiple tasks and remain flexible, adaptive, and positive in a fast-paced environment. 
• Committed to driving forward diversity, equity, and inclusion in their work with the Office of Resilience.

Interested applicants should send their CV and cover letter to saioyanka4@yahoo.com on or before October 17, 2021

Closing date for application: 18th October, 2021