ClientEarth is a public interest environmental law group founded in 2007. ClientEarth brings together law, science and policy to create practical solutions to key environmental challenges. Working in partnership with civil society and policy-makers, ClientEarth is committed to securing the rights of citizens and civil society to participation, information and justice in environmental matters. In Europe and beyond, ClientEarth’s 60-strong staff includes legal experts qualified in more than nine jurisdictions based in offices in London, Brussels and Warsaw. Our other programmes cover biodiversity and ecosystems, climate and energy, health and environment, and access to justice.
Climate & Forest Programme Overview
ClientEarth’s Climate and Forests Programme exerts a growing influence on the development and implementation of effective policies to address the drivers of deforestation. We aim to take law and policy forward, beyond narrow sectoral approaches which fail to link together the drivers of natural resource degradation, destruction and livelihood loss for forest peoples and other local communities. Instead, we look for coherent, integrated ecosystem and community rights based approaches to reforming governance of forest land tenure and related natural resources and the effective regulation of consumption patterns driving global deforestation and forest degradation.
In relation to specific commodity drivers of deforestation (e.g., timber products, palm oil, bioenergy), we focus on EU policies relevant to sustainable public procurement, regulating trade in illegal timber, and ensuring that EU bioenergy use is sustainable. Through these efforts, we aim to reduce the EU’s ‘forest footprint’ and contribute to the definition of legal frameworks that bring consumption patterns in line with social and environmental sustainability limitations.
About the role
ClientEarth is seeking an enthusiastic new colleague to work on bioenergy within our forest programme. Bioenergy is the main source of renewable energy in Europe. In this role, you will assess the implementation of relevant EU laws in a number of Member States. You will research and evaluate mechanisms for compliance verification as well as third party certification schemes and the feasibility of new approaches to resource management. Your role will allow you to establish contacts with a number of stakeholders and Member State officials in Brussels and beyond.
This position is based in Brussels. This is a great opportunity to improve your experience with European law and its application in Member States. In this position, you will improve your familiarity with various areas of EU policy, such as renewable energy, transport, waste management, forests and agriculture. This role will also provide you with a precious opportunity to meet stakeholders active in Brussels.
The position will be managed by the Climate & Forest Programme Leader and work closely with, and under the direct guidance of, our Bioenergy law and policy advisor based in Brussels.
This will be a 6-month contract, with the possibility of extension for up to 3 more months, depending upon funding and will be remunerated as per the current rates for Convention d’immersion Professionnelle. The position is available to be filled as soon as possible.
Although you will be mainly supporting the work of ClientEarth’s bioenergy programme, you might be required occasionally to provide ad-hoc support to other programmes.
Key responsibilities
- Conduct legal research into the transposition of European laws on renewable energy and transport in selected Member States
- Explore the linkages between European bioenergy policy and waste management policy
- Assess the procedures employed by Member State authorities to verify compliance with applicable rules
- Draft legal briefings and/or reports on the topics of your work
- Liaise with relevant stakeholders and Member State representatives
- Occasionally offer support for other discrete pieces of work in the forest team and/or other ClientEarth teams.
About You
You will have a good knowledge of European law and a degree in law obtained in one of the following jurisdictions: Germany, France, Belgium or the Netherlands. Familiarity with multiple national law systems and previous relevant experience would be a plus.
Required skills and competencies
- A degree in law obtained in one of the following jurisdictions: Germany, France, Belgium or the Netherlands
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English as well as at least one of the following languages: German, French, Dutch. Knowledge of other EU languages a plus
- Excellent knowledge of EU law, particularly as regards the nature and effect of EU law and the application of EU law in Member States
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
- An interest in European renewable energy policy and environmental sustainability
- Positive attitude and a commitment to working for the environment
- Previous experience with EU institutions, in a private practice and/or in public affairs would be a plus.
To Apply
Please send us your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest in joining ClientEarth and the contribution you believe you could make to the role and the organisation.
Please include ‘Short-term contract – Bioenergy’ in the email subject line, and identify the documents you are sending by including ‘[your name] ‘Short term contract – Bioenergy cover letter’ and ‘[your name] Short term contract – Bioenergy CV’ in the file name.
Please address your application to Janet Meissner Pritchard, Programme Leader, Climate & Forests, ClientEarth, by email to internship.be@clientearth.org.
Recruitment is open now and you should send your application as soon as possible and before 30 November 2012. We will review applications as they are received and we may interview candidates before the closing date.
If you have any questions about the roles advertised or recruitment process, please contact Giuseppe Nastasi ( gnastasi@clientearth.org). |
