Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Strategist (Asia)

at The Sunrise Project

🏢 About The Sunrise Project

The Sunrise Project is a unique global network that combines strategic grant-making with hands-on campaigning to accelerate the transition beyond fossil fuels. Unlike traditional foundations, they operate as a nimble, movement-aligned organization that directly supports and collaborates with frontline climate groups across Asia. Working here means being part of a high-impact team that shifts real financial flows, not just rhetoric.

About This Role

As Senior Strategist for Asia, you will design and execute campaigns to stop LNG and fossil fuel expansion by targeting public and private finance. Your work will directly influence banks, investors, and policymakers to divest from fossil fuels and redirect capital to renewables. This role is pivotal in a region that is the largest source of future fossil fuel demand, making your strategies globally consequential.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a call with partner organizations in Indonesia or the Philippines to align on a campaign action targeting a Japanese bank. Midday, you could analyze a new LNG project financing proposal and draft a brief for allies, followed by a virtual meeting with a grantee to discuss their reporting. The afternoon might involve preparing a presentation for an industry conference or coordinating with the global team on a joint strategy.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for The Sunrise Project

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who The Sunrise Project Is Looking For

  • A finance-savvy strategist who understands how capital flows work in Asia, including the role of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean banks and export credit agencies.
  • A proven campaigner with at least 5 years of experience in climate, energy, or ESG, ideally with a track record of moving financial institutions on fossil fuel lending.
  • A collaborative network-builder who has worked with civil society organizations across Southeast Asia, South Asia, or Northeast Asia and can foster trust across diverse cultures.
  • An excellent communicator who can present complex financial data to activists, policymakers, and media, and ideally speaks an Asian language (e.g., Bahasa, Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean).

📝 Tips for Applying to The Sunrise Project

1

Tailor your CV to highlight specific wins in shifting finance away from fossil fuels, e.g., campaigns that led a bank to stop funding LNG or adopt a coal exclusion policy.

2

In your cover letter, name one or two Asian financial institutions (e.g., Mizuho, ICBC, DBS) and briefly propose a strategic approach to influence them.

3

Demonstrate your understanding of The Sunrise Project's model by referencing their 'network of independent organizations' approach and how you would leverage it in Asia.

4

Include a concrete example of how you have built cross-border alliances in Asia, especially with local CSOs, and the outcomes achieved.

5

Avoid generic climate statements; focus on the intersection of finance, energy, and Asia-specific political economy.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific experience with financial campaigns in Asia, including which institutions you've engaged and what changed.", "How you align with The Sunrise Project's philosophy of 'scaling social movements' rather than top-down advocacy.", 'Your language skills and cultural competency in Asia, and how they enable effective collaboration.', 'A clear vision for a potential campaign or strategy to shift finance out of LNG in Asia, showing strategic thinking.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read The Sunrise Project's website thoroughly, especially their 'About' and 'Approach' pages, to understand their theory of change.
  • → Look up their recent reports or campaign wins on finance (e.g., on HSBC or insurance companies) to see their style.
  • → Research the current state of LNG financing in Asia, including key players like JOGMEC, KEXIM, and major Asian banks.
  • → Identify the key Asian climate movements they partner with, such as 350.org Asia, Market Forces, or local groups in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a campaign you led that successfully shifted a financial institution's policy on fossil fuels. What were the key leverage points?
2 How would you approach influencing a Chinese bank like ICBC or CDB on LNG financing, given geopolitical sensitivities?
3 What is your understanding of the current LNG landscape in Asia, and which countries or projects are the most critical to target?
4 Describe a time you managed a grant to a partner organization. How did you ensure accountability while respecting their autonomy?
5 How do you stay informed about financial policy changes in Asia, and what sources do you rely on?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus only on renewable energy advocacy; this role is about stopping fossil fuel finance, not promoting clean energy per se.
  • Avoid being too academic or theoretical; the Sunrise Project values practical campaign experience and real-world impact.
  • Don't underestimate the importance of Asia-specific context; generic climate finance experience from other regions may not suffice.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Sunrise Project!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →