Senior Strategist (Policy & Government)

The Sunrise Project

Location Melbourne or Sydney
Salary $100,300 –121,499
Team Australian Program
  • Closing: 8:29pm, 17th Aug 2021 AEST

Job Description

About us

Driven by a passion to achieve climate justice, The Sunrise Project is a team of experienced changemakers with a mission to scale social movements to drive the global transition beyond fossil fuels. With programs and staff in Australia, and affiliated programs and staff in Europe, and the US, 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 and we’re serious about supporting our people to thrive. We move fast and lean into the urgency of the climate challenge.

We believe that a diversity of experiences and perspectives will help us build stronger strategies, teams and movements. We strongly encourage First Nations people, people of colour, people living outside of cities, and people living with a disability to apply. We are continually working on becoming a better workplace for everyone. You can read our commitment to this work here.

About you


Your Head

You’re a creative and strategic thinker with an unstoppable hunger for climate justice. You’ve got a track record of pushing for and achieving policy change by figuring out and leveraging the relationship between evidence, ideas, stakeholder influence and governmental policy. You have a knack for power analysis, and keep a close watch on political trends through the media and your network of relationships in policy, campaigning, or government. You have a keen analytical mind. 

Your Heart

You care deeply about social justice, while also understanding the value of building effective working relationships with people across the political spectrum. Your thirst for creating change leads to bringing others on the journey with you. You are impatient with the slow pace of progress on climate policy in Australia, and you bring an open mind, level head, and creative energy for changing it.

Your Hands

You are quick to translate complex information into clear and concise communications. You are good at building trust-based relationships fast and understand relationship dynamics. You enjoy researching and providing policy and political analysis to peers and stakeholders. You excel at drawing out the best ideas from a diverse group of people, and spotting opportunities for people and organisations to collaborate to maximise their impact. 

About the Role

You will be relied upon as the in-house go-to person for Australian energy policy and the decision-makers and processes that govern it. You will gather information through research, media and relationships to inform good campaign strategy and decision-making. You will provide analysis and guidance on strategic interventions and support movement partner organisations to win on their campaigns. You will scan the horizon to spot the long-term trends, opportunities and threats we need to act on ahead of time. And you’ll spend just enough time following the news cycle to know when it’s time to drop everything and seize a new opportunity. 

You will be responsible for the Australian Energy Transformation Team’s key goal of securing cross-partisan support for stronger energy and climate policies - particularly those that will tap the power of renewable energy to create jobs and opportunities where they are needed most. You will map and consult experts, stakeholders or decision-makers to help movement partners push for the right policy ideas at the right time. You will equip internal and external stakeholders with the right level of information to make their policy, research and advocacy succeed in winning real-world outcomes. 

Key responsibilities (Your Mission)

  • Develop, articulate and evaluate compelling policy-focussed campaign strategies and tactics to support the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy and the development of new export opportunities powered by renewables;

  • Facilitate, conduct and/or commission relevant research, analysis and horizon scanning to inform the development of effective policy interventions at state, Federal and international levels, and supporting movement partners to do likewise;

  • Build relationships with relevant stakeholders to build a deeper understanding and analysis of the political environment to support climate progress in energy and industry policy;

  • Facilitate collaboration between movement partners to implement campaign strategies and tactics;

  • Provide strategic advice and support to movement partners, advocates and community groups to help them run high impact campaigns and interventions to support energy transformation; 

  • Advise partners on their research and policy development agendas, and maintaining & socialising an up-to-date research and reports calendar; 

  • Advise partners on strategic stakeholder engagement in support of policy agendas  

 

Required skills and experience

  • At least seven years’ experience working in roles similar to a policy analyst, government-focused campaigner or political advisor, with a track record of achieving real-world change;

  • Proven ability to develop and articulate strategies to change public policy, including concrete goals, theories of change, and evidence-based tactics and interventions;

  • Excellent interpersonal, written and visual communications skills;

  • Strong group work and facilitation skills; 

  • Ability to stay abreast of a rapidly shifting policy and regulatory environment;

  • Understanding of and networks in international climate policy diplomacy would be helpful, but is not essential; 

  • A deep passion for and demonstrated commitment to ambitious action on climate change.

Removing bias from the hiring process

Applications are not yet open

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Removing bias from the hiring process

  • Your application will be anonymously reviewed by our hiring team to ensure fairness
  • You’ll need a CV/résumé, but it’ll only be considered if you score well on the anonymous review

Applications are not yet open