About Us

The Sunrise Project is a network of passionate changemakers driven by a shared mission to scale social movements that can drive the urgent transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We believe in the power of people to solve the climate crisis, and we work alongside partners around the world to shift the systems — financial, political, and cultural — that are holding back climate action.

Since launching in Australia in 2012, Sunrise has grown into a global network of independent organisations with over 140 staff across 13 countries. We work behind the scenes to support bold strategies, build capacity in the climate movement, and catalyse collective action for impact at speed and scale. Our work is grounded in strong relationships, deep collaboration, and a fierce commitment to justice.

We’re proud of the culture we’ve built — one that centres trust, care, and the belief that how we work matters as much as what we do. We actively strive to reflect our values in how we lead, collaborate, and show up with our partners and each other. You can read about our values here.

About the Program 

Australia has all the resources it needs to be a renewable energy powerhouse. Yet, electricity generation from coal power still makes the single greatest contribution to our country’s overall domestic emissions. 

Our goal is to harness the power of our globally-significant renewable resources to drive the transition beyond fossil fuels – and ensure it happens at the pace and scale required to solve the climate crisis. 

We aim to ensure that this shift is fast and fair, with benefits flowing to those most affected by the transformation. 

The Australian Energy Transformation Team brings our resources – including strategy & analysis; coordination & convening; and strategic grantmaking – to support the diverse network of organisations working to transform and decarbonise Australia’s energy system. 

About the Role

Working closely with the Program Director and Deputy Director, this role plays a key role in supporting the people on the Australian Energy Transformation team to do their best work. 

The role functions as a ‘chief wrangler’ – with a focus on team planning and coordination, scaffolding complex projects with overlapping timelines, managing workflows and ensuring deadlines are met. This role keeps all our systems in check, with meticulous planning and horizon scanning for big external and internal moments.  

The role has a broad remit – from handling complex programmatic matters, to giving campaign assistance on activities like research and social media management, through to all things administrative, like virtual filing to travel and venue booking. 

In the context of a fast-moving external environment, and a growing organisation, the role requires a flexible mindset and advanced communication skills to help rework plans and timelines on the fly. 

About You

With an unflappable nature, you’ll have a great eye for detail and can organise multiple calendars, team communication channels and competing priorities. You're a strong communicator and have a knack for problem solving or preempting a solution before it becomes a problem. You’re empathic to the needs of others and genuinely care about the success of others and their initiatives. 

You’re good at sensing and making sense of complex conversations. You’re exceptional at logistics, experienced at managing projects and resources, contracts, and can confidently develop presentations. You can pull off planning a seamless event, like a team workshop or small conference, and ensure everyone’s needs are met. 

You may have communications, marketing, community engagement or development or similar background, and are excellent at formatting, proofreading and packaging documentation for specific audiences. 

You’ll be engaging closely with everyone from board members, philanthropists, business and NGO leaders, as well as staff at all levels – so you’ll have a knack for clear, direct, tactful communication and the ability to read people and group dynamics. The ability to write fast and well is a must. Your average day could include everything from sending off a chatty email to an important stakeholder, to proof-reading a formal grant proposal. 

You may not be an expert in climate change but have a solid understanding of its importance and a hunger to play your part to help solve it. Doing the job well will require developing a deep understanding of our whole organisation, the Australia Energy Transformation program, and the context we’re operating in. 

Key responsibilities

• Aligns, coordinates and supports the Program Director and Deputy Director in the delivery of impactful work – for example, by drafting, editing and coordinating communications with key stakeholders; 

• Plans and administers virtual and in-person meetings and workshops;

• Develops and administers systems, workflows, and processes (including budgeting, grantmaking, reporting and social media processes),

• Works collaboratively with the team on research, reports and presentations, including drafting, editing, and proof-reading complex documentation for external stakeholders including boards and donors;

• Ensuring the AET team plans, implements, delivers and evaluates its work effectively and collaboratively, for example by facilitating team discussions and producing short research reports, 

• Supports the growth of a more informed, effective, cohesive and powerful network of groups and individuals working to win climate justice for all by shifting Australia beyond fossil fuels,

• May undertake discrete self-led projects to support campaign strategy, communications and networking, in accordance with strengths and interests,  

• Aligns programmatic work, with Sunrise’s mission, values and OKRs.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated experience in a similar or related role supporting executives, a senior manager, and/or teams (including unpaid, grassroots or lived experience;  or other relevant transferable skills and experience)

• High level competency in organisational, workflow management and project and resource management skills; 

• A strong track record of prioritising decisively, and juggling multiple projects in a flexible, fast-paced environment; 

• Advanced verbal, written, visual communication and presentation skills with experience in communicating processes, strategies, and outcomes for stakeholders with a people-centered approach

• Ability to apply a strategic mindset to all interactions to help us lead the organisation with the greatest impact, supporting and simplifying our workflows by anticipating what's needed before we need it;

• Experience facilitating large and small meetings, particularly in a campaigning context 

• Intermediate-level competence with software like Google Suite, Asana, Slack, Zoom – with ability to learn new tools quickly, and experience supporting teams on their application;

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

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience working in a campaigning or social movement organisation

• Knowledge of, or strong interest in, the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy

• Social media administration (organic pages and advertising) 

•  Visual communication skills relating to presenting campaign information in campaign presentations and documents

• Events management experience

• Basic budget tracking and grants administration experience

Job requirements 

• You must have full working rights for Australia.  The Sunrise Project is unfortunately unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.

• Attend local in-person partner actions.

• Intermittent travel domestically, rurally and internationally 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 staff:

• Superannuation 12.5% & Salary Sacrifice for Superannuation

• Sunrise Time Off:

  • Additional Annual Leave 5 days p.a.

  • Long Service Leave available after 5 years of service

  • Birthday Leave 1 day p.a.

  • Solidarity and Community Leave 1 week p.a

  • Cultural Leave 4 days p.a (+ floating public holidays)

  • Gifted Leave (over Christmas and New Year)

  • Paid Parental Leave of 7.5 mths (inclusive of GPPL) - gender-neutral & inclusive of all family types, 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 you working safely remotely

• 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

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.

We have partnered with Kin to fill this key role.  If you have any questions before applying, please contact stacey.aubry@kin.co.nz