Senior Policy Advisor, Tax and Investment

About

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 270 experts come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

Scope

IISD recently launched a new work program on Tax Incentives and Sustainable Investment. It is a joint initiative of IISD’s Tax and Investment Law and Policy programs. Our goal is to provide developing country governments with in-depth, multi-disciplinary support to evaluate and reform incentives as an investment promotion tool. To achieve this goal, we are combining our unique tax, investment, and sectoral expertise to produce challenging research and practical guidance to support the revision of incentives and the underlying investment architecture. We are strengthening the capacity of developing countries to reform incentives and legal and policy investment frameworks coherently and leveraging our ability to convene tax and investment policy-makers to build a dialogue on investment incentives. The successful candidate will oversee the new work program. They will drive the development of cutting-edge research and practical guidance for governments, the delivery of technical assistance programs, and outreach with key partners and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include

• Implementing the new work program on Tax Incentives and Sustainable Development.
• Maintaining and building a network of contacts, stakeholders, and partners of the program.
• Supporting fundraising efforts for the general needs of the program.
• Carrying out monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for all aspects of the program.
• Supporting the professional development of direct reports and other members of the team.
• Coordinating the international tax pillar of IISD’s Tax Program.
• Coordinating other joint activities of IISD’s Tax and Investment programs where relevant.

Detailed Description of Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, and Team Leadership

• Refine and execute a strategy for the program on Tax Incentives and Sustainable Investment.
• Work with the Tax and Investment team leads and staff to recognize challenges, opportunities, and solutions relating to the program; define and execute the appropriate strategies.
• Represent IISD at international forums and conferences relevant to the program.
• Participate in the wider work of the Tax and Investment Law and Policy programs and IISD, including processes leading to the strengthening of the institute’s ability to achieve its mission.
• Promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and shared learning.

Fundraising

• Prepare proposals and other business development materials related to the program.
• Find and pursue funding opportunities based on existing work or new ideas.
• Participate in fundraising activities for the Tax and Investment Law and Policy programs.

Technical Assistance

• Oversee the delivery of all technical assistance related to the program.
• Review and manage technical assistance outputs of other team members and contractors.
• Contribute to short-term government advisory work and capacity building where required.

Research and Knowledge Products

• Oversee the delivery of all research and knowledge products.
• Develop and manage research partnerships and networks with individuals and organizations.
• Review and manage the research and written work of other team members and contractors.
• Prepare, present, and communicate high-quality research findings to diverse audiences.

Influencing and Convening

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships to influence incentives reform.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a strategy to support developing countries in influencing international and regional decisions affecting the design and use of tax incentives.
• Lead the organization of related webinars, meetings, and public consultations as required.

Communications and Outreach

• Work with IISD’s Communications team to communicate the work of the program.
• Represent IISD at international forums and conferences relevant to the program.
• Contribute to annual reports and other corporate publications.
• Build the profile and reputation of IISD across political, professional, and policy communities.

Operations and Program Management:

• Establish the workstream’s design, scope, and content and present to the supervisor.

• Recruit and manage junior staff members and consultants to meet program objectives.

• Track all work objectives and their outcomes in IISD’s performance management systems.

• Independently arrange and undertake project missions as required.

• Fully understand, implement, and ensure project compliance with IISD’s policies.

• Fully contribute to funders’ related reporting and obligations.

• Work with other programs to build synergies across the institute.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Knowledge and Qualifications:

• A post-graduate university degree or equivalent in taxation and/or law or a professional qualification in another relevant area of public policy.
• 8–10 years of professional experience in the field of taxation and/or investment law and policy gained in a national government, the private sector, or an international or non-governmental organization.
• Excellent research and writing skills, including proven experience conducting applied research and policy analysis in the area of tax and investment (or similar areas).
• Experience in delivering government technical assistance on taxation and/or investment law and policy and explaining unfamiliar concepts to groups clearly and with impact.
• Knowledge of the global minimum tax.
• Knowledge of investment treaties, investment laws, and/or investment contracts.

Skills, Competencies, and Attributes:

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Excellent analytical, research, and writing skills in English.
• Strong presentation and networking skills.
• Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for work.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, asynchronous team.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work effectively across different topics and themes at the same time and to pick up knowledge on new topics quickly.
• Ability to work under one’s own initiative and minimal supervision.
• Strong commitment to the ideals, values, and mission of IISD.

Ideal

• Knowledge of the energy transition, particularly the tax and investment environment.

• French and/or Spanish language skills are highly desirable.

For more details on what we are looking for in our candidates, please refer to the IISD competencies on our website.

Position Details

Location:  Hybrid where IISD has offices: Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Geneva. Remote: Other parts of Canada, US, UK, Portugal, Germany and Switzerland.

Candidates must hold an appropriate work authorization for locations where they expect to be based, without any sponsorship from IISD.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and location

Type of employment: Full-time

Application deadline: May 4, 2024

Application Procedure

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
• All submissions must be in English.

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

Candidates must submit a cover note (one page maximum) outlining their interest in the position and why they are suitable. They will be required to provide references and a piece of written work upon request. This written work should be on a topic relating to tax and investment—e.g., a research report or policy brief.

Selected candidates will be interviewed by IISD and may be required to submit a written test.

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.

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