Associate Director, Clean Economy

Clean Economy at E3G

E3G is an independent climate think tank working globally to achieve a safe climate for all. We work on the politics of climate change, translating climate politics, economics and policy into action at national and international levels. Our 2026-2030 strategy positions E3G for a disrupted world in which industrial competitiveness, trade and economic security have become the terrain on which climate outcomes are decided.

The Clean Economy strategy aims to create the political conditions for accelerated industrial transition, manage trade tensions and make new industrial and trade partnerships possible. E3G’s standing rests on political economy analysis, scenario work, advocacy and campaigning; on sectoral depth in steel, cement and chemicals and across carbon border measures, trade agreements and investment regimes; and on a trusted convening role with governments, international initiatives and civil society networks.

Clean Economy is a growth area for E3G and its scope is widening as the politics move. Geo-economics is the first direction. Governments increasingly pursue national advantage through markets, money and technology, using tariffs, export controls, investment screening and sanctions alongside cooperative instruments such as trade agreements, harmonised standards and supply chain arrangements. As multilateral institutions weaken, cooperation is being rebuilt in plurilateral and public-private form, shifting the question from how countries reduce dependence to how they govern interdependence. E3G already works this terrain through investor-state dispute settlement, trade regime reform and economic security; building it out is a cross-cutting endeavour drawing on climate diplomacy, geopolitics and political economy expertise across our European, international and Asia arenas.

Industrial policy and clean tech supply chains is the second. Europe’s clean energy build-out depends on inputs concentrated in a small number of producers, with China controlling the large majority of the battery value chain, rare earth refining and permanent magnet production. EU and UK industrial strategies have set objectives without setting a framework for deciding what to build domestically, what to source from trusted partners, and where security considerations justify higher-cost diversification. Developing E3G’s position here calls for close collaboration with energy, geopolitics and political economy colleagues across arenas, and is a priority for cross-cutting capability investment.

These are political choices about industrial strategy, trade and security, and E3G has the political economy analysis, the convening role and the government access to shape how they are made.

The Opportunity

Clean economy is one of the most contested and consequential areas of climate politics right now. This role at E3G puts you at the centre of it. Industrial strategy, trade and economic security have moved from the margins of the climate debate to its core, and E3G is uniquely positioned to shape how governments, industries and international institutions navigate that shift.

This is a 12-month maternity cover appointment carrying the full accountability of the Associate Director role — strategic direction, funding, people and impact of the Clean Economy theme. The brief during this period is genuinely strategic and developmental: to take a theme that is already doing important work and extend its reach into geo-economics and clean tech supply chains, working collaboratively with E3G’s climate diplomacy, geopolitics and political economy colleagues across our European, international and Asia arenas — in the context of E3G’s 2026-2030 strategy.

The postholder will have real scope to shape and build the team — contributing to new hires, influencing how emerging roles are defined, and building Clean Economy’s Asia capability. The theme goes into the cover period with strong programme leadership and a clear strategic direction. The opportunity is to build on that and hand it back in a stronger position than you found it. This role sits in E3G’s Senior Management Team and wider Senior Leadership Team.

What you will do

• Hold and lead the strategic direction of the Clean Economy theme, ensuring E3G’s work on industrial transition and trade is coherent, ambitious and positioned for impact
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across climate diplomacy, geopolitics and political economy to develop E3G’s strategic offer in geo-economics and clean tech supply chains — contributing to shared programme concepts, joint funder engagement and cross-cutting intellectual leadership across E3G’s European, international and Asia arenas
• Represent E3G externally where climate, industry and economic policy intersect — with economic, industry and trade ministries, international initiatives, private sector coalitions and multilate