About the European Climate Foundation

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle climate change by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 700 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

The foundation works through several sectoral, cross-cutting and regional initiatives and collaborates with a wide network of partners to advance progress towards this shared goal.

ECF programmes are entering a new phase: with a move from targets to meaningful implementation, decarbonization in Spain and Europe sees larger real-life implications. This requires strategic policymaking that considers just transition as the core transformation to gain broad public support while speeding up implementation for a fast emission reduction. ECF works at this intersection of policy, societal engagement, and political support. In this transformation, we seek to build capacity on upcoming issues, foster new alliances, maintain, and build broad-based public support for ambitious action on climate, and ensure that social justice is recognised in policy design.

About the role

The ECF’s Spain Programme exists to help broaden and deepen the political consensus for decarbonisation while securing actions to put the country on track for net zero and prevent the weakening of environmental standards. The Spain programme works with a wide range of partners in civil society, think tanks, business groups and academia in support of positive action to improve the diversity of the public debate and accelerate policy solutions to ensure a fair transition.

This job will offer an excellent opportunity to engage with and support a major ECF programme at an important stage in the transition in Spain. The postholder will work in close cooperation with the Spain Programme Director and alongside the Societal engagement & Culture change programme manager, as well as other team members, to deliver strong performance and operational management across the programme:

Key responsibilities

• Building political will in Spain around climate action: Closely follow and analyse policy and political developments at the national level to design strategic solutions and build thought leadership in Spain.

• Strategy development: Support the Director in the development of the Spain programme strategy of ECF with a specific input opinion to the implementation of policy and green economy-focused strategies as well as providing advice to the team on tactical innovation to approach the political influence and social innovation work. At the operational level this also entails budget planning and control of different funding lines.

• Grantmaking: Co-design grantmaking plans together with relevant team members, leading on certain projects and assessing implementation in others, and helping adapt them to unforeseen political scenarios and maximise political impact.

• Networking and Convening: Build good and trusted relations with partners, expand networks to key stakeholders, developing convening partners, organising trainings, and sharing expertise within the whole ecosystem.

• Programme operations: Co-developing and implementing internal processes to improve team cohesion and efficiency, together with the other programme manager.

• Line management: manage and animate a dedicated team with complementary approaches and expertise related to policy/political affairs experts with different sectoral focus.

• Funder relations: Work with the Programme director on fundraising proposals, reporting, and presentations to funders.

Experience and competencies

• Demonstrated interest in the mission and values of the ECF.

• Strategist with strong understanding of the processes and dynamics of Spanish and European policymaking and ability to think ahead and beyond classic boundaries.

• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategies to achieve change.

• 8-10 years’ experience working on advocacy, policy or political affairs-related areas.

• Demonstrated expertise and positive attributes in people management.

• Strong project management skills, including monitoring, evaluation and impact analysis.

• Excellent collaboration, diplomacy and influencing skills; ability to facilitate effective alignment and action by a diverse group of colleagues and partners.

• Excellent command of spoken and written Spanish and English.

• Attention to detail; flexibility; ability to work independently and to prioritise tasks in a fast-moving work environment.

• The disposition to work with colleagues in a high-trust international community of peers with a spirit of generosity and mutual support.

What we offer

▪ The role offers a unique opportunity for a highly driven individual with a sincere interest in politics and climate issues to work at a politically and strategically interesting position to support progress and get Spain back on track on climate protection, together with a talented team of a 9 people.

European Climate Foundation

▪ The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with ambition and a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work;

▪ A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself; ▪ A permanent employment contract.

Location

Madrid, Spain.

Start date

Flexible / As soon as possible.

How to apply – Internal procedure

Please send a maximum 2-page CV in English and a short cover letter.

All applications will be treated confidentially.