About the European Climate Foundation

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

We support over 300 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 ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change. We are focusing on engaging and hiring great people from a wide diversity of backgrounds to strengthen the cause. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.

Context of the role

The ECF is committed to ensuring that the EU and its Member States provide strong leadership in implementing the Paris Agreement. As part of that process, the Climate Planning & Laws programme works to secure the adoption of over-arching legal frameworks and policies at EU and national level that will lead to the development of robust long-term strategies, consistent economy-wide plans, and sustained focus on their delivery. Long-term planning should guide decisions on near-term policies and actions in all sectors of the economy, and be underpinned by robust citizen engagement processes.

In recent years the programme and its partners have contributed significantly to securing the EU’s commitment to climate neutrality, to the design and adoption of the EU’s Governance Regulation and to the consolidation and spread of overarching national climate laws. Focus now is on furthering the uptake of such framework laws at the EU and national level; supporting Member States in preparing and following up on the climate plans they are required to develop under the EU’s Governance Regulation, and on building a best practice network for innovative approaches to citizen participation in climate policy-making, such as citizens’ assemblies.

The programme is also coordinating the ECF’s cross-organisation work on the revision of the files that will distribute the EU’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target between countries and sectors, namely the EU Emissions Trading System Directive, the Effort Sharing Regulation and land use legislation. This will form an important part of the advertised role. Potential areas for development for the programme include improving access to justice rights, disseminating EU climate governance experience internationally and exploring the role of different governance levels in climate planning.

The small team works with a wide range of partners in civil society, think tanks, politics, business and movements at Brussels, national and in some cases sub-national levels. Through strategic regranting we aim to conduct thought leadership, convene and align actors, develop and build narratives and ensure our partners are properly resourced, whilst raising new funds for the field and ensuring that a governance perspective is well-integrated into the ECF’s overall approach.

The Programme Manager, Climate Planning & Laws will report to the Programme Director.

Key responsibilities

This job offers an excellent opportunity to engage with and support a growing ECF programme at an important stage in the development of the climate debate.

The post-holder will play a key role in co-developing the granting and fundraising programme, providing strategic advice, dealing with grant management, monitoring and evaluating the progress of different workstreams, and internal coordination. There will be direct engagement with other ECF programmes, partners and funders in designing and aligning strategies. The post-holder will also help to shape the future direction of the programme in response to important developments related to climate and net zero governance in Europe and globally.

The Programme Manager will be responsible for:

• Convening strategic discussions: facilitating high-trust, action-oriented discussions to enable consensus between the ECF’s sectoral and country programme teams, and to advance thinking and alignment among ECF’s external partners.
• Strategic grant-making: supporting the set-up of priorities and budgets; co-developing and implementing strategic grant programmes with our network of grantees and partners; developing the scope of work for different ECF projects; soliciting and validating proposals from potential partners; drafting recommendations for the consideration of the ECF board and our donors.
• Grant programme management: monitoring and evaluating progress and impact of initiatives and grants; facilitating coordination amongst grantees; identifying areas for improvement; acting as a liaison to report regular progress to donors; managing reporting requirements.
• Research activities & prospecting: supporting the director in scoping the landscape around climate and net zero governance at EU, national and other levels, as well as identifying potential new projects and grantees. Following and analysing important strategic developments, and providing relevant inputs and updates to the team, the wider ECF and partners.
• Project management: occasionally managing external consultants and dissemination strategies for thought leadership or analysis projects.
• Internal coordination and communication: liaising with ECF’s sector and country programmes, operations and communications teams to ensure proper and timely dissemination of information, and consistency and complementarity of different projects and workstreams.
• Networking: building partnerships with key individuals across the policymaking, business and civil society communities or movements; convening meetings.

Experience and competencies

We are looking for a candidate who has 8-10 years of experience of delivering impact in influencing an area of policy, with a preference for those who have successfully made a strong positive impact on climate change policy.

The following attributes are sought in applicants:

• A genuine interest in the mission and values of the ECF;
• 8-10 years’ experience in either a public authority, a legal or civil society organization, or a company working in the climate and energy field;
• Excellent knowledge of EU and ideally also national policy-making processes; deep understanding of climate change & energy policies as well as the political challenges to making progress with deeper emission reductions;
• Legal, economic and / or engineering training welcome;
• Specific knowledge of the EU 2030 policy framework (ETS, ESR, LULUCF) and/or of other overarching climate governance structures and legal approaches is welcome;
• Very strong verbal, written and presentational skills in English;
• Excellent collaboration, diplomacy and influencing skills; ability to facilitate effective alignment and action by a diverse group of colleagues and partners;
• Strategic agile leader, with the ability to operate in a networked organization and to follow through on smart and adaptive implementation plans;
• Structured, driven and able to manage many processes simultaneously;
• Enthusiastic personality, with a positive, can-do attitude and flexible, learning mindset;
• Strong project management skills, including monitoring and evaluation and impact analysis;
• Proven track record of working in an environment that demands professionalism, discretion and confidentiality.

What we offer

• The unique opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work;
• A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself;
• A Full-time permanent position.

Location

ECF offices in Brussels – Paris – London – The Hague are possible, with a preference for Brussels.

Start date

As soon as possible.

How to apply

Please upload below in English:

1. CV
2. short cover letter expressing your motivation for this role

All applications will be treated confidentially. We will store your information in our internal database unless you specifically request otherwise.