Senior Policy Advisor, Canada Energy Transitions, Energy Program

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 250 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.
We are currently looking for a Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Energy Transitions, to work within the IISD Energy Program.
About The Position
The Senior Policy Advisor Canada Energy Transitions, will support our Canadian stream of work under IISD’s Energy Program (www.iisd.org/energy). The Canada Energy Transitions team focuses on shifting Canadian governments’ policy to enable the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy while leaving no one behind. We are a dynamic and growing team that works with a wide range of domestic partners, including think tanks, environmental non-governmental organizations, governments, and international organizations and forums. The Senior Policy Advisor will be actively involved in IISD Energy’s network of collaborations with other research and civil society organizations.
The position is housed within the IISD Energy Program (www.iisd.org/energy), a diverse team of over 40 experts based in the IISD Geneva, Winnipeg, and Ottawa offices as well as remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries. We deliver cutting-edge research and practical policy support for energy and climate policy reforms in developed and developing countries. Our approach is hands-on through country-level research and outreach as well as via international forums such as the G20 and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This position is a research-focused position. The successful candidate’s key areas of responsibility will include but not be limited to:

• Developing a workstream strategy to maximize the impact and communication of research outputs.
• Leading the design, development, and implementation of research on energy transitions in the Canadian context, with an emphasis on providing robust evidence to support the phase-out of oil and gas production and use.
• Undertaking primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative research, including for publication of reports, policy briefs, and other outputs for the program.
• Liaising with other organizations that are IISD’s strategic research and engagement partners; assessing gaps and potential research opportunities and partnerships and cultivating relationships with partners.
• Presenting and communicating IISD’s work to a variety of audiences, including government officials, media, and other international and non-governmental organizations; representing IISD at international forums and conferences.
• Promoting a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and shared learning.
• Managing junior staff and consultants to meet project objectives.

About The Successful Applicant
The successful applicant will have demonstrated expertise in research and analysis of climate and energy policies, sustainable development, fiscal and public finance issues, or Canadian federal policy. They will be confident leading policy research and analysis both independently and in collaboration with a small team of other policy staff.
Essential qualifications:

• Demonstrated analytical skills and the ability to think critically and learn quickly; strong attention to detail.
• Fluent in English, with demonstrated excellent writing skills; the ability to work (read, write, speak) in French would be considered a strong advantage.
• A “can-do” work attitude and ability to work both independently and in different team roles, managing the workload and producing deliverables on time and within budget.
• A minimum of a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g., climate change, environmental or energy policy, economics, international relations, political science, interdisciplinary studies, etc).
• A demonstrated understanding of the interface between policy-making and the environment; an understanding of climate and energy policy-making processes, particularly in Canada (federally, provincially and/or territorially) and key international forums (e.g. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
• An excellent team worker and a strong ability to work comfortably across different cultures and be inclusive and positive with different colleagues.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in one or several of the following areas in Canada and/or internationally: energy policy, climate policy, policy research, just transition, renewable energy, and sustainable development. Experience in the oil and gas sector will be considered a strong advantage.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative or quantitative research methods for policy analysis.

Desired Qualifications

• Availability to travel within Canada and internationally.
• Experience working across programs and topic areas using an interdisciplinary approach.
• Experience working with Canadian federal or provincial governments and with political actors.
• A resourceful and pragmatic approach to solving issues.
• An understanding of key barriers and opportunities related to the oil and gas transition and clean energy adoption in Canada.
• Experience collaborating and engaging with different groups, such as federal and provincial government, international organizations, Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector, etc.
• Experience locating, collecting, and analyzing data from government sources, public databases, and energy sector resources.
• Confident and engaging communication skills, including an understanding of different communications approaches for different audiences.
• Understanding of the concepts of fiscal policies related to climate change mitigation, including carbon pricing (taxation and emissions trading), sustainable finance, and fossil fuel subsidies.

Position Details
Location: This position is flexible within Canada, with a strong preference for location in Winnipeg, Toronto, or Ottawa, where IISD has offices. Candidates must be willing to work during regular business hours in eastern or central time zones. Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.
Starting Salary: CAD $75,000 to $85,000, depending on location and experience
Type of employment: 80%–100% full-time-equivalent staff position. Two-year contract with a strong possibility to become permanent.
Application deadline: August 6, 2023, by 10 p.m. EST. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.
Start Date: immediate opportunity
Application Procedure
Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. Please include the following:

• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire
• A cover letter (one page)
• All submissions must be in English.
• A CV (no longer than two pages)

Please note that due to the number of applications we receive, unfortunately, only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. We thank you for your interest in working with IISD Energy!
IISD has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.
IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.