Programme Manager: China Electricity Market Reform

Climate change is one of the world’s most pressing challenges; one that requires technology, policy, markets, finance, and investment to work in concert. In recent years, technological progress has been remarkably positive, while policy has been slower to react. But energy market design and financial innovation are sometimes overlooked or underdeveloped keys to harnessing technology, encouraging effective policy, accelerating innovation, driving investment, rebalancing incentives, and managing global transition risks.

Climate Policy Initiative’s Energy Finance practice is a multidisciplinary team of economists, analysts, and finance and energy professionals focused on developing innovative and practical finance and energy market solutions that accelerate local, national, and global transitions to low-carbon economies.

CPI was founded in 2009, and has offices in Europe, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Kenya and the United States. Although the Energy Finance team is based primarily in London, our programmatic scope is global, with projects looking at markets in Asia, Africa, Europe, the US and Latin America.

As the urgency for action on climate change intensifies, the demand for our work is evolving and increasing. We are therefore scaling up the team to develop our analyses of climate-related financial risks and solutions for mitigating those risks, including innovative investment portfolios and helping companies and governments understand the strategic implications of climate change. Our work is split across three main workstreams:

• Evaluating and pricing climate risk into investment decisions and finance mechanisms;
• Developing new energy market structures and low-carbon transition mechanisms in both developed and emerging markets;
• Advising governments, central banks, financial regulators and development financial institutions on the nature and timing of climate transition risks to public finances and financial stability including potential policy responses;

We are also increasing seeking to apply advanced data analytics and the insights generated from our three principal workstreams to improve the development of robustness of climate change related economic forecasting, and policy and investment analysis.

POSITION SUMMARY

CPI offers a challenging environment that requires independent thinking, effective client and stakeholder management, purposeful collaboration and pragmatic problem-solving skills.

CPI is looking for talented, highly skilled, flexible and motivated professional with experience of analysing energy policy, regulation and financial structures to join its Energy Finance team. The successful candidate – initially on a six-month contract, but with potential for extension – would take responsibility for managing a joint project between CPI and Imperial College designing and securing funding for a programme to assist Chinese policymakers to transform their energy system for the demands of a lower-carbon world with higher proportions of variable renewable energy.

Although we are open to applications from exceptional individuals from a variety of backgrounds, we are particularly interested in those who have a high level of expertise in at least two of the following areas: energy system modelling, energy policy/regulation, financial analysis, power systems engineering, energy and economic forecasting. Mandarin Chinese language skills are required as the candidate will engage intensively with Chinese stakeholders.

The candidate will be expected to have excellent project management skills, as they will be required to deliver the CPI/Imperial project on time and within budget, while engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders across both institutions to design a work programme that will gain the support both of Chinese stakeholders and funders. In close collaboration with the executive director, senior staff will be expected to initiate, design, coordinate and deliver all aspects of a project assigned to them within the wider scope of CPI Energy Finance’s programmes.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Includes the following and others as assigned:

• Manage the development, design and delivery of an innovative multi-stakeholder research programme focussing on the policy, regulatory and financing issues relating to China’s low carbon transition, including electricity, mobility and industrial sectors;
• Design and deliver qualitative and quantitative research and analysis to an exceptionally high standard of intellectual rigour;
• Generate research outputs and create materials that support analytical insights for clients and the Executive Director to short deadlines;
• Develop, maintain and facilitate strong relationships with clients, strategic partners, funders and key stakeholders;
• Lead outreach to maximise the impact of our findings with our evolving network of policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders;
• Communicate research findings and insights to our key stakeholders in a way that maximises influence and impact;
• Commission and create impactful materials with a keen eye for visual representation of complex and striking data and findings;
• Manage, commission and guide project-assigned analysts;
• Support the Executive Director for ad-hoc research efforts in line with the mission of CPI Energy Finance;
• Travel as required and be an ambassador for CPI Energy Finance at internal and external events.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following characteristics:

• An insightful, independent, analytical mind with a strong track record of best-in-class analysis and critical thinking that has had a measurable impact;
• Proven ability to successfully manage projects and inspire teams to excel;
• Demonstrable ability to influence key stakeholders (including clients) at the highest level;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate methods, insights and recommendations from complex qualitative and quantitative analysis in a compelling and influential way both internally and to expert and non-technical audiences;
• Advanced data analytical skills, including programming languages such as Python, particularly sought after;
• Experience of influential engagement with executive-level engagement, comfort working alongside high-ranking government officials, leaders in finance and industry, as well as academic experts and research organisations;
• Professionalism and enthusiasm for working with a diverse team in a collegiate and productive manner;
• Respect for your fellow colleagues and a deep commitment to the mission and values of CPI.

Language

• Fluency in English and Mandarin Chinese are required.

Experience

• Master’s degree or Ph.D in Economics, Finance, Public Policy, Engineering or recognised professional finance qualification (e.g. ACA, CFA).
• 3+ years of experience analysing, designing or complying with policy and market mechanisms in the energy or industrial sectors in China.
• Experience working with government or private sector experience (leading consulting firm, think tank, financial institution, utility, large industrial etc.).
• Proven project management track record.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The position is available for immediate appointment. The position will be based in London. Travel will be required. CPI offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience.

TO APPLY

Visit https://climatepolicy.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=106 to apply. With your application, attach two documents: (1) CV/resume, (2) a cover letter, followed by a writing sample of 5 pages or less that has not been edited by anyone other than yourself.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted – and proof of the right to live and work in the UK will be required. Climate Policy Initiative is an equal opportunities employer.