Deputy Director Southeast Asia

About Tara Climate Foundation

Tara Climate Foundation is an Asia-based philanthropic organisation committed to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for the region. At the heart of our mission lies Asia’s just energy transition – recognising that with half the world’s population and the fastest-growing energy demand, the region’s progress will shape the world’s collective future.

Established in 2021 and headquartered in Singapore, Tara Climate Foundation works with over 355 partners across 13 Asian geographies, including think tanks, research institutes, advisory groups, and associations. Tara provides grants, convenes stakeholders, and facilitates knowledge-sharing to accelerate clean energy development, drive a just transition, and enable clean industrialisation. Underpinning these efforts is a strong commitment to unlocking finance, raising ambition, and aligning business action with a people-centred energy transition. Our team of over 50 experts is spread across the Asia-Pacific region, working to accelerate climate action in this decisive decade.

About the Role

The Deputy Director, Southeast Asia (SEA) leads the design and delivery of specific cross-country energy transition strategies and initiatives, working closely with Tara’s SE Asian program leads and partners.

We are looking for a seasoned, forward-looking, strategist with a track record of shaping bold strategies and driving collabration across complex systems. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to the energy transition in SEA, with experience working with NGOs, think tanks, donors and government agencies to drive systemic change. The role also requires excellent management skills, as the deputy regional program director is expected to manage several senior program staff spread across the Southeast Asia region.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and Implementation for Key Areas

• Lead the development and implementation of identified cross-country strategies complementingnational strategies to accelerate energy transition in SEA. Priority themes include industrial transitions, trade and critical minerals and engaging relevant platforms such as ASEAN.
• Identify catalytic interventions and partnership models (coalitions, platforms, technical assistance, strategic communications, litigation/advocacy support where appropriate) to accelerate energy transition in SEA.
• Track and interpret emerging policies and market signals (e.g., utility reform, grid codes, renewable auctions, transition finance, carbon markets) to inform timely pivots.

Program management support and grant management

• Support annual planning, workplan development and knowledge capture and dissemination.
• Provide guidance and advice to partners and prospective partners in the field to ensure activities achieve their intended objectives and results.
• Monitor deliverables and submissions from partners and provide general oversight of their timeliness and quality.
• Advise programme directors/senior management on any potential risks and recommend mitigation measures when needed.
• Contribute to funding proposals and develop presentations for funders as and when required.

People Management & operational responsibilities

• Manage several passionate and experienced program leads, providing them with the right level of guidance and empowering them to do their best work.
• Promote a culture of excellence, stakeholder responsiveness, high performance, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate Tara Values in every action.
• Abide by Tara’s policies, procedures and practices.

External Engagements

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders in the climate and energy ecosystem.
• Support Tara-led strategic dialogues, engagements and forums ensuring coherent and clear messages and asks.

Fulfill other responsibilities and projects as assigned by the Regional Director SEA.

Person Specification

Excited by the prospect of working for a dynamic and fast-growing international organisation with a mission to solve the climate crisis, the ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in energy transition, climate policy, international development, or adjacent fields; significant exposure to Southeast Asia.

Knowledge and experience

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience, gained in either local or international foundations, donor agencies, NGOs or clean energy-related companies or financial institutions;
• A good grasp of the energy system and its interlinkages to climate change and sustainable development including understanding of the barriers and opportunities for accelerating energy transition;
• At least 3+ years' experience in leadership positions, and in managing and guiding experienced team members;
• Demonstrated experience working in the Southeast Asia region;
• Demonstrated strategic thinking capabilities, and demonstrable ability to translate strategy into implementation;
• Demonstrated understanding of the role that civil society organisations play, especially in Asia;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain trusting professional relationships across different sectors, a diverse group of partners, including many working in different cultural contexts;
• Experience working with philanthropic funders or bilateral or multilateral donors and an understanding of how to build and sustain a successful partner network a plus;
• Familiarity with ASEAN processes and regional platforms (e.g., AMEM, ACE, ADB/IFC initiatives, JETP/transition finance architectures) desirable;
• Excellent written and oral English language skills and written and oral fluency in another Asian language preferable .

Personal

• Deep commitment to solving the climate crisis and enabling systemic change;
• Intrinsic motivation, excellent organisational and self-management skills;
• Deeply collaborative;
• Flexibility over working hours to accommodate global time zones;
• Willingness to travel both regionally and internationally;
• Impeccable ethics, and experience working confidentially and operating with high security.

Education

• Advanced degree or relevant expertise in a relevant field such as international relations, strategic studies, environmental management, business administration, economics, or sustainable development.

Location requirements

• The candidate must be based in Southeast Asia and have long-term residency status with legal permit to reside and work in the country.

To apply

Tara is partnering with Perrett Laver in this recruitment. To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter, detailing how you fulfill the role description and specification to the link provided. The reference number for this role is 8045.

The deadline for applications is Friday 16th January 2026 at 12:00PM Singapore Time.

The salary is commensurate with the seniority of the appointment. The successful candidate can be based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Longlisted candidates will be invited to first conversations in February, and the Selection Panel will subsequently meet to decide upon a shortlist for the post, following which interviews with Tara Climate Foundation will take place thereafter.