The European Climate Foundation (ECF) was founded in 2008 as a major philanthropic initiative to help tackle climate change by fostering the development of a low-carbon society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 500 partner organisations to carry out activities that contribute to the public debate on climate action, drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero emissions economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

As towns, cities and countries around the world declare climate emergencies, seas rise, forests burn, glaciers melt, increasing numbers of people take to the streets demanding urgent action and our societies begin to wake up to what the science has been saying for many years, there has never been a more important time to be working on climate change.

The ECF’s strategic communications team is the outreach unit of the foundation. Its role is to act as a centre of expertise for communication on climate change and to play an active role in helping create more political, media and public endorsement for action on climate change at an international, national and sectoral level. Team members deliver strategic advice, communications and outreach support to ECF’s programmes and its grantees, and work as part of a global network of communications experts to enhance the public debate on climate change and its solutions.

The Africa regional team assistant, Strategic Communications will work to facilitate and support the coordination of administrative and operational needs of the regional and country strategic communication teams in Africa. The Assistant will report to the Network Director, Strategic Communications, Africa. The role will provide communications and logistical support to the Director in the process to set up country desks, establish and maintain partnerships, media engagement and outreach, events planning, coordination and execution, building synergies and interfacing with a diverse global network of regional, country and sector teams, tracking progress and impact.

The Regional Team Assistant will be required to coordinate with others in the Operations Team to support regional recruitment and finance processes, as well as in planning for meeting and travel logistics for the Africa regional and country teams.

This role requires someone who is dynamic, proactive, with the ability to multitask and deliver on a variety of tasks. The role will require discretion and high standards of professionalism with a keen eye for detail and demonstrable experience working in a high-pressured, multicultural context.

Key responsibilities

• Support in the coordination of scoping, development and management of a regional database of partners and champions from across various sectors - political, civil society, think tanks, academic, campaigners;

• Provide support in the planning and delivery of a robust media engagement strategy which involves communication with an active database of media contacts, organising for workshops, field trips, coordinating with partners to design strategic media interventions;

• Coordinate plans and logistics for regional events, conferences and other fora;

• Work with the People & Culture team to coordinate support for regional recruitment processes;

• Support in developing and maintaining a calendar of key events and moments of regional importance;

• Provide operational guidance and logistics support as work expands across Africa;

• Provide administrative and operational support to Africa country teams as appropriate;

• Undertaking other reasonable duties as requested by the Network Director, Africa.

Experience and competencies

The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven work experience in a similar communication position with administrative functions, ideally working in a busy regional or international environment;

• Proactive and autonomous attitude and approach, creative problem-solving skills;

• Flexibility to deal with last-minute urgent requests;

• Excellent communication skills with an excellent level of English (written and spoken), and the ability to process information and connect dots (lateral thinking);

• Familiarity with meeting coordination and stakeholder management;

• Excellent attention to detail, diligence and reliability;

• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint as well as an affinity with a range of collaboration tools such as Slack, Trello, Asana, Zoom, Sharepoint etc.;

• Excellent skills in planning and able to take initiative and work independently with a hands-on attitude;

• The disposition to work generously with colleagues in a multicultural community of peers, and the ability to work across international norms and values;

• The versatile and adaptable skills necessary to flourish in a fast-paced and wide-ranging work environment where remote work is the norm;

• The capacity to prioritise and manage own workload;

• Tactful with colleagues and discrete with high-level information;

• Open and friendly disposition with a good sense of humour;

• A significant interest in climate and the environment;

• A passion for excellence.

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 professional activities;

• A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself;

• A full-time position with a consultant contract (subject to location) for 12 months, with a possible renewal after one year.

Location

Flexible location in Africa. Only candidates with the right to work in their location will be considered. We may have co-working spaces in some locations.

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please upload in English your CV and a 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.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalised groups to apply.