E3G European Climate Change Programme – Brussels Head of Office
Limiting average global temperature rises to below 2C requires the transformation to a global low carbon economy over the next 50 years. Europe is the first major economy to commit to this scale of transformation and, as such, will drive much of the necessary political, technological, policy and social innovation needed to deliver the global transformation.
E3G is committed to helping accelerate Europe’s path-finding role in developing the low carbon economy. E3G has been working in this area since 2004 with notable successes, including helping to reframe EU political debates around energy and climate security, securing EU funding for a programme of CCS demonstration plants, being a core partner in the landmark Roadmap 2050 study and driving the establishment of a UK Green Investment Bank. In the light of this development E3G is now searching for a Head of Office to manage its Brussels based climate and energy activities.
E3G positions itself to play a unique role in European processes, working with, and complementing, the large number of other organisations in this space. Over the past 5 years E3G has developed an innovative working model that focuses on identifying strategic opportunities for change, brokering coalitions of action between governments, business and civil society to deliver game changing outcomes, and developing innovative solutions to organisational and policy challenges.
The Brussels team works as an integral part of E3G’s functional programmes on low carbon finance, EU power sector decarbonisation, climate diplomacy, climate and resource security and low carbon development.
Specific tasks will involve:
- Managing the development of a structured strategic understanding of European energy and climate change politics and policy, and identifying key opportunities for action.
- Acting as a key E3G interlocutor on domestic European climate change and energy policy with political actors, policy makers and the media.
- Managing the design and building of international, cross-sectoral coalitions to achieve a small number of high impact climate change policy outcomes.
- Building and leading the E3G project team in Brussels to help them deliver these outcomes and coalitions. E3G plans to have 3-4 staff in Brussels by the end of 2012.
- Supporting the delivery of all relevant E3G objectives in Brussels and enabling staff from across the organisation to engage effectively with EU institutions.
- Contributing to E3G’s thought leadership – both internally and externally – on the transition to a global carbon, climate resilient economy.
E3G’s European Climate Change Programme:
The successful candidate will be primarily responsible for managing delivery in Brussels across E3G’s established set of work streams on European decarbonisation, as well as helping identify and develop new high impact areas. Current E3G European work streams are:
- Elaborating and animating a coherent EU energy and climate security strategy: building on the existing EU energy and climate security package to deepen understanding and support in Europe for a compelling and coherent approach to delivering European energy goals and the transformation to a low carbon economy.
- Decarbonisation of the European Power Sector: developing and delivering broad support for the strategic case for rapid decarbonisation of the EU power sector by the mid-2030s. Delivering specific policy outcomes on ETS set-aside, electricity market reform, supergrid investment (with a focus on the North Sea Grid) and smart grid R&D and deployment.
- European Low Carbon Finance: building on E3G’s successful work in creating a UK Green Investment Bank to target specific high leverage reforms to European financing of low carbon investment – particularly energy efficiency - at Member State and European (EIB/EBRD) levels.
- European Green Economy: developing a compelling analytical case for, and a policy programme to deliver, the economic, energy security and competitiveness benefits of an accelerated move to a low carbon, resilient and resource efficient economy in the EU.
- Work with EU Political, Business and Civil Society Coalitions: developing E3G’s relationships with key political, business and civil society coalitions; including forming strategic advisory relationships with a small number of highly aligned groups.
Experience:
The Brussels Head of Office will:
- be committed to achieving E3G’s objectives, and to working in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner. She/he will have strong strategic and political understanding, will prioritise achieving outcomes over running activities, and be capable of inspiring and facilitating action by others;
- have at least 7 years of professional experience, perhaps more, as an acknowledged high flyer with a significant record of achievements. She/he will have been involved in complex and politically sensitive projects, built small teams, and managed budgets;
- have a broad experience of energy issues, with an emphasis on climate change, security, investment and technology processes. Ideally, have experience of building consensus in Europe around sensitive issues, creating and facilitating dialogue and agreement;
- be used to operating internationally, with a high degree of cultural sensitivity. Experience and strong personal networks in Europe would be an advantage;
- have strong written and spoken English, and good knowledge of at least one other European language; fluent French or German would be particularly useful;
- be able to operate confidently both at high and “expert” level, in the worlds of politics, government, business, finance, the media, and civil society.
Terms:
This position is programmed for 2 years, on a renewable one year contract, starting as soon as possible, and will be based in Brussels.
E3G is offering a competitive remuneration package, based on experience and qualification.
Closing date for applications is the 15th March 2012. Interested candidates should submit a current CV (including two referees) and a covering letter explaining their interest in the position to Kate.Hodgkinson@e3g.org
