Regional Director, East China

Job Title: Regional Director, East China
Location: Shanghai, CN
Supervised by: Executive Director, Cities and Regions

SUMMARY:

The Regional Director (RD) plays a pivotal role in advancing EF China’s mission at the subnational level by building strong relationships with local stakeholders, integrating and sharing deep insights into regional needs, challenges, and opportunities, and ensuring the effective implementation of EF China’s strategies and projects within the region. The RD will collaborate closely with program and functional teams to achieve organization-wide goals, strategies, and plans. The responsibilities of the RD encompass the following core areas: managing strategic partnerships, supporting strategy and project development and implementation, generating regional insights, and overseeing general operations management of the local office. During the initial phase of establishing the regional office, the RD is also tasked with overseeing the preparatory efforts.

The ideal candidate should possess comprehensive expertise in macroeconomics and energy transition, with specialized knowledge in one or more of the following fields: environmental management (particularly air quality control), the shipping industry, urban planning and development, or finance. The candidate should demonstrate a thorough understanding of local contexts and maintain a strong professional network. Previous experience working or collaborating with NGOs is considered a significant advantage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES :

Partnership

Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with grantees, policymakers, business leaders, and other stakeholders, primarily in the East China region, by maintaining regular contact with key stakeholders, to foster collaboration at the regional level;
Proactively identify opportunities for regional collaboration, and work closely with relevant EF China Programs to develop new initiatives/projects;
Share knowledge, expertise, critical insights, and networks with partners through various channels, aligning efforts toward shared goals and advancing the field collectively.

Internal and External Coordination

Lead the coordination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is signed between the regional governments and EF China in the East China region, coordinate with internal Programs and external stakeholders in collaborative projects and activities;
Collaborate with the Communications team to effectively convey region-specific messages to diverse stakeholders.

Strategy Cycle

Participate in the development, review and update of the East China regional strategy, leveraging insights from grantees, partners, and advisors to ensure it reflects regional contexts, needs, and opportunities;
Lead the implementation of the East China regional strategy;
Conduct and support research and knowledge synthesis on regional themes, contributing to EF China’s broader knowledge base and strategy development;
Continuously expand regional expertise, including but not limited to major local policies and projects, as well as the status and progress of key areas aligned with EF China’s priorities, such as investment promotion, power, shipping, and urban development; share insights with colleagues and further establish thought leadership in the field.

Fundraising

Provide support on the fundraising activities in the region, including funder site visits, forums, and events, with support from the regional office team;
Contribute to the proposal development and engagement with current and potential funders by providing valuable local insights;
Assist in reporting to funders on the progress of grants and projects.

Grants and Projects Management

Support and coordinate the execution or initiation of projects and grants in the region;
Contribute to budget and spending plan preparation for EF China and regional offices by providing local insights and recommendations on project design, and ensure effective execution;
Identify and recommend grantees and partners, participate in project design, to ensure alignment with regional strategies and local contexts;
Support annual grant-level evaluations and recommend adjustments to enhance project effectiveness and efficiency;

General Management

Set up the regional offices with support from China headquarter;
Provide leadership in talent selection, coaching, training, professional development, and performance management for team members;
Foster a collaborative team spirit, continuous learning and promote EF China’s culture and working philosophy;
Manage General and Administrative(G&A) expenses for the East China regional office;
Maintain communication and aligment between China headquarter and regional offices through regular check-ins and reporting;
Prepare reporting materials such as work plans, progress reports, and regional updates for the management team, board, and regulators;
Support China headquarter in building and maintaining relationships with local Public Security Bureaus (PSB), and ensure that all activities in the region comply withpolicies and regulations in both China and the US;
Undertake additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the CEO/President and the Executive Director, Cities and Regions;
Provide backup support to colleagues as needed.

This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education: Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably in a relevant field: macroeconomics, finance, energy and climate, urban planning, environmental sciences and engineering.
Working Experience: over 12 years of relevant work experience with strong expertise in macroeconomics and energy transition; specialized knowledge in one or more of the following fields: economics, finance and investment, power, shipping industry, urban planning and construction, environmental management (particularly in air quality control); experience in the East China region is highly preferred; experience in program management, program evaluation, fundraising, government relations, and communication is strongly preferred.
Language Level: native-level Chinese skills required; excellent command of spoken and written English, communicates in English effectively in public, with a deep understanding of Western cultures.
Networking: the ability to develop new alliances and formal networks, mobilize external resources, and foster relationships with key stakeholders to achieve long-term mutual interest.
Communication and Coordination Skills: communicate logically and articulate key messages/points with a clear structure, listen actively, sense and take care of the audience’s emotions and unspoken views, find interactions for all parties to achieve win-win and present the audience’s benefits clearly, synthesize different views to develop integrated messages.
Problem Solving: is able to define and prioritize key issues, make analysis with logical reasoning, utilize and synergize various resources to summarize and find solutions, and determine the best solution in a holistic approach.
Strategic Thinking: the ability to understand the field landscape and is able to anticipate future scenarios with big-picture thinking, be able to prioritize, and make trade-offs based on possible resources.
Team Leadership: is able to set up a team and assign work effectively, motivate team members and treat team members with fairness, provide timely constructive criticism to team members, and support them for long-term career development.

SUCCESS FACTORS

Ethical Behavior/Integrity – Demonstrates principled performance and sound ethics, showing consistency among principles, values, and behaviors to build trust and credibility internally and externally.
Broader Views for Systematic Solution – Proactively link program strategy and goals with the ones of the whole organization and other relevant programs, as appropriate, for cooperation and organization-wide capacity enhancement.
Mission-driven/Initiative – Inspired by the organization's vision and mission, and takes actions with ownership, a can-do attitude, and a proactive mindset.
Team Spirits – Collaboratively works toward solutions that benefit all involved parties; willingly cooperates with others to accomplish team/organization objectives.

Please email a cover letter and resume, with subject line "Application for Regional Director, East China", to jobs@efchina.org.

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Regional Director, East China

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You are here: Home >> About Us >> Jobs >> Regional Director, East China Info Regional Director, East China Job Title: Regional Director, East China Location: Shanghai, CN Supervised by: Executive Director, Cities and Regions SUMMARY: The Regional Director (RD) plays a pivotal role in advancing EF China’s mission at the subnational level by building strong relationships with local stakeholders, integrating and sharing deep insights into regional needs, challenges, and opportunities, and ensuring the effective implementation of EF China’s strategies and projects within the region. The RD will collaborate closely with program and functional teams to achieve organization-wide goals, strategies, and plans. The responsibilities of the RD encompass the following core areas: managing strategic partnerships, supporting strategy and project development and implementation, generating regional insights, and overseeing general operations management of the local office. During the initial phase of establishing the regional office, the RD is also tasked with overseeing the preparatory efforts. The ideal candidate should possess comprehensive expertise in macroeconomics and energy transition, with specialized knowledge in one or more of the following fields: environmental management (particularly air quality control), the shipping industry, urban planning and development, or finance. The candidate should demonstrate a thorough understanding of local contexts and maintain a strong professional network. Previous experience working or collaborating with NGOs is considered a significant advantage. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES : Partnership Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with grantees, policymakers, business leaders, and other stakeholders, primarily in the East China region, by maintaining regular contact with key stakeholders, to foster collaboration at the regional level; Proactively identify opportunities for regional collaboration, and work closely with relevant EF China Programs to develop new initiatives/projects; Share knowledge, expertise, critical insights, and networks with partners through various channels, aligning efforts toward shared goals and advancing the field collectively. Internal and External Coordination Lead the coordination of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is signed between the regional governments and EF China in the East China region, coordinate with internal Programs and external stakeholders in collaborative projects and activities; Collaborate with the Communications team to effectively convey region-specific messages to diverse stakeholders. Strategy Cycle Participate in the development, review and update of the East China regional strategy, leveraging insights from grantees, partners, and advisors to ensure it reflects regional contexts, needs, and opportunities; Lead the implementation of the East China regional strategy; Conduct and support research and knowledge synthesis on regional themes, contributing to EF China’s broader knowledge base and strategy development; Continuously expand regional expertise, including but not limited to major local policies and projects, as well as the status and progress of key areas aligned with EF China’s priorities, such as investment promotion, power, shipping, and urban development; share insights with colleagues and further establish thought leadership in the field. Fundraising Provide support on the fundraising activities in the region, including funder site visits, forums, and events, with support from the regional office team; Contribute to the proposal development and engagement with current and potential funders by providing valuable local insights; Assist in reporting to funders on the progress of grants and projects. Grants and Projects Management Support and coordinate the execution or initiation of projects and grants in the region; Contribute to budget and spending plan preparation for EF China and regional offices by providing local insights and recommendations on project design, and ensure effective execution; Identify and recommend grantees and partners, participate in project design, to ensure alignment with regional strategies and local contexts; Support annual grant-level evaluations and recommend adjustments to enhance project effectiveness and efficiency; General Management Set up the regional offices with support from China headquarter; Provide leadership in talent selection, coaching, training, professional development, and performance management for team members; Foster a collaborative team spirit, continuous learning and promote EF China’s culture and working philosophy; Manage General and Administrative(G&A) expenses for the East China regional office; Maintain communication and aligment between China headquarter and regional offices through regular check-ins and reporting; Prepare reporting materials such as work plans, progress reports, and regional updates for the management team, board, and regulators; Support China headquarter in building and maintaining relationships with local Public Security Bureaus (PSB), and ensure that all activities in the region comply withpolicies and regulations in both China and the US; Undertake additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by the CEO/President and the Executive Director, Cities and Regions; Provide backup support to colleagues as needed. This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES Education: Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably in a relevant field: macroeconomics, finance, energy and climate, urban planning, environmental sciences and engineering. Working Experience: over 12 years of relevant work experience with strong expertise in macroeconomics and energy transition; specialized knowledge in one or more of the following fields: economics, finance and investment, power, shipping industry, urban planning and construction, environmental management (particularly in air quality control); experience in the East China region is highly preferred; experience in program management, program evaluation, fundraising, government relations, and communication is strongly preferred. Language Level: native-level Chinese skills required; excellent command of spoken and written English, communicates in English effectively in public, with a deep understanding of Western cultures. Networking: the ability to develop new alliances and formal networks, mobilize external resources, and foster relationships with key stakeholders to achieve long-term mutual interest. Communication and Coordination Skills: communicate logically and articulate key messages/points with a clear structure, listen actively, sense and take care of the audience’s emotions and unspoken views, find interactions for all parties to achieve win-win and present the audience’s benefits clearly, synthesize different views to develop integrated messages. Problem Solving: is able to define and prioritize key issues, make analysis with logical reasoning, utilize and synergize various resources to summarize and find solutions, and determine the best solution in a holistic approach. Strategic Thinking: the ability to understand the field landscape and is able to anticipate future scenarios with big-picture thinking, be able to prioritize, and make trade-offs based on possible resources. Team Leadership: is able to set up a team and assign work effectively, motivate team members and treat team members with fairness, provide timely constructive criticism to team members, and support them for long-term career development. SUCCESS FACTORS Ethical Behavior/Integrity – Demonstrates principled performance and sound ethics, showing consistency among principles, values, and behaviors to build trust and credibility internally and externally. Broader Views for Systematic Solution – Proactively link program strategy and goals with the ones of the whole organization and other relevant programs, as appropriate, for cooperation and organization-wide capacity enhancement. Mission-driven/Initiative – Inspired by the organization's vision and mission, and takes actions with ownership, a can-do attitude, and a proactive mindset. Team Spirits – Collaboratively works toward solutions that benefit all involved parties; willingly cooperates with others to accomplish team/organization objectives. Please email a cover letter and resume, with subject line "Application for Regional Director, East China", to jobs@efchina.org.	About Us Introduction Staff Board Key Funders Grant Application Jobs Contact Us 25th Anniv.