• Salary: $115,933 - $128,185 (AUD). Additional benefits listed below

About Us

Driven by a passion to solve the climate crisis, The Sunrise Project is a team of experienced change-makers with a mission to scale social movements to drive the global transition beyond fossil fuels. With affiliated programs and staff in the United States, Europe and Asia, we have developed a unique model of grant making and campaigning that supports networks of organisations to drive powerful change towards our mission.

We have a dynamic and nimble organisational culture. We’re serious about supporting our people to thrive as we tackle the urgent climate challenge. We believe that a diversity of experiences and perspectives will help us build stronger strategies, teams and movements. We take the broadest possible view of diversity and encourage First Nations/Indigenous people, people of colour, people living outside of cities, people living with disabilities, neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ people to apply. We are continually working on becoming a better workplace for everyone. Find out more here.

About The Program

Over the past decade Australia’s LNG exports have boomed, with Australia now one of the top three global exporters of LNG. The gas industry is responsible for 10% of Australia’s domestic emissions, and emissions from burning the gas we export are greater still. To prevent catastrophic climate change, along with rapidly phasing out coal, we must prevent the expansion of Australia’s gas sector and accelerate its decline.

About You

You are a strategic thinker, passionate about creating the conditions required to achieve campaign wins with national impact. Skilled in navigating complex political landscapes, you can demonstrate your experience in translating big-picture ideas into concrete legislative and policy outcomes.

You have a strong understanding of what it takes to build power to achieve social change. You have experience working with civil society groups or social movements to strengthen and scale campaigns. You enjoy turning ideas into action and helping groups achieve concrete outcomes in the world.

You may not have experience in gas or climate roles, but you are a quick learner and can demonstrate experience engaging with technical detail to develop campaign strategies that have achieved real-world impact, including in the political sphere. You are highly skilled at identifying the interventions that are needed to push decision-makers to good outcomes, and have a knack for problem solving.

With strong interpersonal and facilitation skills, you're prepared to navigate complex discussions and foster strong partnerships to support high-impact campaigns. You’ll be joining a team of change makers who value skill sharing and collaborative problem solving.

About The Role

The Senior Strategist is a highly collaborative role that entails co-creating campaign strategies, driving campaign implementation, establishing priorities, and building and maintaining relationships with partners and key actors across the ecosystem.

This position particularly focuses on working to create the political conditions to achieve legislative and policy outcomes that enable and accelerate gas exports phase down.

Sunrise works to support networks of organisations to work together to achieve outcomes that would not be possible by individual organisations acting alone. We expect all roles at Sunrise to actively support the capacity building of these networks and partner organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads on the development and implementation of high-impact campaign strategies and tactics to achieve our program objectives and key results, with a focus on securing legislative and policy outcomes.
• Identifies key actors and narratives influencing political decision making on gas policy and strategises to build movement power needed to shift key dynamics.
• Sources, builds and maintains strategic relationships with key partners, facilitating collaborative efforts to co-develop and implement strategies.
• Provides strategic advice, coaching and mentoring to partners and community groups to enhance the strategic impact of their campaigns.
• Contributes to the broader work of the Australian Gas team, including on other federal or state policy, where requested by the Gas or Australian Program Directors
• Aligns programmatic strategies and Objective Key Results with Sunrise’s mission and Values and acts in accordance with our values and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) commitments.

Required skills, knowledge and experience

• Demonstrated significant experience in campaigning and/or organising that has achieved real-world change
• Strong campaign strategy development skills and experience in scaling up campaigns
• Strong power analysis
• Demonstrated relationship management skills within complex environments
• Strong group work and facilitation skills
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written and visual communication skills
• A passion for action on climate change and a commitment to social justice

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience in climate change or fossil fuel campaigns
• Experience in political engagement or a politics-focused role

Job requirements

• You must have full working rights for Australia. The Sunrise Project is unable to sponsor applicants for employment visas.
• Employment background checks may be required.
• Previous employment reference checks will be required for successful applicants.
• Attend local in person partner actions.
• Intermittent travel domestically, rurally and internationally with advanced notice is required.

How Sunrise supports its staff

The Sunrise Project. is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. We have the following in place to help us achieve that, noting pro rata will apply for part time staff and/or temporarily appointed staff:

• Superannuation 12.5% & Salary Sacrifice for Superannuation
• Sunrise Time Off:
  • Additional Annual Leave 5 days p.a.
  • Long Service Leave available after 5 years of service
  • Birthday Leave 1 day p.a.
  • Solidarity and Community Leave 1 week p.a
  • Cultural Leave 4 days p.a (+ floating public holidays)
  • Gifted Leave (over Christmas and New Year)
  • Paid Parental Leave of 7.5 months (inclusive of GPPL) - gender-neutral & inclusive of all family types, incl. Parental Return To Work & Keeping In Touch Program
  • Life Leave up to 40 days p.a. for significant personal reasons
• Flexible Working Policy
• Employee Assistance Program
• VIDA - An AI tool to support you working safely remotely
• Generous allowances for:
• Workspace Benefits incl: Macbook & accessories, initial $2,000 for home workspace and IT equipment + $800 every 2 years + up to $75/mth phone/data/internet.
• Shared office support
• Regular all-org and team meetings & retreats
• Learning & Development Program incl. a professional development budget for you
• Coaching & manager support with regular 1:1 meetings
• Annual performance & development reviews with 360 feedback
• A co-developed work plan to ensure clarity on your role & key responsibilities
• We provide our staff with a voice on issues that concern them via consultation, e.g. JEDI caucuses, working groups, slack channels, surveys and meetings.

How to apply for this job

We recognize that racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination creates structural barriers that impact opportunities to formal education and experience. When assessing candidates we look at more than the jobs you've been paid to do but the range of ways you've picked up skills and knowledge throughout your life. This is why we assess candidates on how well they respond to application questions and don’t require a cover letter. You’ll be taken to Be Applied to complete your application.