Policy Advisor- Trade and Sustainable Development

About the job

About Us

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is a globally recognized think tank with more than 30 years of experience working to solve today's greatest sustainable development challenges. We combine deep expertise across critical policy areas with a collaborative approach to research, advice, and hands-on support that delivers real-world results. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we are a diverse team of over 300 experts working from offices in Canada and Switzerland as well as other locations around the world. 

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, providing 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, including, in particular, work on trade-related climate measures in and around the World Trade Organization.

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

 Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of 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 and evaluation and donor reporting purposes.


• Support fundraising efforts by contributing to funding proposals and business development materials, as well as to funder reporting.


• Establish and actively maintain a network of partners and contacts, including among government missions to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, engaged in efforts related to climate change and trade policy.


• Work with the IISD Communications team to develop communications materials to communicate the work and its components to a broader audience. Represent projects and programs at forums, conferences, and public events.


• 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

• A post-graduate degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., public policy, economics, law, politics, international relations, development economics).


• A track record of producing high-quality research and analysis in a short period of time and for different audiences.


• Ability to manage time and inputs to deliver research projects to a high standard, on time and within budget.


• 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.


• Knowledge of and experience working on trade policy issues.
  

Desirable

• Experience working within government (or closely with government) in a policy support and/or advocacy role.


• Experience with multistakeholder processes that include the private sector, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, research institutes, and/or intergovernmental organizations.

Skills, Competencies, and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to convey complex ideas succinctly and clearly to people from a wide range of backgrounds.


• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines, collaborate with a multicultural team, and take initiative to advance or lead projects with minimal supervision when needed.


• Ability to work independently to produce analysis and writing that is “publication ready” with a limited degree of oversight and editing.


• 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.


• Fluency in English.


• Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AI tools).

Desirable

• Ability to work (write and present) in French and/or Spanish.


• Experience working for or with governments and stakeholders in developing countries.

Location: Geneva, Switzerland. Office-based with hybrid options possible.

Salary:  The target hiring range for this position is CHF87,000 - CHF100,000 annually, with the ability to progress to a maximum of CHF115,000 annually. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.

Employment type: Full-time. A part-time appointment is a possibility.

Job Type: Replacement

Start Date: September 2026.

End Date: September 2027.

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

Closing Date: August 7, 2026 4pm CST. Recruitment will be on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization in Geneva, Switzerland 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.  

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from individuals from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, including women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, people of diverse racial and ethnic identities, and people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and/or sex characteristics (SOGIESC).  

We are committed to equitable and inclusive recruitment practices and to reducing barriers to employment and advancement. Hiring decisions are based on qualifications, experience, competencies, and organizational needs, while recognizing the value that diverse perspectives and lived experiences bring to our work.  We offer reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process and welcome applicants’ input on how best to support their participation. Candidates are invited to voluntarily self-identify and complete our employment equity questionnaire through our applicant tracking system

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