How to apply for Regional Director - GRI ASEAN

About Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

GRI is the independent global standard setter for sustainability impact reporting. It provides the world's most widely used sustainability reporting standards and works with businesses, regulators, investors, and civil society. Staff are based in more than 20 countries, combining global standards with local relevance.

About the role

The Regional Director for GRI ASEAN is the senior leader for one of GRI's most critical regions. Reporting to the Director of GRI Regions, you set and deliver GRI's strategy across ASEAN. You are accountable for increasing uptake of the GRI Standards, influencing policy, building a sustainable revenue base, and strengthening strategic partnerships.

A typical day

A typical day may involve meeting with regional partners, regulators, or businesses to advance adoption of the GRI Standards. You might work on fundraising, training plans, or strategy with the Director of GRI Regions and other regional teams. Because the role is remote and covers ASEAN, expect frequent virtual coordination across time zones.

Who Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is looking for

• Senior leader with a track record of setting and delivering regional strategy across multiple ASEAN markets.
• Deep familiarity with sustainability reporting, the GRI Standards, and the policy and market landscape in ASEAN.
• Experience building revenue and partnerships in a mission-driven or standard-setting organisation.
• Skilled at engaging businesses, regulators, investors, and civil society stakeholders at a senior level.

Tips for this application

• Show direct experience with the GRI Standards or comparable sustainability reporting frameworks in your application.
• Name specific ASEAN markets you have worked in and the results you delivered there.
• Quantify revenue, partnership, or adoption outcomes you achieved in previous regional roles.
• Explain how you would balance advocacy, training, fundraising, and market development in a remote role.
• Reference GRI's multi-stakeholder standard-setting process and how you would represent it regionally.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasise your senior regional leadership across ASEAN. Highlight concrete results in increasing adoption of sustainability standards, influencing policy, and building revenue. Show understanding of GRI's multi-stakeholder model and its regional structure. Explain why you can operate effectively in a remote, globally distributed team.

Research before applying

• Review the GRI Standards and how they are used in ASEAN countries.
• Study GRI's regional structure, including how the ASEAN region sits alongside East Asia, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.
• Look into recent sustainability reporting policy developments in key ASEAN markets.
• Find out who GRI's current partners, funders, and stakeholders are in the ASEAN region.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you set and deliver GRI's strategy across the diverse ASEAN markets?
• Describe how you have built a sustainable revenue base in a mission-driven organisation.
• How would you influence policy and market developments related to sustainability reporting in ASEAN?
• Give an example of strengthening strategic partnerships with businesses, regulators, and civil society.
• How do you manage a remote role while reporting to the Director of GRI Regions and working with staff in over 20 countries?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without showing knowledge of the GRI Standards or sustainability reporting.
• Treating ASEAN as one market instead of acknowledging its diverse jurisdictions.
• Focusing only on advocacy and ignoring the revenue and business model responsibilities of the role.