Policy Advisor, Trade and Sustainable Development

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 200 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.

Scope

IISD is looking for a Policy Advisor to join an international team of lawyers, policy advisors, and economists working to change domestic and international policy frameworks related to trade and development.

We conduct applied research and policy analysis and provide high-quality advice to governments regarding the design of trade and investment policy measures to support sustainable development. In this context, we are looking for someone who can contribute to various strands of our program, particularly work on supporting developing countries in developing regulations around digital trade and trade-related climate measures.

IISD offers the opportunity to carry out varied research in cutting-edge, challenging fields in a friendly international environment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct primary and secondary research on trade and sustainable development policy issues and write reports and other policy documents for the program.
• Organize meetings, webinars, and other events, including developing concepts to advance the program’s work, identifying and briefing speakers, identifying participants, developing agendas, and producing meeting reports.
• Ensure that information about activities and events is collected and kept for monitoring, evaluation, and donor reporting purposes.
• Identify business development opportunities and contribute to the preparation of project proposals and narrative reports to funders.
• Establish and actively maintain a network of partners and contacts engaged in efforts related to climate change and trade policy.
• Lead the development of communications products to ensure the work undertaken reaches a broad audience.
• Collaborate with IISD staff, affiliates, partners, and consultants in the design and implementation of projects, leading working groups and managing consultants as required.
• Keep up to date regarding emerging issues related to the program.

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• Ability to manage time and inputs to deliver research projects to a high standard, on time, and within budget.
• Experience with multistakeholder processes that include the private sector, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, research institutes, and/or intergovernmental organizations.
• A post-graduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, economics, law, politics, international relations, development studies, environmental studies).
• At least 5 years of experience in a policy research environment (e.g., a think tank, university, government, intergovernmental organization, or civil society organization) conducting applied research and policy analysis.
• At least 5 years of experience working with governments in a policy support and/or advocacy role.
• Knowledge of and experience working on trade policy issues.
• A track record of producing high-quality research and analysis in a short period of time and for different audiences.

Desirable

• Knowledge of and experience working on digital trade issues.
• Knowledge of and experience working on trade and climate change issues.

Skills, Competencies, and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate complex ideas in a succinct and clear manner to people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Demonstrated organizational and planning ability, including the ability to lead project groups and coordinate meetings and events.
• Motivated self-starter with an ability to work independently, meet tight deadlines, and manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Fluency in English.
• Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Flexibility and adaptability to work effectively on more than one project at the same time and to pick up knowledge on new topics quickly.
• Independently motivated with minimal supervision
• Strong commitment to the ideals, values, and mission of IISD.

Desirable

• Ability to work (write and present) in French and/or Spanish.
• Experience working for, or with, governments and stakeholders in developing countries.

Position Details

Location:  Geneva, Switzerland; office-based with hybrid options possible

Salary:  CHF 90,000–95,000 annually @ 100% full-time equivalent (based on relevant experience and to be pro-rated)

Type of employment:  60%–80% of full-time-equivalent staff position

Duration:  12 months, with possible extension for up to 36 months

Application deadline:  September 22, 2023, by 10 p.m. EST. Recruitment will be on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Start Date:  Immediate opportunity

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. Please include the following:

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for one year.

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

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.