Policy Advisor (Mandarin language required)

About Us

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 300 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.

IISD hosts the Secretariat International Support Office (SISO) of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED).  Consisting of leading international and Chinese experts, researchers, and senior officials, CCICED is a high-level advisory body with a mandate to conduct research and provide policy recommendations to the Government of China on the environment and development.

SISO supports CCICED mainly by engaging and coordinating international experts in CCICED research and activities, supporting the CCICED international chief advisor, knowledge management and dissemination, and supporting council members and special advisors in their engagement with CCICED.

The Policy Advisor’s key responsibilities include

Coordinating CCICED research and activities in collaboration with the CCICED Secretariat.

Supporting the international chief advisor by providing research updates, seeking feedback, engaging with research teams, and conducting background research.  

Engaging CCICED international partners.

Coordinating with other SISO team members on communications, project management, financial, and logistical matters to ensure delivery of research and activities.

Contributing to donor reporting and fundraising efforts.

The Policy Advisor will report to the Coordinator of SISO and will be part of the Economic Law and Policy Program at IISD.  

Detailed Description of Responsibilities

Strategy, Vision, and Team Leadership  

Contribute to identifying challenges, emerging issues, and solutions. 

Contribute to the development and growth of new projects and participate in the strategy implementation. 

Promote a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and shared learning. 

Manage own time and inputs into projects so as to deliver research outputs on time and to budget. 

Research  

Lead the delivery of primary and secondary research required for successful completion of projects, working with contractors as required. 

Deliver research and other project outputs to the required standard, including research reports, policy briefs, and technical reports. Ask for guidance and advice as required to ensure the successful delivery of outputs. 

Undertake research and assist in managing secured projects, focusing on technical rather than financial deliverables.  

Support capacity-building activities related to the Workstream, including training sessions and workshops for stakeholders.

Review of existing laws and policies or drafting briefings relating to the Workstream. 

Contribute to tracking and influencing normative processes for relevant institutions and prepare commentaries, reports, and paper contributions for different processes.

Operations and Program Management  

Design and implement projects that support current program initiatives in collaboration with IISD staff, affiliates, partners, and consultants.  

Contribute to the preparation and coordination of project narrative reports, publications, and related materials.

Set up and manage parts of projects as required, ensuring that delivery risks are highlighted and escalated as appropriate. 

Support project logistics, including the coordination and documentation of site visits, online and in-person meetings, and stakeholder events.

Communications and Outreach  

Work with IISD’s Communications team to ensure development of relevant communications materials to communicate the work and its components to a broader audience. 

Represent projects and program to clients and stakeholders. 

Represent projects and program at forums, conferences, and public events. 

Maintain and identify new contacts with domestic and international project partners. 

Serve as the main contact point in liaising with government, academia, and civil society organizations that collaborate with the Workstream. 

Fundraising and Donor Relationships  

Support fundraising efforts by contributing to proposals for funding and business development materials. 

Identify fundraising opportunities based on existing work or new ideas.

Requirements  

Qualifications 

5+ years of experience working in international policy analysis and advising (e.g., a think tank, university, intergovernmental organization, or civil society organization) or policymaking (e.g., government), with demonstrated involvement in sustainable development issues.  

A master’s degree or equivalent in international development, environmental studies, or related area (e.g., economics, geology, international development, law, or policy).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines, work collaboratively with a multicultural team, and take the initiative in advancing or leading projects with minimal supervision when needed. 

Experience in undertaking primary and secondary research and strong analytical skills.

Confident and engaging communication skills. Experience with engaging with senior government officials and think-tanks will be considered a strong advantage. 

Identifies and resolves routine issues within established guidelines.

Manages small projects from inception to completion, overseeing junior staff, interns, and consultants to achieve program goals.

Working fluency in English and Mandarin.

Excellent computer skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and automated referencing software.

Behavioural competencies (Essential) 

Confidence in working collaboratively with IISD staff, affiliates, partners, and consultants.

An entrepreneurial approach to work, taking initiative within the team and ready to develop new skills, increase responsibility, and build experience in fundraising.

Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, managing workload and producing deliverables on time and within budget.

Results-focused with an ability to prioritize and work quickly and accurately over a range of tasks.

Capable of decision making following established procedures, under the guidance of senior staff.

Location: Winnipeg, Canada

Salary:  Salary commensurate with experience and location

Canada:    CAD 60,000 - 75,000

Job Type: Existing Vacancy

Term: 12 Months fixed-term Contract

Start date: ASAP

Application deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026 at 4 PM CST

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization without any sponsorship from IISD.

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. 

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR. 

A CV (no longer than two pages) 

A one-page letter of motivation 

IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional) 

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year

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

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.