Senior Strategist Power Sector Decarbonisation

About Tara Climate Foundation

Tara Climate Foundation is an Asia-based philanthropic organisation committed to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for the region. At the heart of our mission lies Asia’s just energy transition – recognising that with half the world’s population and the fastest-growing energy demand, the region’s progress will shape the world’s collective future.

Established in 2021 and headquartered in Singapore, Tara Climate Foundation works with over 400 partners across 12 Asian geographies, including think tanks, research institutes, advisory groups, and associations. Tara provides grants, convenes stakeholders, and facilitates knowledge-sharing to accelerate clean energy development, drive a just transition, and enable clean industrialisation.

Underpinning these efforts is a strong commitment to unlocking sustainable finance, supporting climate goals, and aligning business action with a people-centred energy transition. Our team of over 50 experts is spread across the Asia-Pacific region, working to accelerate climate action in this decisive decade.

For more on Tara Climate Foundation, visit https://taraclimate.org/.

About the Role

The Senior Strategist, Power Sector Decarbonisation is a new role in Tara and will be responsible for developing strategic pathways to decarbonise the power sector in Asia.

The role demands an exceptional strategist with experience in developing compelling strategies to accelerate systems change. S/he will be responsible for developing grantmaking and program strategies for Tara, aligning with our core mission of empowering a diverse range of groups to drive systemic change.

The Senior Strategist, Power Sector Decarbonisation will be a forward-looking, experienced strategist with a collaborative approach to working and a passion for driving systemic change. S/he will have a good understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to the energy transition in Asia, and experience working with

civil society organisations and/or think tanks to drive systemic change.

The key responsibilities of the Senior Strategist, Power Sector Decarbonisation are to:

• Lead the formulation of regional strategies for reducing the reliance on high carbon energy sources in East Asia and Southeast Asia for Tara in collaboration with the Tara country and regional program team.
• Proactively review developments that may impact our program and continuously adapt and revise strategies and tactics relating to power sector decarbonisation.
• Support country program teams in developing the most effective strategies for decarbonizing the power sector and support them to engage with regional and global actors as appropriate.
• Collaborate with other regional and global regranting foundations and civil society organisations to ensure strategies are well aligned and inter-linked for maximum impact
• Work together with national, regional and global inter-governmental and non-governmental actors to develop mechanisms for retiring coal plants early in order to meet climate targets.
• Help convene civil society actors across the region to share strategies and approaches towards power sector decarbonization.
• Manage a program budget and regional grants, including developing and incubating new partnerships at the regional level.
• Guide and advise grantees, partners and prospective partners in the field to ensure activities achieve their intended objectives and results.

As and when required other responsibilities and projects will be allocated by line management in consultation with the post holder.

Miscellaneous:

• Promote a culture of excellence, service orientation, high performance, and continuous improvement
• Demonstrate Tara values in every action
• Actively participate in program team activities
• Embrace Tara’s policies, procedures and practices

Person Specification

Excited by the prospect of working for a dynamic and fast-growing international organisation with a mission to solve the climate crisis, the ideal candidate will have:

Skills & Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant work experience, gained in either local or international civil society organisations or foundations.
• Excellence in strategic thinking, experience developing strategies requiring complex systems change, and demonstrable ability to translate strategy into implementation;
• Demonstrated understanding of the role that CSOs play, especially in Asia
• Excellence in networking, including demonstrable ability to maintain trusting professional relationships across different countries and sectors;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. with the ability to crystallize complex issues into effective and readable strategy documents and powerpoint presentations; an Asian language would be an asset.
• Confident in fast-paced environments, comfortable in taking decisive action and moving forward with high adaptability amidst uncertainty.
• Ability to travel internationally as and when required.
• Embraces Tara’s mission and is committed to embodying and upholding Tara’s values.

• Advanced degree or relevant expertise in a relevant field such as international relations, energy policy, strategic studies, environmental management, business administration, or sustainable development.

• The candidate must be based in the Tara region and must have long-term residency status with legal permit to reside and work in the country.

To Apply:

Tara Climate Foundation is working in partnership with NGO Recruitment. To apply, please follow this link: Senior Strategist Power Decarbonisation.

As we have a rolling model of recruitment there is no closing date for this role, and we recommend you apply as soon as possible.

With your application, please include your CV and a cover letter that addresses the skills required section of the advertisement.

Receipt of your application will be acknowledged and you will receive updates as you move through the process, including if you have been selected for interview.