INTRODUCTION 

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is implementing the CJK-Southeast Asia Carbon Market Cooperation Initiative, a project funded by the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and delivered in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The initiative has been under implementation since September 2025. 

The initiative supports carbon market development and policy cooperation across China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (CJK), together with Southeast Asian partner countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. It is delivered in partnership with ESCAP and supported by an Expert Working Group (EWG), which convenes technical experts from across the CJK and Southeast Asia partner countries to advise on the project's analytical outputs. The initiative carries a multi-year mandate spanning a seven-country policy brief series to be launched at APEC 2026, a carbon finance diagnostic in 2027, and support for Emissions Trading System (ETS) development from 2027 to 2029. 

Further, GGGI is implementing the 'Driving Regional Cooperation for the Asia Decade of Green Growth' initiative, funded by the Sequoia Climate Foundation, from 2026-2028. The initiative engages technical delivery partners, academia, and civil society organizations to determine priorities for Indonesian and Southeast Asia energy transition and industrial decarbonization, develops actionable policy insights, and convenes high-level decisionmakers at key moments to encourage cross-border learning and cooperation and policy change. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Program Manager will lead and coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the CJK-Southeast Asia Carbon Market Cooperation initiative and the Asia Decade of Green Growth initiative, ensuring high-quality delivery, donor compliance, and effective coordination with CIFF, Sequoia, ESCAP, and GGGI country teams across the CJK and Southeast Asia partner countries. 

The role requires overall project leadership across multiple, complementary workstreams with a multi-year mandate, with responsibility for work planning, budget and grant management, high-level government and institutional engagement, supervision of consultants, leading and developing an international team working across multiple time zones, and preparation of progress and financial reports for the donor. The Program Manager will remain aware of the transformational potential of large, complementary programs of work from multiple resource partners and will strategize on how to best integrate current and future workstreams to deliver maximum impact and value for money. 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this position is to take the lead on and deliver the CJK-Southeast Asia Carbon Market Cooperation initiative, focusing on carbon market development and policy cooperation across China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Southeast Asian partner countries. The position holder will also lead and deliver the Asia Decade of Green Growth initiative, with a regional mandate but an initial focus on Indonesia as a strategic Southeast Asian leader and hub for green growth initiatives. 

The Program Manager ensures strategic direction, operational efficiency, and technical quality to achieve the goals of the initiatives and to build further programs of work that amplify their transformational potential. 

ENGAGEMENT 

• Ensure close coordination with CIFF and Sequoia on progress, planning, and grant compliance, including narrative and financial reporting. 
• Working with Country Representatives, build relationships with government counterparts to ensure buy-in, strategic alignment with country development plans, and to secure support for GGGI’s continued intervention through these initiatives. 
• Lead engagement with CIFF, Sequoia and other philanthropic organizations to develop integrated Phase II and Phase II programs. 
• Lead GGGI delegations to GGGI-funded and externally-funded events as part of CIFF and Sequoia funded programs, including engagement with senior government and institutional representatives. 
• Oversee collaboration with GGGI country teams, technical staff, and consultants engaged in the initiative, including Country Representatives and Deputy Representatives, the Asia Climate Partnerships Senior Officer and Senior Advocacy Officer. 
• Internally, liaise with GGGI senior management and the relevant director(s), ensuring alignment between divisions and units as well as with GGGI's Strategy 2030, Asia Regional Strategy and internal policies. 
• Lead convenings of senior experts and officials at Expert Working Group meetings and regional dialogues held in Korea, Indonesia, and other partner countries. 
• Lead country workshops across the full set of countries included under both initiatives, working closely with UNESCAP and other partners as required, to advise on initiative outputs. 
• Lead high-level project team appearances at milestone events such as APEC to ensure high-level project reach and visibility. 

DELIVERY 

• Lead implementation of the initiatives in line with the approved project documents and CIFF and Sequoia grant agreements, and maintain and develop live versions as needed. 
• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the continuation of CIFF- and Sequoia-funded programs of work, ensuring strong interlinkage and complementarity to deliver transformational impact and value for money, working closely with the Asia Climate Partnerships Senior Officer. 
• Adopt a flexible, opportunities-based approach to project management, presenting resource partners with relevant and strategic value additions to project activities, engagements and partnerships where feasible. 
• Identify and execute on strategic opportunities to build the visibility of the initiatives, GGGI and the resource partners, in line with initiative and institutional strategic objectives. 
• Oversee and guide project staff and consultants to ensure timely, high-quality outputs, including the development of workplans, development plans, and providing regular performance reviews. 
• Develop, maintain and secure the buy-in of the Expert Working Group, including developing and maintaining its Terms of Reference and workplan. 
• Lead the organization of milestone events and convene high-level stakeholders to raise ambition and build regional understanding and cooperation across CJK and Southeast Asia. 
• Prepare progress and financial reports for submission to CIFF and Sequoia, in line with grant reporting requirements. 
• Ensure full compliance with GGGI, CIFF and Sequoia rules for finance, procurement, and reporting. 
• Lead planning for the 2027 carbon finance diagnostic and the 2027-2029 ETS support workstream. 
• Contribute to risk management, monitoring and evaluation, and continuous improvement of project delivery. 

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master's degree in Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Management, or a related field. 
• Preferably 10 years of professional experience in project management, climate policy, carbon markets, ideally in the Asia-Pacific region.  
• At least 3 years of experience implementing projects with a focus on carbon markets, sustainable finance, and policy development. 
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple multi-country, donor-funded projects, including budget, grant, and consultant management. 
• Strong understanding of carbon market mechanisms, Emissions Trading Systems, and/or Article 6 cooperative approaches. 
• Experience engaging with UN agencies and international donors; familiarity with CIFF and/or ESCAP procedures would be an advantage. 
• Experience implementing projects funded by CIFF, Sequoia Climate Foundation and other philanthropic entities would be an advantage. 
• Demonstrated experience designing new, complex programs of work, from origination to delivery. 
• Fluency in both English and Korean is preferred, excellent report writing skills in both English and Korean is preferred. 

FUNCTIONAL 

• Strong project management and organizational skills to deliver complex, multi-country initiatives on time and within budget. 
• Ability to translate technical and policy findings into clear guidance and knowledge products. 
• Strong strategic foresight and ability to guide multiple programs of work towards mutually re-enforcing goals. 
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills at all levels; excellent ability to maintain positive relationships with strategic resource and implementation partners. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across diverse country contexts and manage collaboration across cultures, institutions, and time zones. 
• Flexibility and resilience to adapt to changing priorities, evolving donor and stakeholder needs, and uncertainty in project environments. 
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on quality, efficiency, and innovation. 

CORPORATE 

• Demonstrates GGGI's values of Integrity, Excellence, and Sustainability. 
• Promotes a culture of transparency, inclusiveness, and collaboration. 
• Fosters mutual respect, trust, and partnership in multicultural environments. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Program Manager is a National Position at G10 grade level in GGGI’s national salary scale. The salary range for the position depends on qualifications and experience. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision. GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist Staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of Staff members.