• Location: Remote, or office based (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth)

The Global Advocacy and Collaboration Lead drives civil society collaboration, strategic advocacy, and collaborative policy development to advance a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels through UNFCCC negotiations and complementary multilateral processes – advocating for Australia to act with ambition and accountability as COP31 President of Negotiations and as a major fossil fuel exporter.

This senior role leads CANA network strategies to coordinate, align and amplify global and regional policy and advocacy impact with CANA member groups, including First Nations-led groups.

Working across borders and movements, this role builds civil society collaboration, particularly across Australia, Türkiye and Oceania for the Pre-COP, COP31, and the 2027 Tuvalu conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels — building power with social movements, expert networks and diverse constituencies across these regions and beyond.

It builds the capacity of the CANA network to engage effectively in COP31, UNFCCC and other multilateral processes.

It centres First Nations rights and leadership, impacted communities and Pacific solidarity in COP31 coordination, ensuring frontline voices shape not only story and participation, but also strategy and outcomes.

• Salary: Full time role, $119,506 per annum plus 12% superannuation. Part-time would be considered for the right candidate
• FTE/Contract: Full Time 12 month contract
• Location: Remote, or office based (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth)
• Reports to: Director of Strategy, Climate Action Network Australia (CANA)

Responsibilities

Leadership and Coordination

• Lead and catalyse delivery and impact for COP31 and associated processes across the CANA team and network.
• Represent CANA at key international convenings, including COP31, UNFCCC intersessionals in Bonn, key Pacific meetings and other regional meetings.
• Collaborate with key CANA staff and member groups to connect relevant domestic and international strategies to maximise advocacy, mobilisation and narrative pressure at key moments.
• Manage key contractors.

Strategic Advocacy

• Lead development of advocacy strategies and policy briefings for Australian government decision-makers and staff from the COP31 Negotiations Presidency, DCCEEW and DFAT, in collaboration with CANA members.
• Manage relationships with Australian government stakeholders, establishing a cadence of regular engagement.
• Collaborate with key international allies on multilateral advocacy and engagement strategies.

Just Fossil Fuel Phase Out

• Drive advocacy to advance a just transition that protects people's rights and wellbeing and phases out the extraction, export and burning of Australian coal and gas, as part of global transition efforts grounded in equity, justice, science and international law.
• Advance CANA's engagement across the full multilateral landscape for a just transition away from fossil fuels: the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, the COP30 TAFF Roadmap process, the Santa Marta conference series with the second international fossil fuel conference in Tuvalu in 2027; and associated dialogues as capacity allows.
• Leverage regional solidarity and Pacific leadership and to increase political, legal, movement and moral pressure on Australia and major fossil fuel producers.
• Enable and catalyse network-led policy and advocacy on climate finance, loss and damage, integrating human rights principles and aligned priorities of First Nations, youth, women and gender and union constituencies.

Convening members and civil society participation

• In collaboration with the Network and Strategy team and key allies, run impactful civil society engagement at key moments that advance strategy, movement building and public influence
• Build constructive relationships with key allies including Pacific Islands Climate Action Network and Türkiye Climate Network, Climate Action Network .
• Lead and facilitate the CANA COP working group, building consensus on strategies and demands and policy asks for Australian negotiators and government.
• Advocate with the COP31 presidencies for civil society and key constituencies participation, including First Nations peoples, to participate in and influence negotiations.
• Foster a culture of impact, collaboration, care, connection and mutual accountability in network collaboration, creating dialogue and building consensus across diverse perspectives, and centring the leadership of frontline communities in international advocacy.

Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Build capacity within CANA's network to meaningfully engage in UNFCCC and multilateral advocacy, connecting policy to the lived experience of communities in our network and beyond.
• Develop and/or distribute policy analysis, briefings, research and tools to support advocacy with network groups, allies and international partners.
• Connect working group members with key international actors for targeted briefings ahead of critical moments, facilitating strategic intelligence sharing among Oceania actors.
• Draw on the capacity of the Collective Impact Lead, Strategist, Community and Engagement Manager, and Network Organiser to deliver accessible, high-quality capacity building across the network.

Selection Criteria

• UNFCCC knowledge and diplomatic skills: Demonstrated understanding of UNFCCC processes, climate negotiations, and international climate politics. Ability to navigate complex diplomatic environments, build relationships with diverse stakeholders including government officials, civil society organisations and technical experts, and translate policy into advocacy strategy.

• Collaboration, coordination and facilitation: Proven ability to facilitate alignment and collaborative processes across civil society groups and cultures, including First Nations peoples. Excellent skills in coordinating multiple working groups, and maintaining effective communication. Skills in creating safe and effective spaces for dialogue, building consensus across diverse perspectives, and centring the leadership of frontline communities in international advocacy.

• Policy analysis and strategic thinking: Strong analytical skills to gather, synthesise and critically evaluate complex policy information, particularly in key policy areas including fossil fuel phase out, Just Transition, finance and others. Ability to develop strategic advocacy approaches that connect technical policy detail with movement building and campaign impact.

• Advocacy and government liaison. Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing impactful advocacy strategies, and in establishing relationships with government decision makers and departments.

• Climate justice: Deep understanding of climate justice principles, the intersection of climate change with colonialism and inequality. Commitment to centring the voices and priorities of those most impacted by climate change in policy and diplomatic processes.

• Capacity building and communication: Demonstrated ability to build the capacity of others to engage in complex policy processes, translate technical information for different audiences, and develop accessible resources and briefings that support effective advocacy.

About Us

Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) supports the Australian climate movement to collaborate for greater impact to protect people at home and abroad from climate damage, to safeguard our natural environment, and to build a fair, clean, healthy Australia for everyone. We operate behind the scenes to drive strategic thinking and campaign collaboration between members including Greenpeace, Australia Youth Climate Coalition, The Wilderness Society, the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF, Oxfam, 350.org, Solar Citizens, health and faith networks, trade unions, think tanks and grassroots groups. We are a small team located in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and South East Queensland.

What We Offer

CANA is a flexible and family friendly workplace. We hire talented people and support them to play a vital part in ambitious climate action.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to operating in a way that upholds justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). We value diverse knowledges and experiences, and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, LGBTIQ+ people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities to apply for roles.

We offer:

• a flexible workplace with work from home and office options and flexible working hours including flexible public holidays;
• five weeks annual leave plus office shutdown between Christmas and New Year;
• an additional 10 days carers leave to support working parents and carers.
• generous leave to support your life outside of work including reproductive health leave, gender affirmation leave, and moving house leave;
• cultural and religious leave.

CANA acknowledges we work on unceded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present.