Special Assistant

Responsibilities: Support the CEO’s relationships and substantive engagement with senior government authorities, heads of GEF Agencies, heads and senior officials of multilateral environmental conventions, leaders of multilateral organizations, international NGOs, civil society, private sector institutions, and other senior stakeholders. Prepare the CEO for bilateral meetings, missions, Council-related engagements, conferences, and public events through concise briefing materials, stakeholder profiles, key messages, agendas, and follow-up notes. Accompany the CEO to selected events, missions, and high-level meetings, coordinating closely with host institutions and relevant GEF Secretariat teams. Coordinate and help organize the CEO’s agenda in partnership with administrative and substantive teams, ensuring that priorities, preparation requirements, travel needs, and decision points are anticipated and sequenced effectively. Act as the first point of contact for senior-level requests directed to the CEO’s office, exercising sound judgment in triaging, routing, and following up on issues. Support the CEO’s interactions with the GEF senior management team and facilitate timely information flow, alignment, and follow-through on agreed actions. Maintain a structured system for tracking the CEO’s commitments, correspondence, stakeholder engagements, decisions, and follow-up actions. Draft and coordinate high-quality correspondence, meeting records, speaking points, outreach notes, and other executive materials, as required. Anticipate sensitive political, diplomatic, reputational, and scheduling issues and propose practical options for the CEO’s consideration. Build effective working relationships across the Secretariat and with external partners, while maintaining strict confidentiality and discretion. Undertake other responsibilities assigned by the CEO that are consistent with the role.

Requirements: Master’s degree or equivalent in international relations, economic development, public policy, business administration, diplomacy, or a closely related field. A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience, with demonstrated progression in responsibility. Substantial experience in international relations at the government level, a multilateral organization, an international financial institution, or an international NGO. Demonstrated experience supporting or engaging senior public officials, heads of institutions, or comparable senior stakeholders in multilateral or diplomatic settings. Experience preparing executive briefings, coordinating high-level engagements, and managing multiple time-sensitive priorities is highly desirable. Excellent written and spoken English is required. Fluency in at least one additional language relevant to the GEF partnership is required. Outstanding diplomatic judgment, political awareness, discretion, and interpersonal skills. Excellent organization, time management, prioritization, and multitasking skills, with close attention to detail. Ability to work at pace, remain composed under pressure, and adjust to changing priorities and schedules. Strong writing, synthesis, and verbal communication skills for senior audiences. Collaborative, service-oriented, and team-based working style. Ability and willingness to travel internationally and work flexibly alongside the CEO, including outside standard working hours when required by official duties. Skills International Relations Diplomatic Engagement Executive Briefing Preparation Stakeholder Management Multi-lateral Coordination Political Awareness Strategic Support Time Management Prioritization Multitasking Written Communication Verbal Communication Interpersonal Skills Discretion Organizational Skills International Travel Public Policy Economic Development Business Administration Diplomacy Languages English