We are looking for a full time “Advocacy Officer” to be based in our WWF European Policy Office (WWF EPO) in Brussels; the position is for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of extension.
As a member of the Public Affairs Unit, the advocacy officer advises the WWF EPO staff on advocacy strategy development and implementation. The post holder establishes and strengthens political relationships and conducts advocacy activities in support of EPO policy units’ priority objectives; he/she also coordinates WWF’s relations with the European Parliament and supports WWF staff to engage in the decision making within the Council of the EU. The post holder knows political decision making processes between and within the main EU institutions in-and-out, is able to identify political opportunities, collaborate, and enjoys being able to engage on a diverse range of policy files in parallel, taking the lead on content from policy experts.
Main responsibilities:
Strategic advocacy planning and implementation (65%)
- Engage with policy officers in WWF EPO to advise and support on political advocacy strategy development and implementation;
- Provide ad-hoc support in carrying out advocacy activities, primarily in the field of nature and climate and energy policies, towards the EU institutions;
- Provide advice on decision making processes within and between the EU institutions to all WWF staff and act as a contact point for requests within the public affairs unit.
Liaising with EU institutions (20%)
- Establish, manage and maintain relations with key decision-makers within the European Parliament and its Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee;
- Provide information and facilitate engagement in Council decision making, and preparation and engagement with EU presidencies in coordination with national WWF offices;
- Monitor emerging policy and political issues/debates, and map out national political contexts in key countries across Europe.
Internal communication, coordination and stakeholder management (15%)
- Organise, in close collaboration with the Head of Public Affairs, capacity building activities for the EPO and WWF Network;
- Encourage and support EPO staff in sharing knowledge and experience on EU advocacy;
- Regularly share updates on EU policy timelines and developments on key priority files within the WWF EU Network.
What you need:
Required qualifications
- Demonstrable track record of influencing political decision-making;
- Experience of political strategy development and implementation;
- In depth knowledge of the EU legislative processes and policy formulation in the European Parliament, Council and European Commission;
- Previous experience in either a network organisation at EU level and/or within the EU institutions.
Required skills and competencies
- An interest in, and commitment to, environmental and conservation issues;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, and an ability to communicate complicated messages clearly to different audiences including through written materials and presentations;
- Ability to identify key or underlying issues in complex situations making recommendations as required;
- Demonstrated ability to support colleagues with diverse set of skills and background in developing their advocacy strategies;
- Able to work in a clear, open and structured manner;
- Ability to plan, prioritise and manage a heavy workload and a flexible and positive approach to problem solving;
- Identifies and aligns with the core values of WWF: Courage, Integrity, Respect, Collaboration.
Please consult the attached job description for more information on the position.
How to apply?
Please send your application to recruitments@wwf.eu and address it to Mr Tycho Vandermaesen. Please write “Application EU Advocacy Officer” in the subject line, and include:
- A single PDF document with your up to date CV and cover letter, outlining your motivation and specifying when you would be able to start;
- A short essay (between 700-800 words) examining the following topic: “The European Green Deal: Barriers to its success and how to overcome them”.
Applications deadline: 30 January 2022 midnight.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.
this job offer is not open for applications
