Policy Advisor, Fossil Fuel Transition

About the Position

Key Responsibilities

• Lead policy-oriented research and analysis on fossil fuel transitions, public financial flows, macroeconomic and fiscal risks, subsidies, energy security, and economic diversification.
• Design and manage assigned workstreams and outputs with clear workplans, responsibilities, quality checks, and milestones.
• Coordinate partners and contribute to reporting and budget management alongside financial project managers.
• Build trusted relationships with government counterparts, knowledge organizations, civil society networks, and intergovernmental partners.
• Support the development of more junior colleagues through task briefs, constructive feedback, peer review, and learning by doing.
• Contribute to focused funding proposals and partner engagement.
• Work with IISD Communications to turn research into clear, useful messages and products.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in economics, public finance, development studies, public policy, natural resource management, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in macroeconomic or fiscal policy, applied economic research, public finance, energy policy, or fossil fuel transitions.
• Strong strategic thinking and a record of turning broad questions into concrete outputs.
• Sound understanding of the economic and fiscal implications of energy transition for fossil fuel-dependent countries.
• Experience engaging government or public-policy stakeholders, preferably in emerging or developing economies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including concise, persuasive policy notes or proposals.
• Proven project management in international, multi-partner settings.
• Experience providing constructive feedback or supporting less experienced team members; formal line management not required.
• Proactive, accountable working style and sound judgement about data and methods.
• Excellent oral and written English; availability to travel internationally.

Desirable Qualifications

• A relevant master's or PhD degree is an advantage.
• Experience in fundraising or preparing successful proposals.
• Applied experience in fossil fuel subsidy reform, public financial flows, economic diversification, transition planning, or government-facing technical assistance.
• Experience working with quantitative economic or energy-sector data or supervising specialist analytical work.
• Proficiency in another language is an advantage.

Location and Work Arrangement

• Remote, based in an eligible Global South country where IISD can employ staff: Burkina Faso, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, South Africa, or Uganda.
• Alternatively hybrid in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
• Regular online collaboration with colleagues and partners in Europe and the East Coast of the Americas; reasonable overlap with agreed team meeting hours required.
• Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization in their base country without sponsorship from IISD.

Position Details

• Salary commensurate with experience and location.
• 80%-100% full-time-equivalent staff position under an Employer of Record model.
• This is a 1-year contractual position with a possibility of extension.
• Start date as soon as feasible.

Application Procedure

• All submissions must be in English and accepted only through Bamboo HR.
• Submit a cover letter (maximum one page) and a CV (no longer than two pages).
• Applications without a cover letter or CV will not be considered.
• Include availability and salary expectations in the CV.
• Application deadline: November 27, 2026, 4PM CST.

About IISD