Director, Climate and Energy Policy at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

About The Job
Focus of the Role

• The Director of Climate and Energy Policy is a new role within the Policy and Politics division, leading a team covering all elements of climate and energy policy. 
• This will include thinking about elements including routes to net zero, establishment of a sustainable energy mix, application of new technology, better use of data, consumer behaviour and efficient networks.
• The Director will play a leading role in connecting Policy work to TBI’s Strategy and Partnerships division. 
• The understanding and network possessed by the holder of the post will be vital in identifying companies with whom we can work and opportunities for deeper partnership.
• The Director is also expected to work closely with other policy teams on issues such as science and technology, transport, health, food etc to ensure the overall policy package we develop globally is ambitious but also coherent and affordable.
• The work of this role will be crucial to our credibility and success and will help shape the Institute’s policy agenda. TBI should be seen as a trusted provider of politically-relevant climate and energy policy thought leadership by Heads of Government, Opposition Leaders, Chancellors, Finance Ministers and their teams.
• This role reports to the Executive Director, Policy, and requires close working relationships with the Institute’s Executive Chairman, CEO, senior global Advisory colleagues, our Strategy and Partnerships and Internal Operations teams.

Key Responsibilities
The holder of this position will:

• Lead a research programme to explore national and global climate and energy trends and policy challenges
• Develop analysis of issues and policy responses, including specific recommendations for governments and policymakers
• Oversee production of very high-quality published work and private briefing material, either for energy policy specialists, government counterparts, partners, or a general political audience
• Provide direct advice to senior leaders in TBI, and to external clients
• Advocate for the Institute’s point of view in external meetings and conferences, or through the media, growing our reputation in the field
• Provide collaboration and specific expertise to other strands of policy work
• Lead a stream of work within the Future of Britain programme, contribute to the overall policy strategy and play a part in its presentation and advocacy
• Support Advisory and Strategy and Partnerships colleagues to develop our reputation for climate and energy policy around the world, through appearances at forums outside the UK and work on regional or national policy questions
• Support senior leaders in the Institute in their external engagements on climate and energy policy
• Manage and be accountable for the team’s budget, ensuring expenditure is in line with budget, with robust management accountability
• Build, lead, coach and direct a team that operates in a globally integrated way across TBI
• Ensure the growth and development of a high-performing culture and provide a continued focus on learning, development and employee well-being
• Oversee and be accountable for recruitment across the practice
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across TBI and actively champion TBI’s progressive values

Person Specification:

• A sustained and extensive track record producing cutting-edge work in climate and energy policy within government, business, academia or a policy organisation

Deep familiarity with climate and energy policy, including:

• Assessments and models for carbon emissions and pathways to net zero
• The design and development of energy generation infrastructure, and the impact of generating mix on other elements of policy
• Application of new and emerging technologies in generation, storage and energy management
• Transition from fossil fuel means of home heating
• Options for mitigation such as carbon capture and storage and have ideas of how to make each of these better
• Deep knowledge of climate and energy policy at a strategic design level, at the service level and from the point of view of citizens
• A very extensive and deep network of global contacts through industry, academia and policymaking in climate and energy policy
• Experience of working closely with political leaders
• A sustained and extensive track record of public speaking and advocacy on climate and energy policy, including via broadcast media
• An outstanding ability to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences, from executive office level through to technical level
• A track record of leading high-performing teams and proven ability to build, inspire and retain teams to achieve exceptional objectives
• Excellent teamwork skills to work successfully within a complex and diverse organisation
• Strategic, entrepreneurial, and challenge the status-quo and develop plans for successful delivery of challenging objectives

The following attributes are advantageous:

• Have achieved national or international recognition of their work in the field, e.g. through citation, media coverage, formal recognition or awards
• Academic qualifications in a relevant field, and/or experience working directly in service implementation
• Experience of working in a more than one national setting