European Climate Foundation – Pooled Fund on International Energy is hiring a Director of People & Culture

About PIE

The Pooled fund on International Energy (PIE) is an international grant making and strategy platform with a mission to secure a safe climate, clean air and prosperity through a just transition in the power and steel sectors.

We work with charitable foundations and regional climate foundations to support a diverse set of research institutions, think tanks and civil society organisations working with governments, business and other parts of society all over the world. We back local organisations and international partners to overcome the barriers to clean energy and steel.

PIE was formed in 2013 as a platform of the European Climate Foundation (ECF). PIE is comprised of a small and dedicated international team of exceptional people based around the world. We seek to operate in accordance with a core set of values: Empowering and Caring Team, Bold Action with Urgency, Collaboration for Real World Impact, Resilient Partner with Climate Ecosystem, and Evidence-Based Decision-Making. More information available at: www.pieclimate.org

Position

About the role

The Director of People & Culture will lead the creation and implementation of PIE’s human resources function as the organization transitions to independence from the European Climate Foundation.

This role is a people strategist and a builder – responsible for building a strategic HR operating model that supports a globally distributed workforce, ensures compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and fosters a culture that is low-friction, equitable, and people-centric. The Director of People & Culture will take the lead on all people-related matters and will play a critical role in shaping PIE’s long-term organizational success. This role reports to the Director of Operations.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic People & Culture Leadership

  • Develop, execute, and iterate on an HR strategy aligned with PIE’s mission and global operating model.

  • Advise team on workforce planning, talent development, and organizational culture.

  • Initiate recruitment, retention, performance management, and succession planning initiatives.

  • Champion equity and inclusion across all HR policies and practices.

  • Monitor global HR trends and ensure PIE remains competitive and compliant in multiple jurisdictions.

• Build PIE’s HR Operating Model

  • Design and implement an HR operating model that is fit for purpose, including:

  • Organizational levels and career ladders

  • Compensation philosophy and remuneration structure

  • Benefits packages across multiple geographies

  • Lead a consultation process with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in.

• People Partner

  • Serve as a trusted people partner to PIE team members.

  • Together with the Transition Team and ECF, ensure individual HR case management for all PIE employees and consultants as part of the transition.

  • Coordinate with ECF HR and external advisors as needed to resolve complex cases.

• Transition Management & Operational Setup

  • Serve as an HR subject matter expert to advise the Transition Team on HR- and people-related aspects of PIE’s spin-off from ECF, including change management and communication; Bring on specific subject matter expertise where needed.

  • Maintain liaison with ECF HR to manage pre-transition processes and ensure continuity for all team members.

  • Identify and contract an Employer of Record (EOR) service provider to support PIE’s global employment model.

  • Together with other members of the operations and transition team, implement HR systems and technology platforms to enable efficient, compliant, and user-friendly processes.

• Build out the base for HR team with expertise and consultancies brought in where needed.

Requirements

• Experience:

  • Minimum 10 years in HR leadership roles, ideally in international, multi-jurisdictional organizations.

  • Proven track record of setting up HR operating models for globally distributed teams.

  • Strong knowledge of HR best practices in nonprofits, philanthropy, and/or global organizations.

• Skills:

  • Strategic thinking with hands-on execution capability

  • Change management and stakeholder engagement

  • Familiarity with EOR models and global employment compliance

  • Tech-savvy with HRIS and digital tools

• Attributes:

  • Collaborative, solutions-oriented, culturally sensitive

  • Committed to equity and inclusion

  • Able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Other information

• What we offer

  • A unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic international team that combines passion for making a difference with a rigorous approach to work.

  • Access to an extensive network of close partners with technical expertise, strong international and local change-making experience, and deep knowledge of grantmaking and strategy development.

  • A highly flexible, self-managed approach to day-to-day work arrangements.

  • An attractive salary at general market rates, cell phone and subscription, laptop.

  • Contract type: Full-time 18-24 month contract, with possibility to become a permanent contract

• Location

  • Flexible; must be able to work within 2 hours of CET timezone and travel to Europe periodically

• Start date

  • As soon as possible.