Interim Managing Director, 9 months Paternity Cover

Summary of Position

Ember is a fast-growing global energy think tank which requires Managing Director paternity cover.

This position will inspire and empower the 80-person Ember team across 19 countries, as well as managing its talented leadership team.

The role requires a personality that combines strong management expertise, experience working with global philanthropy, and strategic vision in the energy sector. In return, you will be leading a dynamic and well-respected international team that is making a major impact in accelerating the energy transition. 

Organisation Overview

Founded in 2020, Ember is an independent, not-for-profit energy think tank that accelerates the clean energy transition with data and policy. We gather, curate and analyse data on the power sector and coal mine methane emissions, and use our findings to improve energy and climate policy.

You would be joining an organisation with a strong senior leadership team, a clear strategy for the period, and a motivated, ambitious team.

Ember enjoys grant funding backed by a number of major philanthropic foundations, and a new fundraising team to support further growth.

After strong growth in 2025, next year is likely to be a year of consolidation for Ember, as our teams grow their headcounts more gradually, and use automation and AI to increase productivity.

Our theory of change aims to shape the global energy narrative as well as contribute to regional and national energy policy discussions. Ember makes change through our tried-and-tested combination of open data, insightful analysis, sector expertise, stunning data visualisation, and targeted strategic communications. Our Organisation Strategy in 2026 will continue to target Ember as the ‘go-to’ source for open data and analysis on the global electricity transition, and we will be expanding collaborative work with our non-profit partners.

See Ember’s website for more information, as well as our Impact Report - which gives much more information about the organisation last year.

The role

We are seeking a leader who fosters a collaborative and empowering environment, enabling senior colleagues to lead their teams and participate in decisions on the future of the organisation. The successful candidate will demonstrate a low-ego, high-trust management style, and be adept at building alignment across remote teams. and will prioritise shared decision-making and open communication.

The role directly manages six highly-qualified senior team directors who operate with a high degree of autonomy, and are supported by the Managing Director in key strategic decisions on their teams.

The role would report directly to the Ember Board Chair, Bryony Worthington.

This role is Remote on a European or Asian time zone (GMT to GMT+8), and able to travel to meet in person with the leadership team approximately 2 times a year, as well as ad hoc meetings with other team members 

Key responsibilities

• Work with the Ember leadership team to implement the Organisation Strategy (which we will discuss during the recruitment process)
• Develop the skills and capabilities of the leadership team and their global staff, to ensure Ember continues to maximise its impact across the globe
• Ensure financial oversight of Ember’s £6m annual budget, and make decisions around hiring and major new costs.
• Continue to generate new funding options and support existing funder relationships, working with the fundraising team and the board.
• Continue to accelerate Ember’s international impact, especially in growing our profile in Asia
• Explore new areas for the Ember approach to have impact, including working with our Coal Mine Methane team.
• Represent Ember and its work with key stakeholders internally and externally - help to grow the international brand and impact
• Lead on quarterly Board meetings and with Board interface.

Requirements

• Previous experience in a leadership role in an energy transition focused non-profit or private sector company.
• Wide experience in team management in a growing, global, remote team.
• Track record of creating policy impact
• Excellent communications and teamworking capability, ability to empower others, transparent in approach. An enabler, rather than a commander. Bring in empathy, to empower the team to change the world.
• Deep managerial and governance experience of growing organisations and people development skills.
• Walking the Ember values - a passion for data; a commitment to accelerating the energy transition and tackling climate change; a belief in evidence not ideology; action and impact-focused; political nous - need to be able to spot the tipping points

Nice to have

• Strong network of funders and experts in the climate sector
• Experience of working with advisory and management Boards
• Proven knowledge of the electricity transition
• Passion and expertise in the use of data to drive change in the world

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background. 

As part of the selection process, there may be a need for the candidate to travel to meet the team (with expenses covered).

Benefits

Salary: Exec 1-4 (£89k-£100k pa), pro rata, dependent on experience. Salaries may be adjusted depending on a location cost of living formula, but will not be below 75% of advertised figure.

Contract: Fixed-term paternity cover from 1st October to 30th June, with some flexibility for the right candidate. Full time (Ember works a 9-day fortnight with no reduction in pay). Part-time can be considered.

Remote culture and diverse team: Ember is a remote-first organisation, with talents of diverse backgrounds from 15+ countries over the world.

Further benefits: We offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• We operate a nine-day fortnight meaning our full-time staff are given every other Friday off work with no reduction in pay
• A minimum of 25 days holiday, plus public holidays
• For each year that you're part of the team at Ember you'll receive an additional day of holiday, up to a maximum of 5 additional days.
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave
• Flexible working conditions, including the opportunity for part-time work and home working.
• Access to a local working space can be arranged
• Free annual eye tests
• Access to a counselling service
• Funding and allocated time for your training and development
• Paid volunteer day
• Four paid days off to enable low carbon travel
• Time off to donate blood