Job opportunities

We are looking for a Business Developer and Project Manager who will :

A. Integrate the business development team, coordinate fundraising activities and Energy Cities new membership offer in the following fields:

• science-based targets and carbon budgeting in cities;
• multi-actor partnerships for locally-based & resource-wise economies;
• citizens and local actors empowering in the energy market and beyond it;
• energy communities and fossil-free heat neighbourhoods.

Activities will include:

• Support the strategic reflexion on Energy Cities offers and services, meaning:
  • You will be in charge of describing our current activities (project development and management, peer-to-peer between cities, knowledge sharing…) in services for our members.
  • You will support us in generating, identifying and launching new high-potential services to serve our community, according to innovation management methods
  • You will analyse cities’ needs and propose improvement to better propose our offers to our members.
• Design long-term tools and campaigns from the most-promising project outcomes:
  • You will develop roadmaps to scale some current pilot projects on topics such as citizen engagement, change management or energy planning (e.g. Living Streets, POTES, Hotmaps).
  • You will map funders (e.g. foundations, philanthropists) and key partners to ensure short and mid-term development of these projects.
  • You will work on the 1^st implementation phase of these projects (engagement with funders, building consortium, etc.).

B. Coordinate the implementation of Energy Cities activities of the project SCALE – European Smart and Lighthouse Cities Amplified. Specifically:

Create, support and animate the City coordinators group

• Launch and engage the cities coordinators group;
• Design and implement the roadmap of the cities’ coordinators group;

Coordinate the outreach beyond Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Cities Group

• Coordinate the alignment of SCALE with other city led initiatives (e.g. Covenant of Mayors, Mission Cities, etc);
• Continuously engage with the Covenant of Mayors office by energising a permanent link/bridge between SCALE/European Commission/Covenant of Mayors Office;
• Mapping the demand from the Covenant of Mayors community and match supply from SCC in coordination with SCALE partners;
• Collaborate with consortium partners in the peer-to-peer support, packaging and demand mapping activities;
• Capitalise on the synergies of the two initiatives with hands-on activities (e.g. organisation of workshops, capacity building);

Coordinate the implementation of the SCALE Grant

• Launch and coordinate the SCALE Grant
• Coordinate the application and selection processes;
• Monitor the implementation of the activities by the supported partnerships;
• Promotion of the SCALE Grant;

Support the governance of the Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse Cities Group (in particular the task group replication);

Project reporting to the coordinator.

SCALE is a multi-stakeholder city-led network of smart city experts whose goal is to support the Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse group of projects (H2020 funded Smart Cities and Communities supported projects) with the aim to create an innovative, sustainable and citizen-led community of smart cities in Europe and beyond.

Indicative effort:
You will be working approximately 45% of your time in activity A, 45% in activity B and 10% in the remaining activities that you might be asked for.

What should your background be?

• Master level studies e.g. in business management, engineering, economy, sustainable energy & climate, sustainable urban development & planning or similar;
• Background in energy and local policies will be positively evaluated;
• Experience in sales or other commercial activity will be positively evaluated;
• Minimum 3 years working experience, preferably with local authorities and urban context;
• Proven project management experience and preferably in the fields of energy and transition, and preferably for projects funded by EU funded programmes (H2020, LIFE, etc.);
• Interest in system change approaches (governance issues, transition management, stakeholders and citizen engagement, urban and energy planning, policies and financial instruments, etc.);

What skills should you have?

• Proficient user level (C level) in English is required and independent user (B level) of other EU languages is an advantage, apart from your mother tongue;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills as well as facilitation and training skills;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Ability to work in an international and intercultural team and environment;
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to daily tasks.

Information about the contract:

• The contract will be made under the French or the Belgian law;
• Full time contract of 1 year with a possibility to be extended;
• Location: Brussels (BE);
• Availability to travel in Europe in particular;
• Salary conditions: depending on candidate experience and according to Energy Cities’ salary grid, taking also into account candidate expectations (if any);
• Holidays per year: 20 days plus 26.5 extra-legal days in Belgium; 26.5 days in France
• Working time: 38 hours (Belgium) working week; 39h in France (compensated by 20 RTT)
• Other advantages: Attractive health and disability insurance; restaurant vouchers; Cyclist or public transport fee/allowance; Phone/Internet lump sum;
• Starting 1^st July 2020 (earlier if possible).

Do you want to join us?

• Applicants must have the legal right to work and live in Belgium or France;
• Please send your cover letter and your CV through the application form below;
• Closing date for applications: 9th of May 2021;
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and interviewed (online interviews with successful candidates can be expected by beginning of May).

We are looking for a new colleague who will fulfill two complementary missions:

A. Fostering Energy Cities’ community of members

As a membership-based network, Energy Cities’ strength lies in a vibrant community of cities and towns. Therefore, we constantly invest in community building. In this view, you will, in close coordination with the existing information watch activities:

• Navigate through all parts of our organisation and closely cooperate with colleagues to identify which activities or materials would be useful for our members
• Look for the most suitable ways (materials, events, etc.) to make those resources available to our members and encourage them to actually use those (let your creativity speak!)
• Imagine solutions to improve exchanges between Energy Cities’ members and the organisation to ensure two-way communications and mutual benefit
• Experiment! We’re all in for new approaches to strengthen the sense of belonging to the Energy Cities’ network.

B. Project Communications

• In close link with the project management team, develop communication plans for European projects related to the energy transition and climate action, based on the requirements of the project contracts (EU-funded Horizon 2020 projects Local RES and EU City Calc).

• Implement the communication activities set up in the communication plans of the projects (coordinate the work with service providers, production of contents and materials for print and web communications, podcasts, awareness-raising events, etc.).

• Ensure follow-up and monitoring of the communications activities, provide feedback on the activities to the project partners. You will take part in the projects’ meetings when required.

Studies and work experience

• Master level studies e.g. in communications, marketing, public relations or alike. Alternatively, a master level studies in energy and climate with strong experience in communications.

• Experience in cooperation programmes or city-to-city activities is required.
• Background in energy transition or climate action is an asset.
• Knowledge of EU-funded projects and project management is an asset.

Skills

• Proficient user level (C level) in English is required and independent user (B level) of other EU languages is an advantage
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability and willingness to work in an international and intercultural team
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and a proactive approach to daily tasks
• Proficiency in graphic design software, video and audio tools is an asset.

Information about the contract:

• The contract will be made under the French or the Belgian law
• Full time contract of 1 year with a possibility to be extended
• Location: Besançon (FR) or Brussels (BE), to be agreed in the interview
• Availability to travel in Europe in particular
• Salary conditions: depending on candidate experience and according to Energy Cities’ salary grid, taking also into account candidate expectations (if any)
• Holidays per year: 20 days plus 26.5 extra-legal days in Belgium; 26.5 days in France
• Working time: 38 hours (Belgium) working week; 39h in France
• Other advantages: Attractive health and disability insurance; restaurant vouchers; Cyclist or public transport fee/allowance; Phone/Internet lump sum;
• Starting in July 2021 (earlier if possible).

Want to join us?

• Applicants must have the legal right to work and live in Belgium or France;
• Please send your cover letter and your CV via the online form at the bottom of the page
• Closing date for applications: 17 May 2021;
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and interviewed (online interviews with successful candidates can be expected end of May).