Senior Policy Advisor - Trade and Climate

About Us
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a globally recognized think tank with more than 30 years of experience working to solve today's greatest sustainable development challenges. We combine deep expertise across critical policy areas with a collaborative approach to research, advice, and hands-on support that delivers real-world results. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we are a diverse team of over 300 experts working from offices in Canada and Switzerland as well as other locations around the world.
IISD’s Trade Program aims to harness the power of trade rules and related measures as tools to promote inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability. Supporting national governments and multilateral organizations to design and implement frameworks that balance economic growth, environmental protection, and social justice constitutes the core of our work.
Position Description
The successful candidate will work with national governments and other stakeholders in Viet Nam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, to conduct research and develop policy recommendations at the intersection of climate and trade policy. They will be part of a team implementing a multi-year project that supports the reduction of carbon emissions in Southeast Asia while advancing a just transition and promoting gender equality and social inclusion.
A key focus for the successful candidate will be supporting governments in addressing the competitiveness implications of climate policies, including both risks and opportunities, as well as in responding to trade and climate measures (such as border carbon adjustments) implemented by other jurisdictions. The work will involve close collaboration with other IISD teams working on energy and fiscal policies, including economic modelling and policy advice.
Key Responsibilities
Conduct economic research, in collaboration with colleagues and partners in project implementation countries (Indonesia, Viet Nam, and the Philippines), on the competitiveness impacts of climate policy choices.
Work with industry and government in the focus countries to assess and respond to border carbon adjustment policies implemented in other jurisdictions.
Engage with industry and labour representatives to share information regarding competitiveness impacts of climate policies domestically and abroad.
Develop trade and climate policy recommendations in collaboration with partners.
Coordinate activities with colleagues in IISD’s Energy and Fiscal Policy teams, as well as project management, communications, and monitoring and evaluation teams.
Detailed Description of Responsibilities
Strategy, Vision, and Leadership
Identify challenges, opportunities, and emerging issues related to trade and climate policy in Southeast Asia.
Support the establishment and implementation of strategic partnerships with academia, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and civil society in Viet Nam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Promote a culture of high performance, improvement, and shared learning.
Manage own time and inputs into projects to deliver outputs on time and to budget.
Research, Policy, and Communications
Lead economic research projects on trade and climate topics in collaboration with consultants and partners. Translate research results, including economic modelling outputs, into non-technical language. Identify and describe the policy implications of research results.
Produce high-quality written outputs for a variety of audiences and in a variety of formats, including reports, policy briefs, and technical guidance documents.
Present research and policy recommendations to a variety of audiences. Respond verbally to questions and communicate clearly on complex topics.
Collaborate with communications professionals to develop messaging and engage with audiences in the media, including social media.
Operations and Program Management
Set up and manage activities, outputs, and research programs, ensuring that plans are devised and implemented, risks are identified early, and risk-management strategies are employed.
Contribute to the measurement and reporting of results from project implementation.
Keep up to date with current IISD policies related to project, expenditure, and records management.
Relationships and Outreach
Develop and maintain relationships with partners in government and non-governmental organizations in Viet Nam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
Create and maintain a network of contacts active in trade and climate policy in Southeast Asia through, for e.g., participation in professional forums, regional conferences, and industry and civil society associations.
Candidate Profile
Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications
A university degree or equivalent in economics, environmental economics, or a related subject. Ability to analyze data and modelling results.
4 to 7 years of professional experience in policy development and implementation gained through work in government, the private sector, or an international or non-governmental organization. Demonstrated knowledge of policy processes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to explain complex topics in simple terms.
Knowledge of trade policy including tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and related measures.
Experience collaborating with private industry representatives, particularly those in the steel, cement, aluminum, chemicals, or other heavy industrial sectors, to assess public policy impacts. Knowledge of the key trade policy issues facing these sectors.
Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
Job Requirements
Frequent international travel.
Must work effectively in a remote, asynchronous team with minimal supervision.
Assets
Experience working in or directly with the heavy industrial sectors of the Philippines, Indonesia, or Viet Nam.
Fluency in one or more official languages of the Philippines, Indonesia, or Viet Nam.
For more details on what we are looking for, please refer to the IISD competencies on our website.
Position Details
Location: Remote - Australia, Indonesia or the Philippines
Salary: Remuneration commensurate with experience.
Employment type: 100% full-time staff position. This is a 1-year contractual position with a possibility of extension.
Job Type: Replacement
Application deadline: October 27, 2026.
Start Date: December 2026.
Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization in the country they are based in without any sponsorship from IISD.
Application Procedure
All submissions

Employment type
Term - Full-time

Work arrangement
Yes