Project Manager (BEACON & Adapt4EU)

Location: Brussels (Belgium) or Besançon (France)

Contract: Close-ended (CDD), full-time

Working time: 38h/week (Belgium) or forfait jour 206 days (France)

Duration: 36 months (September 2026 – August 2029)

Starting date: Mid-August/September 2026

ABOUT ENERGY CITIES

Energy Cities empowers cities and citizens to shape and transition to future proof cities.

We showcase concrete alternatives deployed by cities, we advocate to change political and economic governance at all levels, and we foster a wide cultural change leading to a futureproofed society. Energy Cities’ community is composed by local leaders of thousands of cities in 30 European countries.

We believe that the energy transition is about more than renewable energy or great technologies: It is about a wise use of resources while strengthening local participation and well-being in a democratic Europe.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced project manager with previous experience working in and coordinating multi annual and multi stakeholders projects linked to the green transition.

As Project Manager, you will work across two EU-funded projects (LIFE and Horizon Europe programmes): BEACON (60% FTE – addressing EU national energy poverty policies) and Adapt4EU (35% FTE – addressing climate adaptation of EU local and regional authorities), the remaining time will be used to internal activities such as business development.

On BEACON, you will take on the role of project coordinator, representing Energy Cities in the consortium composed of 10 other EU partners. Contributions are expected transversally in all project activities. You may be supported by ad-hoc by a senior colleague when needed, but you will hold the key project responsibilities.

In Adapt4EU, you will manage tasks related to i) designing the support scheme for cities and regions to develop Climate Adaptation Action Plans, ii) enabling adaptation readiness and multi-stakeholder engagement and iii) the adaptation investment cycle. You will be contributing with two other Energy Cities colleagues and a consortium of 17 partners.

This position requires someone who can combine EU project management rigour, strategic steering of projects and teams, autonomy and initiative with a strong interest in energy poverty and climate adaptation planning and financing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Coordinate BEACON overall project implementation, including planning, progress monitoring, risk management, quality management, financial and technical reporting to the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and articulation with project partners;
  • Set up and animate BEACON governance structures (management groups, steering groups, consortium meetings, partner meetings), including planning meetings, chairing them, preparing minutes and following up tasks advancement and deliverables;
  • Support the preparation of methods and materials to support in-person capacity building, peer-learning activities and national multi stakeholders dialogue on energy poverty policies for BEACON;
  • Support the BEACON replication programme;
  • Manage the Energy Cities team working on Adapt4EU and manage technical and financial reporting to the funder;
  • Implement Adapt4EU project activities related to the design of the support scheme to allow cities and regions to develop Climate Adaptation Action Plans, adaptation readiness and multistakeholder engagement and climate adaptation finance;
  • Contribute to the development of transferable toolkits, sustainability pathways, and exploitation of project results across both projects;
  • Contribute to the design of new project proposals and participate in organisational development initiatives.

ABOUT THE PROJECTS

LIFE BEACON (Building EU Energy Poverty Action through Coordinated National Observatories) addresses the lack of durable governance frameworks to coordinate data, policies and actions on energy poverty across Europe. The project will establish three ational Energy Poverty Observatories (Cyprus, Finland and North Macedonia) and reinforce 3 existing ones (Austria, France and Ireland). These observatories will act as permanent, multi-level and cross-sectoral coordination structures, enabling authorities to integrate energy, housing, health and social policies and steer national policies and actions.

The project combines peer-learning capacity building with national policy dialogues and foresight workshops, empowering more than 300 stakeholders across six countries. Through a replication programme, the methodology will be transferred to at least six additional Member States.

LIFE BEACON is a 36-month project funded under the EU LIFE programme, coordinated by Energy Cities, in partnership with 10 organisations across 7 countries.

Adapt4EU (Justice & Equity in Adaptation) bridges the gap between adaptation planning and implementation by enabling at least 70 (and up to 100) Local and Regional Authoritiesto co-develop inclusive, actionable and investment-ready Climate Adaptation Action Plans (CAAPs).

The project combines capacity building with direct financial support (via cascade funding), empowering local and regional authorities to deliver the EU ambitions on climate adaptation. Energy Cities is the partner leading communications and have several tasks related to the cascade funding and peer-learning opportunities.

Adapt4EU is a 60-month project funded under the Horizon Europe programme, coordinated by NTUA, in partnership with 16 other organisations.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Required qualifications and experience

  • Master’s degree in urban planning, architecture, engineering, housing policy, public policy, social sciences, political sciences, sustainability, or any related fields.
  • Minimum 3 years of experience managing multi-partner projects (ideally under EU-funded programmes, e.g. LIFE, Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, ERASMUS+, INTERREG, or service contracts with EC DGs/agencies).
  • Proficient English (C level) is required; knowledge of French and/or other EU languages is an asset.
  • Good command of project management tools (Gantt charts, financial and technical reporting procedures, Trello and other agile management tools)

Valued skills and qualities

  • Strong interest in energy poverty, climate adaptation, climate finance and sustainability
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities across parallel projects
  • Experience in facilitating meetings, workshops, study visits, and multi-stakeholder learning events
  • Experience dealing directly with funders (CINEA and other EU bodies) and negotiating eventual adjustments in the project’s activities
  • High level of autonomy and initiative combined with genuine team engagement
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including facilitation and training
  • Comfort working in an international, intercultural, and multilingual environment
  • Proactive and initiative-driven approach to daily work

Nice to have

  • Knowledge of the Horizon Europe and/or LIFE programme
  • Interest and previous experiences in the topic of energy poverty, climate adaptation and adaptation finance
  • Affinity with collaborative and self-managing organisational models (e.g. Holacracy/Sociocracy)

WHAT WE OFFER

Close-ended contract (CDD), full-time, under Belgian or French law.

A salary aligned with the sector, and depending on experience.

Attractive benefits including:

Belgium

  • 20 days paid leave + 26.5 extra-legal days + additional days for sick children
  • Time-saving account
  • Group insurance (pension, hospitalisation, medical)
  • Transport reimbursement (CP 337)
  • Meal vouchers
  • Homeworking allowance

France

  • 26.5 days paid leave + 20 RTT days (forfait jour) + additional days for sick children
  • Health insurance (90% employer-paid)
  • 50% reimbursement of transport costs + sustainable mobility allowance
  • Meal vouchers (60% employer-subsidised)
  • Employee savings plan (PEE) based on organisation’s results
  • Homeworking allowance

A holacratic, collaborative work culture with genuine autonomy and room for initiative. Learn more about our governance model:

A meaningful mission: work at the heart of Europe’s climate adaptation, energy poverty, and sustainability transition alongside partners committed to the cause.

Hybrid working: part-time homeworking policy (available within the EU). This role requires regular on-site presence to ensure effective teamwork and cohesion.

Travel: regular missions across Europe (mostly 2–3 day missions)

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your CV and cover letter via energy-cities.eu/jobs before 31/05/2026.

The selection process consists of 3 stages:

  • Screening interview with HR
  • Interview with Project Managers
  • Reference check

Applicants must have the legal right to work and reside in Belgium or France.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.Energy Cities is committed to gender equality and to building a diverse, inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of gender identity, age, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.