About Us

Driven by a passion to solve the climate crisis, The Sunrise Project is a team of experienced change-makers with a mission to scale social movements to drive the global transition beyond fossil fuels. With affiliated programs and staff in the United States, Europe and Asia, we have developed a unique model of grant making and campaigning that supports networks of organisations to drive powerful change towards our mission.

We have a dynamic and nimble organisational culture. We’re serious about supporting our people to thrive as we tackle the urgent climate challenge.  We believe that a diversity of experiences and perspectives will help us build stronger strategies, teams and movements. We take the broadest possible view of diversity and encourage First Nations/Indigenous people, people of colour, people living outside of cities, people living with disabilities, neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ people to apply. We are continually working on becoming a better workplace for everyone.  Find out more here.

About the Role

The Senior Strategist works in collaboration with relevant Australian programs and key partners to develop and implement strategies to ensure Australia’s bid to hold the 31st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) Presidency in 2026 partnership with Pacific Island nations is credible, accountable and high-ambition. 

The role will also identify opportunities and clarify strategies to leverage relationships at the international level to drive the transition of Australia’s energy sector as quickly as possible.

About You

You are creative, a big picture thinker and fearless in pursuing campaign goals. You have a strong understanding of what it takes to build power to achieve social change. You have experience working with civil society groups or social movements to strengthen and scale campaigns in Australia and globally.

You are highly skilled at identifying the interventions that are needed to push decision-makers, in business and/ or politics, and have a knack for problem solving. 

You may not have experience in energy advocacy or climate roles, but you are a quick learner and can demonstrate experience engaging with technical detail to develop campaign strategies that have achieved real-world impact. 

You have strong people skills and can build relationships and facilitate complex meetings and make it seem simple and easy. 

Key responsibilities

• Works with the Australia Program Director, Sunrise program directors, key program staff and key campaign partners to lead the development of compelling strategies that support campaign goals.

• Drives and supports the wider movement’s work to ensure that Australia’s bid for COP31 is credible, accountable, transparent and ambitious and Australia’s international commitments are world-leading.

• Builds collaborative relationships with Sunrise’s Australia program staff and program partners to help them deliver high impact advocacy strategies to raise ambition through the UNFCCC, COPs and other international fora.

• Aligns own work with Sunrise values, mission and Objectives and Key Results.

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Demonstrable significant experience in campaigning and/or organising that has achieved real-world change.

• Strong campaign strategy development skills and experience in scaling up campaigns.

• Demonstrated relationship management skills within complex environments and diverse stakeholders.

• Strong group work, convening and facilitation skills.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written and visual communication skills.

• A passion for taking action on climate change and a deep commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Demonstrable experience in working with international climate movement networks, global or regional climate movement organisations and/or in the UNFCCC, COPs or other international fora.

• Experience working on COPs

• Relationships with and/or previous experience working in diplomacy roles.

Job requirements

• You must have full working rights for Australia.  The Sunrise Project will not sponsor applicants for employment visas.  

• Intermittent travel, including interstate and international travel with advanced notice may be required.

How Sunrise supports its staff

The Sunrise Project. is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. We have the following in place to help us achieve that, noting pro rata will apply for part time staff and/or temporarily appointed-fixed term staff:

• Superannuation 12.5% & Salary Sacrifice for Superannuation

• Birthday leave (if it’s your birthday, you get a day off)

• Solidarity and community leave 1 week p.a

• Cultural leave (floating & additional public holidays)

• Gifted leave (over Christmas and New Year)

• Paid Parental Leave that is gender-neutral & inclusive of all types of families, incl. Parental Return To Work & Keeping In Touch Program

• Life Leave (up to 40 days p.a. for significant personal reasons)

• Flexible Working Policy

• Employee Assistance Program

• VIDA - An AI tool to support your health and wellbeing.

• Generous allowances for:

• Workspace Benefits incl: Macbook & accessories, initial $2,000 for home workspace and IT equipment + $800 every 2 years + up to $75/mth phone/data/internet.

• Shared office support

• Regular all-org and team meetings & retreats

• Learning & Development Program incl. a professional development budget for you

• Coaching & manager support with regular 1:1 meetings

• Annual performance & development reviews with 360 feedback

• A co-developed work plan to ensure clarity on your role & key responsibilities

• We provide our staff with a voice on issues that concern them via consultation, e.g. JEDI caucuses, working groups, slack channels, surveys and meetings.

How to apply for this job

We recognize that racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination creates structural barriers that impact opportunities to formal education and experience. When assessing candidates we look at more than the jobs you've been paid to do but the range of ways you've picked up skills and knowledge throughout your life. This is why we assess candidates on how well they respond to application questions and don’t require a cover letter.