Decarbonization Program Manager
About the Carboun Institute
The Carboun Institute is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's first and only independent climate and energy policy think tank. It was established in 2025 as a Dutch foundation (Stichting). The Institute is dedicated to driving change through evidence-based research, policy analysis, and advocacy. Our work centers on accelerating decarbonization and energy transition, enhancing climate resilience and adaptation, and strengthening regional climate diplomacy. The Carboun Institute is currently working to build its organizational leadership by hiring program managers to lead its different programs.
Position Overview
The Carboun Institute seeks a Program Manager to lead its Decarbonization Pathways Program, the Institute’s flagship initiative on national and regional energy transition strategies. The purpose of this hybrid role is to help advance the energy transition in the MENA region with a focus on downstream green industrialization.
The program aims to provide actionable strategies for reducing carbon emissions across energy, transport, buildings, and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on accelerating renewable energy deployment, advancing low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, and enabling industrial decarbonization. The Program also explores how decarbonization can serve as a driver of economic diversification and green industrialization, supporting the emergence of new low-carbon industries and sustainable growth opportunities across the region.
This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the MENA region’s decarbonization and green industrialization agenda by combining technical analysis, policy design, and scenario modeling.
The position will translate complex technical and economic insights into policy recommendations for governments and industry stakeholders, while collaborating closely with the Climate Diplomacy Program to ensure technical modeling supports broader economic transformation and diplomacy objectives.
The position is a hybrid one, combining the program manager’s own applied research with program management, partnerships, fundraising, and oversight of existing projects. The ideal candidate is an energy expert with strong analytical grounding. However, other backgrounds will be considered if they can demonstrate that they combine technical expertise with policy experience and possess strong program management experience to oversee and direct existing and upcoming projects under the Decarbonization Pathways Program, including the Green Industry and Green Hydrogen projects.
Key Responsibilities
Research Leadership
Design and lead applied research on energy transition, renewable energy deployment, low-carbon technologies (including hydrogen and its derivatives), and sectoral decarbonization pathways across the MENA region.
Integrate sectoral analyses (power, transport, industry, and buildings) into comprehensive national decarbonization pathways, identifying least-cost and high-impact mitigation options.
Assess how decarbonization pathways interact with economic diversification and industrial competitiveness, with an emphasis on opportunities for green industrialization.
Conduct comparative analysis of international best practices in energy transition policy and industrial decarbonization, and assess their applicability to MENA’s political economy and industrial context.
Contribute to the Institute’s green industrialization initiative, including preparation of two annual policy briefs and convenings.
Identify strategic research priorities aligned with the Carboun Institute’s mission and emerging regional policy needs.
Supervise and mentor a small team of 2–3 research fellows, analysts, and consultants contributing to the Decarbonization Program.
Ensure methodological rigor, relevance, and policy applicability of all research outputs.
Develop partnerships with academia, industry, and policy institutions to strengthen collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
Program Management
Oversee planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects under the Decarbonization Pathways Program.
Manage program budgets, timelines, and deliverables to ensure high-quality outcomes and accountability.
Oversee donor-funded project reporting in coordination with the Executive Director.
Coordinate inputs from internal teams and external partners to deliver integrated outputs.
Develop and maintain project tracking systems, ensuring effective communication and reporting across the program.
Contribute to organizational learning by capturing and sharing insights, lessons, and best practices from program activities.
Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for program delivery, visibility, and policy impact.
Policy Development
Analyze industrial decarbonization pathways and assess how they can enable sustainable economic diversification, technology innovation, and green industrialization, positioning MENA economies competitively in low-carbon value chains.
Translate technical and economic findings into actionable policy recommendations for governments, utilities, and industry stakeholders.
Develop and evaluate policy instruments for deep decarbonization, such as energy market reform, regulatory frameworks, and financing mechanisms.
Lead or contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, white papers, and strategic roadmaps on energy transition, decarbonization policy, and green industrial development.
Provide expert advice and thought leadership in national and regional policy dialogues on energy transition, decarbonization, and sustainable industry.
Strategic Engagement
Represent the Carboun Institute in high-level meetings, conferences, and policy forums within the MENA region and internationally.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector partners, donors, and civil society organizations.
Identify and pursue strategic opportunities for program expansion, partnerships, and funding aligned with the Institute’s mission, vision, and core values.
Support the Executive Director in donor engagement, proposal development, and reporting.
Publication and Dissemination
Lead the production of high-impact publications, including policy briefs, reports, working papers, and commentary articles.
Deliver high-quality stakeholder convenings aligned with the Institute’s annual program objectives.
Ensure effective dissemination of research findings through the Institute’s communication channels, media outreach, and public events.
Contribute to thought leadership through participation in public discussions, expert panels, and media commentary.
Uphold Carboun’s standards for integrity, clarity, accessibility, and influence in all written and public communications.
Qualifications
Essential
Master's degree in a relevant field, including:
Energy policy or energy systems
Environmental policy or environmental science
Sustainability studies
Engineering (especially chemical, mechanical, or industrial engineering)
Economics (with a focus on energy or industrial policy)
Public policy (with a climate, energy, or industrial focus)
Minimum of 5-7 years of energy and climate research and/or policy experience.
Demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding energy transition in the MENA region.
Deep familiarity with renewable energy systems, particularly in desert environments.
Strong analytical skills and ability to translate technical concepts into policy recommendations.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
Proven ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government, industry, and academia.
Publication record in relevant fields.
Knowledge of the MENA region's industrial landscape and political economy.
Network of contacts in the MENA energy or climate policy sphere, or in its industrial sector.
Desirable
Arabic language skills.
PhD in a related field (e.g., energy systems, decarbonization technologies, industrial policy).
Demonstrated understanding of the issues relating to green industrialization in the region.
Specialized coursework or certificates in:
Renewable energy systems or the hydrogen economy
Industrial decarbonization
Project or program management (e.g., PMP certification)
Competencies
Strategic thinking with the ability to identify key leverage points for energy system transformation, market integration, and green industrialization.
Project management skills to deliver research outputs and deliverables on schedule.
Collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to research and problem-solving, with comfort operating across technical and policy spheres.
Diplomatic skills for engaging with government, industry, and civil society stakeholders.
Independence and initiative to drive forward the research agenda.
Commitment to climate action and sustainable development.
Working Arrangements
This is a full-time, three-year-long position, with renewal contingent on performance and funding.
Location is negotiable with a preference for candidates in the MENA Region/ European timezone.
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, qualifications, and location.
The Program Manager will report to the Executive Director and supervise a small team of research fellows, analysts, and consultants, leading and working on the different decarbonization projects. The position will involve collaboration with other policy and research fellows across the Institute's thematic programs.
The role requires regular travel (within the MENA region and internationally) for stakeholder engagement, field research, conferences, and partner meetings.
Application Process
Qualified candidates are invited to submit:
A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience.
A motivation letter (personally written) explaining your interest in the position and alignment with the Institute's mission.
Writing samples demonstrating your analytical and communication skills.
Names and contact information of at least two professional references.
Applications should be submitted through the application form. If you face technical challenges, please let us know by emailing careers@carboun.com with the subject line “Decarbonization Program Manager Application”.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For more information about the Carboun Institute and our work, please visit our website and follow our social media outlets