About the European Climate Foundation

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle climate change by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 1000 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world. The ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change.

We are focusing on engaging and hiring great people from a wide diversity of backgrounds to strengthen the cause. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.

About the role

As the Senior Strategic Communications Associate, you will be part of the ECF’s Strategic Communications Team. The team acts as a centre of expertise on climate communications and seeks to help create more political, media and public endorsement for action on climate change at an international, European and sectoral level.

The team delivers strategic advice, communications and outreach services to ECF programmes and grantees and helps build strategic communications capacity in the wider climate community. This role will primarily support the ECF energy programmes and their grantees with the development of strategic communications plans and tactics seeking to reach and influence a wide range of actors – from policy makers to businesses and citizens. The role may also support other elements of ECF’s communications work as required.

We are looking for a smart, dynamic and insightful person who can bring together a wide variety of partners around a common strategy to shift the narrative on the energy transition in Europe.

You’ll need to be a self-starter, with a proven interest in climate and energy narratives and you'll be working as part of a fast-paced, European team that operates in multiple media markets and across multiple platforms. We’re looking for someone who understands the power of narrative, and has demonstrated an ability to deliver communications projects that challenge, and seek to rewrite, received wisdom and common sense assumptions around the energy transition.

As a team, we seek to use data and audience insights to inform our strategy. You’ll need to bring this perspective and your communications expertise to the table to support grantmaking at European and national level. You’ll also need to be ready to help us find and amplify new voices and ensure they reach key audiences on a variety of channels.

This role would suit someone with a background in campaigning, journalism or public affairs. If you think this sounds like you, please app

Key responsibilities

Reporting to the Strategic Communications Manager for Energy, you will be responsible for:

• Tracking political, public and media debates around how the buildings and energy efficiency, and clean energy sectors can support the transition in Europe, as well as developing and implementing communications strategies and campaigns to influence and shift these debates
• Following and contributing to sector programme strategy and initiatives to ensure a communications perspective is injected across all stages of strategic decision-making;
• Working with a wide spectrum of internal and external partners to turn strategy into workable campaigns and develop effective communications plans for key moments;
• Developing and maintaining a diverse network of partners and contacts across sectors (academia, corporate, non-profit, politics, including spokespeople)
• Developing structures and approaches that can react quickly to emerging opportunities and changes in the external context
• Ensuring our grantmaking enables full use of new and innovative methods of digital communications work to disseminate messages and raise awareness of ECF-supported initiatives and outputs;
• Working hand-in-hand with an international network of communications experts who seek to advance the momentum of the low carbon transition.
  

Experience and competencies

Essential:

· A genuine interest in, and commitment to, the mission and values of the organization;

· At least 5 years’ experience in climate, economics or energy public relations, journalism or a related field;

· Strong experience of development and deployment of major communications initiatives and European wide campaigns;

· Strong diplomatic skills and interpersonal relations, ability to quickly build trust with partners and colleagues;

· Confidence to work directly with high profile individuals and partners from diverse backgrounds at all levels;

· Experience working remotely and across national borders, supporting and guiding peers to deliver results for your projects;

· Fluent in written and spoken English, knowledge of other European languages welcome;

· A commitment to an inclusive and empowering approach to facing climate change.

· Knowledge and experience of working in Eastern Europe

Desirable:

· Experience developing culture hacking ideas and implementing multi-country communications projects High levels of self-motivation, used to working at a high pace in remote settings, as part of international teams

· Detailed understanding of the media landscape and values, and experience of strategic story placement, messaging, etc;

· An understand of relevant topics, including clean energy, building renovations, gas, community energy;

· An understanding of the processes and dynamics of EU policymaking;

· Project and budget management experience;

· Strong time and priority management, high level of independence and can-do mentality, good team-player with a passion for excellence;

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Location

Any ECF location.

We encourage applications from individuals with knowledge and experience of working in eastern Europe

You must have the relevant work permit for your location.

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please send your CV and cover letter in a single PDF file (maximum 3 pages total)

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 disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds to apply.