Senior Manager, Waste, Brazil

The Project

The Brazil Program is a strategic partnership between C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, to accelerate the implementation of climate action across Brazilian cities. The program aims to unlock delivery at scale by identifying and preparing high-impact, finance-ready urban climate projects while strengthening the institutional frameworks that support long-term transformation. It combines on-the-ground implementation with targeted support to federal and multilevel governance, leveraging Brazil’s growing climate ambition and the opportunity presented by COP30 in Belém.

Over the next two years, the program will engage at least 50 cities, supporting them to move from planning to action through data-driven project identification, readiness assessments, and capacity-building. At least 20 priority actions—particularly in sustainable transport and waste—will be prepared for implementation, with a strong focus on financial viability, social inclusion, and emissions impact. These efforts will be complemented by cross-cutting strategies on climate budgeting, just transition, and strengthened data ecosystems. Working in close coordination with federal actors and national city networks, the program will create the enabling conditions for long-term, replicable investment in urban climate solutions across Brazil.

Alongside implementation, the program will leverage Brazil’s leadership in global climate diplomacy to elevate city voices, strengthen and establish a model of multilevel coordination for other countries, and integrate local action into the

international climate agendas. With COP30 in Belém, the initiative brings visibility to the urban Amazon, supporting practical solutions in cities facing deep socio-economic and environmental challenges. It will also showcase CHAMP in action, using Brazil’s COP30 Presidency and co-chair role in the NDC Partnership to promote the inclusion of subnational contributions in NDCs. By advancing Climate Federalism and amplifying mayoral leadership—especially from the Amazon—the program aims to inspire globally just, inclusive, and locally driven climate action.

Waste component outcomes of the Brazil Program

Context setting

Among Brazilian cities in the C40 and GCoM networks, waste is the second or third most emitting sector (ranging from 9% to 21%). This programme will provide support to Brazilian cities to accelerate the delivery of the ambitions of the Global Methane Pledge and LOW-Methane’s objectives of reducing methane emissions from waste by 30%. 

C40 cities all have detailed targets and actions in their climate action plans to tackle these emissions. Cities such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Curitiba have led the way in waste management in Brazil by setting up solutions in waste collection systems and sanitary landfill management, or by treating organic waste and generating energy from anaerobic biomethane processing. 

Larger Brazilian cities are now ready to implement more ambitious solutions to decrease the amount of waste that goes to landfills, and specially start promoting circular economy approaches, and small and medium sized cities can begin to address waste management challenges, saving costs and emissions by developing the enabling infrastructure and establishing sustainable financial mechanisms.

Intended outcome

Brazilian cities accelerate the implementation of high-impact, methane-reducing waste actions that improve management operations, increase diversion, deliver sanitation and health benefits, create good green jobs and reduce methane emissions.  

Program delivery to achieve the outcome:

1. Develop methane-reduction projects. Support a cohort of cities, aligned with the Ministry of Environmental waste Programs, the LOW-Methane and Pathway Towards Zero Waste, in designing and implementing methane-reducing waste actions and projects focusing on reducing and diverting organic matter from final disposal. This initiative aligns with the forthcoming National Plan for the Reduction and Recycling of Urban Organic Waste (PLANARO), currently in its finalization phase. 
2. Provide financial guidance and TA. Deliver targeted support to help cities improve the financial sustainability of their waste systems, including project structuring, business models, and cost-recovery strategies.
3. Develop replicable guidance. Produce a practical guide for cities on designing, financing, and delivering high-impact methane-reducing waste solutions—supporting replication in Brazil and Latin America.
   

Scope:

The Senior Manager, Waste will support participating cities to identify, design and implement key waste-related actions to reduce current and future emissions from the solid waste sector. The Senior Manager will deliver this by strategically engaging existing plans and political leadership, while also building technical, institutional and operational capacity in the supported cities. 

The Senior Manager will support city teams through training, cross-city knowledge sharing, engaging consultancy support, and one-on-one support to design relevant sectoral actions and help overcome barriers to delivery.

The postholder will be expected to liaise with city focal points and with expert sectoral teams within the participating cities contributing towards programmatic goals and KPIs. The Senior Manager will work with the participating cities to define the technical requirements of tendered expertise that will provide additional support to programme cities, overseeing the quality and applicability of consultant outputs and ensuring they meet the Program and cities’ high quality standards. The postholder will facilitate political attention and engagement.

The role will report to the Head of Waste Strategy and Implementation and work with the wider Waste and Regional Mayoral Engagement teams, to set the waste strategy for this grant programme. The role will be supervised by the Head of Implementation, who will ensure coordination with the other technical workstreams (data, finance, waste, climate budgeting and inclusive climate action) and will work along with the Head of Engagement, who will be responsible for the city and national government engagements.

The ideal candidate will have background and experience in Brazilian city government, with an excellent understanding of how cities work (e.g. develop policies and implement projects), and will be familiar with federal programmes on waste and the economic and political context of Brazil. The candidate should have good knowledge on waste management, especially as it relates to cities’ roles, operations, and implementation, as well as climate change and sustainability.

The role will report to the Head of Waste and work with the wider Waste and Regional Mayoral Engagement teams, to set the climate budgeting strategy for this grant programme. The role will be supervised by the Head of Waste, who will ensure coordination with the other technical workstreams (data, finance, waste, climate budgeting and inclusive climate action) and will work along with the Head of Engagement, who will be responsible for the city and national government engagements.

The postholder will need to be an experienced and proactive individual, able to manage their work independently and make the most of a complex portfolio in a high-profile area of C40’s work. They will join a team of dynamic C40/GCoM staff and will be connected to leading cities around the world. They need to be passionate about working to find practical solutions to climate change, particularly around organic waste and methane reduction.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

• Manage and deliver the Waste Workstream activities of the Programme in accordance to the pre-determined timeline and to budget;
• Help cities identify and design key waste actions to significantly reduce current and future emissions from municipal solid waste; as well as support the mapping and prioritisation of measures within the city climate action plans in waste sectors, and collect information from city teams, plans and budgets in close collaboration with the Head of Engagement, and when needed, with the Ministry of Cities and Ministry of Environment, conducting needs assessments and stakeholder consultations,;
• Support the Head of Engagement on the political engagement of selected cities involved in the programme, and lead the engagement of technical teams in such cities in waste matters, including training, cross-city knowledge sharing and one-on-one support to design relevant sector actions and help overcome barriers to implementation work.
• Manage waste-related technical assistance and other consultancy budgets, procurement and delivery;
• Track and report to the Head of Implementation on contracts, budgets, key performance indicators and deliverables, ensuring they are on schedule;
• Support the Head of Implementation in internal and external reporting requirements;
• Build meaningful and sustainable partnerships with key actors in the participating cities and support improving multi-level governance relations internally between government levels. In addition, organise and lead internal and external coordination groups  on topics related to waste with partner organizations, such as the Frente Nacional de Prefeitas e Prefeitos (FNP); Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
• Systematize lessons learned and each city's advances on the Program.

Required Experience:

Essential

• Demonstrated experience on programs or projects within the waste sector, particularly organic (food) waste, and in relation to other municipal policies such as climate action plans.
• Knowledge in the development, implementation and/or evaluation of waste strategies and actions in the region, including social and economic considerations
• Experience in policy design and/or project preparation, preferably in sub-national governments.
• Experience in network creation, good interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, stakeholder engagement, relationship building and multi-level collaboration is highly desired.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills. 
• A proven track record of working remotely and independently.
• A relevant degree, with a tertiary degree in any environment or climate change related topic and/or political science being highly desirable.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English.

Desirable

• Experience in managing external consultants.
• Experience in coordinating with the Brazilian national government.
• Experience  with Brazil’s national climate programs: Knowledge of initiatives such as PAC, PCVR, and CHAMP implementation pathways, especially as they relate to city-level action.
• Knowledge of developing industry-specific roadmaps and/or business cases, including social and economic considerations.
• Ability to write technical materials and documents.

Please note that this is a consultancy opportunity, therefore the successful individual will be liable to pay their own taxes, in accordance with relevant legislation in Brazil. 

Additional Requirements

Applicants need a legal right to work in Brazil. Occasional international and domestic travel may be required.

Reporting to: Head of Waste Strategy and Implementation

Term: Fixed Term till 31st May 2027

Location: Brazil -  Please note that if your right to work in one of the listed locations is not confirmed at the time of applying, C40 will be unable to proceed with your application. 

Salary: USD $76,745 (gross per annum)- Due to its commitment to maintain equity and fairness, C40 operates on a spot salary model. This means that our employees are paid the same salary according to their grade and location.

Application Process:

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 5.00pm GMT. C40 reserves the right to close this consultancy  opening before the closing date for applications so please do submit applications (CV and Cover letter) early.

To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

For any queries about this consultancy, please contact [email protected]

About C40 Cities 

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. Through a Global Green New Deal, mayors are working alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to go further and faster than ever before.

C40’s team of 400+ staff is based in offices in London, in New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Copenhagen, Beijing and Paris, and individual staff based across 25+ different locations.

The strategic direction of the organisation is determined by an elected Steering Committee of C40 mayors, which is chaired by Mayor Sadiq Khan of London and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown. Three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the C40 Board of Directors, responsible for operational oversight. A regionally diverse management team, led by Executive Director Mark Watts, leads the day-to-day management of C40. C40’s three core strategic funders are Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.

Our international staff work with the C40 network under the leadership of city governments to deliver this mission. Using a data-driven approach, our team identifies and promotes the exchange of proven programmes and policies developed by cities; provides world-class research, technical expertise and access to key partners to deliver new programmes and policies with cities; and communicates cities’ individual achievements and collective leadership.

About The Global Covenant of Mayors For Climate & Energy

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM or Global Covenant), is a global coalition of cities and local governments with a shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate change and move to a low-carbon, resilient society. The alliance unites and inspires its stakeholders to strengthen global climate coherence, accelerate the energy transition, and generate locally-tailored solutions for a common purpose: creating an inclusive, just, low-emission, and climate-resilient future for all.

Co-chaired by former New York City Mayor and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, and European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and with the support of global and regional city networks, the Global Covenant of Mayors represents the strongest and clearest signal to national governments that cities are not only acting to stop the effects of climate change, they are leading and leading together. Mayors from across all global regions serve on the Board, and represent city networks, Regional Covenants and bring locally specific perspectives – ensuring that the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is truly led by mayors.

C40 Cities is the fiscal sponsor of the Bloomberg Philanthropies funded parts of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM). As the host organization, C40 provides financial, administrative, and operational services to GCoM. C40 and GCoM are working closely together on aligned programmes and areas of activity.

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. 

We believe having a diverse workforce ensures we connect better with all the different communities and people affected by the climate crisis. This enables us to make better decisions which lead to better outcomes in the work we do through increased creativity, productivity, greater global impact alongside a broader perspective and approach to our work.

We welcome applicants who are diverse in terms of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective. 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. If you identify as a person with a disability, we work to provide reasonable appropriate measures and any additional support needed to provide an equitable working experience. If you are living with a disability, chronic illness or neurodiversity please inform us, to provide you with the proper assistance in the application process.

C40 promotes a work culture where staff can input to improve equity, diversity and inclusion through staff-led groups and formal forums. We know that creating our ideal working environment is a learning process and we are committed to the ongoing effort.