Head of Research

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. Established in 2025 as a Dutch foundation (Stichting), the Institute is dedicated to driving change through evidence-based research, policy analysis, and policy advocacy. Our work centers on accelerating the energy transition and green industrialization, and enhancing climate resilience and adaptation, by leveraging finance in a just and sustainable way, and strengthening regional climate diplomacy and cooperation.

The Carboun Institute aims to build its organizational leadership and to hire a Head of Research to lead its research activities.

Position Overview The Carboun Institute is looking for a motivated, technically-competent, and policy-driven expert to lead its research work with a focus on energy transition and green industry. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the MENA region’s decarbonization and green industrialization agenda by combining technical analysis, scenario modeling, and policy design. It aims to provide actionable strategies for reducing carbon emissions across energy and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on accelerating renewable energy deployment, advancing low-carbon fuels such as green hydrogen, and enabling industrial decarbonization.

The position is a hybrid one, combining the candidate’s own applied research with oversight of a number of projects. The successful candidate will translate complex technical and economic insights into policy recommendations for governments and industry stakeholders, while collaborating closely with the Head of Programs to ensure delivery and quality of projects. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership experience to oversee and direct existing and upcoming projects covering energy transition and industrial decarbonization including iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals.

Key Responsibilities Research Leadership • Design, lead, and implement applied research on energy transition, renewable energy deployment, low-carbon technologies, industrial and sectoral decarbonization pathways for iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals across the MENA region. • Integrate energy, industrial, and sectoral analyses into comprehensive national decarbonization pathways, including energy and industrial decarbonization, 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 energy transition and green industrialization. • Identify strategic research priorities aligned with the Carboun Institute’s mission and emerging regional policy needs. • Ensure methodological rigor, technical accuracy, relevance, and policy applicability of all research outputs, and assist in the implementation of relevant Carboun Institute policies and processes. • Develop partnerships with academia, industry, and policy institutions to strengthen collaborative research and knowledge exchange. • Contribute to organizational learning by capturing and sharing insights, lessons, and best practices. • Contribute to the organization’s convening power by helping develop its network and expanding its contacts database.

Policy Advice and Support Translate technical and economic findings into actionable policy recommendations for governments, utilities, and industry stakeholders. • Develop and evaluate policy instruments for deep decarbonization focusing on industrial decarbonization such as carbon pricing, regulatory frameworks, and financing mechanisms. • Analyze industrial decarbonization pathways focusing on iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals and assess how they can enable sustainable economic diversification, technology innovation, and green industrialization, positioning MENA economies competitively in low-carbon value chains. • Lead or contribute to the preparation of policy briefs, white papers, and strategic roadmaps on energy transition, decarbonization policy, and green industry development focusing on iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals. • 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. • Provide expert advice and thought leadership in national and regional policy dialogues on energy transition, decarbonization, and sustainable industry focusing on iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals.

Strategic Engagement • Represent the Carboun Institute in convenings, conferences, and fora 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 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 research for high-impact publications, including policy briefs, reports, analysis papers, working papers, and commentary articles including on industrial decarbonization. • Deliver high-quality stakeholder convenings aligned with the Institute’s 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 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) Public policy (with a climate, energy, or industrial development focus) Minimum of 10 years of energy and climate research and/or policy experience Experience in energy transition and industrial decarbonization projects including iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals Demonstrated understanding of the issues surrounding energy transition in the MENA region Deep familiarity with renewable energy systems, particularly in desert environment Demonstrated understanding of the issues relating to industrial decarbonization in the region and knowledge of the MENA region's industrial landscape and political economy Demonstrated understanding of iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals Demonstrated track record of publications in relevant fields including iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals Strong research and 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 Network of contacts in the MENA energy and industrial sectors and/or climate policy sphere Willingness and ability to travel regularly within the MENA region and internationally Desirable Ability to speak and write in English and Arabic at professional level without heavy reliance on AI. PhD in a related field (e.g., energy systems, decarbonization technologies, industrial policy) Specialized coursework or certificates in: Renewable energy systems or hydrogen economy Industrial decarbonization Competencies Technical competence and an understanding of issues relating to energy transition and industrial decarbonization including iron and steel, cement and concrete, methane, and chemicals. Strategic thinking with ability to identify key leverage points for energy system transformation, market integration, and green industrialization. Collaborative approach to work, with ability to integrate perspectives from various disciplines Diplomatic skills for engaging with government, industry, and civil society stakeholders Independence and initiative to drive forward research agenda Commitment to climate action and sustainable development Working Arrangements This is a full-time equivalent role with renewal contingent on performance and funding. Location is negotiable with a preference to candidates in the MENA Region/ European timezone. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, qualifications, and location. The Head of Research will report to the Executive Director and oversee the work of research fellows, analysts, and consultants leading the different projects. The position will involve collaboration with the Head of 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: 1. A detailed CV highlighting relevant research and policy experience 2. A motivation letter (personally written) explaining your interest in the position and alignment with the Institute's mission 3. Writing samples demonstrating your analytical and communication skills, including work published in 2023 and before. 4. Names and contact information of two professional references Applications should be submitted through the application form. If you face technical challenges please let us know by emailing [email removed - click apply for more details] with the subject line “Head of Research”.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Due to the large volume of applications expected we cannot guarantee a response to all applicants. For more information about the Carboun Institute and our work, please visit our website and follow our social media outlets.