About the European Climate Foundation

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

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.

The New Voices program focuses on mobilising new, effective, newsworthy voices to articulate the benefits of climate action from a refreshing perspective to help create political space for increased action by conducting direct outreach, and creating opportunities as well as supporting strategy development across themes and geographies.

The Strategic Communications Associate, New Voices, will be part of the Strategic Communications team and report to the New Voices programme lead. Working as part of an international network of expert political communicators, the successful candidate will work with a range of partners to bring strategically relevant new voices into climate and energy debates at both an international and - collaborating with network colleagues in our country desks worldwide - national levels.

This New Voices role will assist in developing program strategy, communications and manage outreach to partners and spokespeople, helping to build strategic communications capacity in the wider climate community. 

The ideal candidate has skills in communications and outreach, project management and an understanding of media and digital campaigns. The candidate should be familiar with the climate debate at an international level, and be in a position to develop global networks in the climate community.

Key responsibilities

The Strategic Communications Associate, New Voices, will be responsible for:

• Supporting the development and implementation of a New Voices strategy, through thought-leadership, coordination and capacity building across the network;
• Conducting research on potential spokespeople and providing resources and support to peers in this space, including strategic assessment of current capacities with a view towards identifying strengths and weaknesses and towards filling important gaps;
• Creating and managing a range of tools such as databases, calendars and training materials which are useful to both the network and wider community;
• Engaging in ongoing strategic, action-oriented analysis of media debates;
• Working closely with the digital team to prepare and execute digital campaigns for outreach.
• Contributing to monitoring, evaluation and reporting (including some financial and administrative tasks).

Experience and competencies

• At least 3 years of professional communications experience, including outreach and engagement roles and project management work
• A good understanding of the international climate and energy debate
• Networking skills among a diverse range of relevant partners such as NGOs, academia, think tanks
• Excellent command of the English language (both spoken and written), and the ability to absorb long and complex policy issues and turn them into compelling and clear content, tailored to specific voices as well as audiences
• Basic digital skills to plan and execute social media campaigns, advise on content creation
• An independent self-starter able to work flexibly on his/her own as well as part of a remote team
• The disposition to work with colleagues in a high-trust global community of peers with a spirit of generosity and mutual support
• A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate change

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 position with a consultant or employment contract (subject to location, negotiable) for one year, with a possible renewal after one year - flexible working hours are negotiable.

Location

Brussels or flexible location. We may be able to provide office space in some locations.

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please upload below (both in English)

• Maximum 2-page CV
• Short cover letter
• A maximum 300-word explanation of which individuals or communities, who currently don’t have much of a public voice in media coverage and public discourse, could enter the climate debate and have the most impact and why.