Electricity Policy Analyst, China

Join us in shaping China's energy future—be the data-driven voice driving policy, outreach, and expert insights in the clean energy transition.

Ember is recruiting an electricity policy analyst to strengthen our Asia programme, especially focusing on China’s energy transition. You will be in charge of producing data-led research to inform the ongoing policy discussions on China’s energy transition and future-proof a high renewables-based power system in the country.

Your work could include, but not limited to, a range of topics such as power system flexibility, grids, managed coal phasedown, energy market reforms to mention a few. You will deliver on Ember’s vision and objectives in close coordination with Ember’s Asia policy experts and other national partners across Asia.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have a proven record of producing compelling data-led research or analysis and have a strong understanding of China’s power sector. 

This is a remote role, working with a pan-Asia team. We are looking for candidates located within a time zone range from UK (GMT) to South Korea (GMT+9) for optimal collaboration.

Requirements

Key responsibilities

• Produce compelling, analytical reports, data-led research, short media-ready analyses and commentaries for publication and internal use. 
• Contribute to building Ember’s research portfolio on China’s energy transition and carry out related outreach activities
• Collect electricity data that might be necessary for your research with the help of Ember’s data team
• Build and maintain an influential network of external stakeholders and experts to maximise impact on the wider policy debate and explore opportunities for collaboration
• Act as Ember's media spokesperson on China and work with the comms team to build relationships with journalists and respond to media requests
• Work with colleagues from the Asia policy team to periodically evaluate the Asia team strategy and help shape the China programme

Must have

• Minimum 5 years of experience working in a research or an analytical role on China’s energy transition
• Strong technical understanding of power sector, energy technologies, policies and challenges to clean electricity transition in China
• Experience of independently writing reports, policy briefs and op-eds for news outlets as well strong verbal communication skills
• Skill for communicating the key insights from a complex subject or dataset in an accessible and compelling way.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently; able to multitask; set priorities and meet deadlines with limited direction while working remotely
• A natural collaborator with a disposition to work generously with colleagues from different time zones
• Fluent in English and Mandarin

Nice to have

• Proven experience in creating policy impact in China through data-led research
• An established network in Chinese organisations (regional, national and/or multilateral); ability to develop and maintain new relationships with policy-makers, government departments, think-tanks and campaign groups
• Experience with power sector modelling
• Fascination with data and data visualisation
• Experience in engaging with media in China

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

Benefits

Salary: £43,470 to £47,817.  Salaries may be adjusted depending on a location cost of living formula, but will not be below 75% of advertised figure.

Contract:  Full time (but only working 9 days every fortnight with no reduction in pay), permanent subject to a 3 month probationary period.  For employees based outside of the UK, a local payroll contract is available, dependent on the country.

Further benefits: We offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• We operate a nine-day fortnight meaning our full-time staff are given every other Friday off work with no reduction in pay
• A minimum of 25 days holiday, plus public holidays
• For each year that you're part of the team at Ember you'll receive an additional day of holiday, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.  
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave
• Flexible working conditions, including the opportunity for part-time work and home working.
• Access to a local working space can be arranged
• In-person meet-ups (on average 2 meet-ups per year)
• Allowance for home office equipments
• Free annual eye tests
• Access to a counselling service
• Funding and allocated time for your training and development
• Paid volunteer day
• Two paid days off to enable low carbon travel
• Time off to donate blood

About Ember

Ember is an independent, not-for-profit energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. We gather, curate and analyse data on the power sector and coal mine methane emissions, and use our findings to improve energy and climate policy.

See our work at https://ember-energy.org/ and https://x.com/ember_energy