Senior Policy Advisor, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.

About Us

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 300 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in nearly 100 countries.

Overview 

The Senior Policy Advisor, GESI, contributes to the development, implementation, management, and reporting of research and outputs related to the Energy Program.

The Senior Policy Advisor is expected to

(a)   Develop thematic expertise relating to an aspect of the program and secure and manage projects relating to this thematic expertise; and/or

(b)   Develop general expertise across the program and manage a range of projects simultaneously. 

Scope

 Energy Program (https://www.iisd.org/topics/energy) aims to support governments around the world in systematically shifting public financial flows to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, while promoting social welfare and overall sustainable economic development. IISD’s Energy Program is a diverse and dynamic team of more than 40 experts based in the IISD Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto offices, as well as remotely in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other countries, supporting governments in clean and just energy transitions.

At an international level, our work program delivers cutting-edge research and practical policy support for energy policy reforms in developed and developing countries, including shifting public financial flows from fossil fuels to clean energy, and implementing commitments to go beyond fossil fuels in a socially just way.  

At the national level, our approach is hands-on, through country-level research and outreach in Canada, India, Indonesia, South Africa, the Philippines, and other countries.

Working under the guidance of the Director, Energy Program, Just Transitions and Canada, and the Director, Energy Program, Public Financial Flows, the Senior Policy Advisor will contribute to the development, implementation, management, and reporting of research and outputs related to the energy transition, subsidy reform, carbon pricing, fiscal policy, electric mobility, and energy policy instruments from a gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) standpoint. The incumbent will work primarily on two projects—the Emissions Ambition for Sustainable Economies in Southeast Asia (EASE-SEA) initiative and Energy Is the Key to a Climate-Stable Future (EnerKey)—with minimal supervision but as part of a team environment. They will contribute to the design, development, and implementation of projects; promote, communicate, and share research through a variety of media; provide leadership for conducting, delivering, and presenting research; and support fundraising efforts. The incumbent is expected to help create a strong environment for the implementation of carbon pricing from a GESI standpoint while ensuring that civil society, communities, and disadvantaged stakeholders have strong voices in shaping implementation. They will also support a separate and emerging workstream on electric mobility in the Philippines and Indonesia through a mix of research and technical assistance from a GESI perspective.

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The Senior Policy Advisor will also work with international colleagues to support programmatic approaches to GESI in the energy sector and may support IISD activities in other countries or internationally, as required, as IISD’s project portfolio evolves over time. The candidate should be a strong communicator and a fast learner with demonstrated experience in sustainable development, poverty, GESI, and/or energy and climate change nexus as prior experience. 

Detailed Description of Responsibilities

Research 

• Lead primary and secondary research on GESI and climate change mitigation, with a particular focus on carbon pricing, just transition, and the integration of gender-based analysis.

• Prepare, present, and communicate high-quality research findings to a variety of audiences.

• Manage the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data.

• Guide the work of IISD staff, affiliates, partners, and consultants in the design and implementation of projects related to GESI aspects.
• Maintain contacts with domestic and international project partners.

• Participate in fundraising efforts, including contributing to written proposals for funding and other business development materials. 

• Contribute to the organization and documentation of workshops, webinars, meetings, and public consultations as required.

Communications and Outreach

• Facilitate engagement with project stakeholders—both internal and external—on gender equality to maximize opportunities for capacity building, collaboration, and positive gender outcomes.

• Work with the Communications team to ensure IISD Energy’s webpage and other communications materials integrate appropriate gender-sensitive language, concepts, and approaches.

• Support the design of gender-specific communications materials.

Partners and Donor Relationships

• Identify strategic partnerships and collaborative opportunities related to gender equality with donors, peers, and women’s rights organizations. 

• Work closely with fund development teams in developing proposals for projects and programs, ensuring the integration of gender considerations from project design to activities, logic model preparation, and evaluation and indicators, ensuring alignment and compliance with current and prospective donor gender equality policies and requirements.

Operations and Program Management

• Provide guidance and support to program and project teams to ensure work plans integrate gender equality indicators and outcomes through program and project cycles. 

• Support the coordination, functioning, and reporting of the cross-functional gender equality working group within the project to ensure that accountability for gender equality is mainstreamed.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications

• A master’s degree or equivalent in international development, gender studies, social sciences, political science, human rights, environmental studies, or another similar area with a focus on gender equality, or equivalent experience.

• Availability to periodically travel internationally.

• Filipino nationality, residence, or a work permit is required.

Experience and Knowledge

• Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience in policy research and project implementation related to GESI and climate change linkages.

• Demonstrated knowledge of gender-based analysis, gender mainstreaming, and gender monitoring and evaluation tools, techniques, and methods in a variety of contexts.

• Experience with the concept of just transition, Indigenous engagement, energy systems, and/or carbon pricing would all be considered strong assets.
• Experience reviewing documents and synthesizing information for different purposes.
• Experience analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience developing training materials and/or delivering training.

• Expertise in the role of intersectionality and determinants of gender equality in an international development context is an asset.
• Experience conducting gender-based analysis, gender assessments, and/or gender equality capacity building in relation to climate action is an asset.

Technical Skills

• Strong research skills and the ability to become familiar with new topics quickly
• Competent in survey development and data analysis
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Fluent in English. The ability to work in Bahasa Indonesia, Filipino, or Vietnamese is a strong asset. Other language experience is an advantage.

Behavioural Competencies

• Keen interest in furthering their knowledge of GESI issues as they relate to energy, tax, trade, and climate change adaptation

• Results-focused: able to work quickly and accurately to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the results

• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to work collaboratively across different cultures and be inclusive, positive, and a good communicator

• Curious and committed to learning and working to understand the people, concepts, and issues that drive our work; asks questions and seeks answers

Core Competencies

• Familiarity with sustainable development, policy theory, and the current agenda on climate.

• Ability to produce analysis and writing that is “publication ready” with a limited degree of oversight and editing. 
• “Can-do” work attitude and ability to work both independently and within teams, managing the workload and producing deliverables on time and to budget; ability to work under pressure and meet deliverables under competing timelines.
• A strong team player with the ability to work comfortably across different cultures and be inclusive and positive with different colleagues.
• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office/Teams applications and experience in handling web-based communications and management systems.

Location: Remote-based, anywhere in the Philippines, with a preference for Metro Manila. Candidates should be comfortable with moderate travel to support engagement activities.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and location

Employment type: 80%–100% full-time equivalent staff position, including under an Employment of Record model. Full-time with a 6-month probation period. This is a 2-year contractual position with a possibility of extension subject to funding. 

Closing Date: June 30, 2025, 4 p.m. CST

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for the location where they expect to be based without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. 

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. 

• A CV (no longer than two pages, including the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three referees) 
• A one-page letter of motivation 
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional) 

Due to time constraints, only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Referees will not be contacted unless the application is successful. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

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.  

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. 

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CompensationSalary commensurate with experience and location