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 280 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.

About the role

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 an international network of communications experts to enhance the public debate on climate change and its solutions more broadly.

The core focus of the role is developing the use of research to deliver strategic communications goals in the energy finance, transport and energy policy space. This will require the ability to devise strategic research based on complex data-driven information about the clean energy transition and deliver research products that are powerful communications tools for driving change. Your day-to-day will be working as part of a small research team in a production environment. In a typical week, you might work on several different briefings and background research tasks, to be used to brief colleagues, journalistic contacts, spokespeople or partners at other organisations. The emphasis is on working collaboratively across a global network of communications experts, to produce deeper strategic approaches in this space based on the short and journalistic analysis. This position will report to the Senior Research Analyst.

We are looking for someone who is a clear and creative strategic thinker, able to devise and implement research-led strategic communications approaches. They will be an excellent researcher, an excellent writer, meticulous in attention to detail, and with very strong skills in presenting and structuring information to inform and persuade. The ideal candidate will be naturally collaborative and adept at discussing and negotiating ideas. They might also be good at presenting information visually, data analysis, or bring another relevant area of expertise.

This role will suit someone with a background as a financial journalist, a research analyst in the energy sector who has been producing materials for both investor and generalist audience, or an NGO campaigner with strong energy finance experience. The critical thing we'll be looking for is people with a clear vision for devising more ambitious work in this space, and who can draw on complex material and insights to drive and deliver communications impact, and who work well and generously with others.

Key responsibilities

The Research Analyst, Strategic Communications – Energy Finance and Transport will be responsible for:

• Producing short research briefings on a range of topics, including tracking the trends on clean and fossil energy, financing of coal-fired power and renewable projects, clean transport transformation (i.e. electric vehicles, shipping), and energy policy with a global perspective.
• Working closely with the Senior Analyst and Research Manager to develop new and ambitious expert analysis and strategic thinking on energy finance and transport.
• Working as part of a small research team in a fast-paced production environment, often to ambitious deadlines.

Experience and competencies

Essential:

• A genuine interest in the mission and values of the organization.
• At least 2 years of professional experience at the intersection of energy and finance, in particular on clean energy transition.
• A solid understanding of relevant policy issues in the climate and energy space.
• Relevant research contacts in the energy finance space.
• Excellent writing skills in English, and the ability to make your case in person or over the phone.
• Excellent instincts and good ideas about what effective research-led communications in the energy finance space should look like.
• The disposition to work generously with colleagues in a high-trust global community of peers.
• The versatile and adaptable skills necessary to flourish in a fast-paced and wide-ranging work environment and work across phone/video conferencing, time zones, Slack, email, Trello, etc.
• A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate change.

Desirable:

• Relevant deep issue expertise, which might include a specialization in energy policy, corporate analysis, clean energy financing, power markets, or other relevant topics.
  Strong specialist communications skills in one or more of these areas: energy finance journalism, data analysis and financial modelling.
• Experience in financial research, competent in a range of tools, such as Bloomberg Terminal, advanced Excel, R/Python.
• Strong editorial skills.
• Additional language skills.
• Regional knowledge of EU and/or Asia energy sector development.

What we offer

• The unique opportunity to work as part of a dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with ambition and a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work.
• The chance to create impactful research across a broad range of climate and energy issues.
• A flexible work environment where you can develop and challenge yourself. A 12-months contract (with possibility to renew).

Location

Flexible. This role is compatible with remote working, and depending on location, there maybe the possibility of colocation with colleagues. We will not support relocation.

Start date

April 2020

How to apply

Please upload below

• CV and Cover letter (Both in English)
• Please also include in the portfolio a short (<200 word) answer to this research question: <strong>Highlight a piece of analysis, research work or report from the energy finance space that you think has been effective in supporting impactful communications work, and briefly explain why.