EU Foreign Policy Specialist and Lead - Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics (Brussels)

EU FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST AND LEAD - CLIMATE DIPLOMACY & GEOPOLITICS (BRUSSELS)

E3G is recruiting an experienced practitioner to advance our work on EU foreign policy, geopolitics and climate diplomacy. This is an exciting time to join E3G and influence the EU’s foreign policy strategy in a context of heightened geopolitical tensions and the unfolding climate crisis. This position is critical in spurring action within EU governments and institutions to ensure that EU foreign policy continues to advance global cooperation and climate action. The role will be based in E3G's office in Brussels. 

Background   

E3G is the world lead strategist think tank on the political economy of climate change with a global outlook. We work on the frontier of the climate landscape tackling the barriers and advancing the solutions to a safe climate for all. We translate climate politics, economics and policies into action. We pride ourselves on bringing independence to an extremely polarised discussion and holding policy makers to account on their promises. E3G is consistently ranked as one of the top-ten most influential environmental think tanks in the world by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index. 

E3G is dedicated to fostering an engaging work environment with a competitive remuneration package in the non-profit sector. E3G offers a dynamic and fast paced working environment that will value your insight and initiative
wherever you are in the organisation. We take pride in our team's commitment, supportiveness, and friendliness.
We invest in our staff, offer flexible working conditions and pride ourselves on being an open and collaborative workplace. 

Role Overview  

E3G is recruiting a highly versatile and experienced practitioner to serve as Lead for EU foreign policy and climate diplomacy. This person will report to the Programme Lead for Foreign Policy in the Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics department, and work in close cooperation with both the Executive Director for E3G Brussels and the Associate Director for Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics. The person would oversee the work of at least one staff member at the time of hiring and engage closely with the wider European team and broader E3G, particularly colleagues focused on EU energy diplomacy, finance, and trade policies

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of E3G’s strategy to shape EU external action and geopolitical strategy in alignment with climate and clean economy objectives.  

• Lead the development and delivery of E3G’s strategy on EU climate diplomacy, supporting ambitious EU positions and outreach to key international partners and collaboration with relevant E3G teams, including those who are part of the UNFCCC, G7, and broader multilateral processes. 

• Lead engagement towards EU institutions, select national governments, and stakeholders. Build and manage critical relationships such as within the European Commission, the European Parliament, member state governments, media and across international and European networks and in relevant fora.  

• Coordinating with the broader EU team, build insights on what domestic drivers shape EU foreign policy and external action, and monitor political, policy, and geopolitical developments impacting EU foreign policy decisions.
• The successful candidate will act as internal referent on EU climate diplomacy and foreign policy.  

• Produce and oversee production of internal and external communications materials and undertake short pieces of wider analysis.  

• Establish E3G as a voice and thought leader on geopolitics, EU foreign policy, and implication for climate politics.
• Develop propositions and lead outreach towards European institutions and stakeholders. 

• Contribute to coordination on E3G work across the EU’s foreign policy climate work, including across energy, finance diplomacy; foreign and trade policy; and multilateral and bilateral partnerships.  

• Provide select donor management and stewardship on programmes and deliverables, including grant reporting, and provide supervisory support to relevant team members.  

• Liaise with internal communications department on messaging, narratives, and public engagement approaches.  

• Some travel will be required.
  

Person Description   

You are an intellectually curious and enthusiastic leader taking others along in developing solutions in the transition towards climate neutral and resilient economies. You are a self-starter, with a naturally collaborative and low-ego style. You are committed to high quality outputs even when under pressure and use collaboration to produce better outcomes. You are able to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses and work in a team of diverse personalities. You are a creative thinker and able to learn fast. You are enthusiastic about working across complex and disparate issues, and pride yourself in prioritising impact over activities. You will be able to help identify and engage with a range of external stakeholders to understand their perspectives and communicate ideas and findings. 

Experience and Skills   

The successful candidate will demonstrate  

• A high-quality degree or professional qualification in a relevant area including significant experience in leading roles that touch on diplomacy, EU diplomacy, foreign policy, climate change policy, international relations, and European politics.  

• Strong personal networks and experience working at EU national or European/Brussels level (including European institutions, government, or diplomacy networks) is highly desirable. Strong interest in politics and geopolitics is a must have. 

• Demonstrable experience developing and implementing outcome-focused strategies on EU foreign or climate policy with a track record of thought leadership and problem solving, including authorship briefings and comment pieces, ideally in areas directly relevant to EU foreign policy or EU climate policy.   

• Ability to operate confidently at high/political and expert/technical level, in the worlds of government, business, the media and civil society. 

• Experience in operating internationally, with a high degree of cultural sensitivity, and a track-record of building, leading and managing stakeholder relationships and partnerships with an ability to connect to and understand the interests of different political audiences.
  

• Be a strong team player, committed to achieving E3G’s objectives and capable of inspiring and facilitating action by others. Ability to work effectively to support shared team outcomes and to work in an innovative and entrepreneurial manner. You prioritise achieving outcomes, strategy and impact over running activities.  

• Grant management and supervisory experience highly desired. 

• Strong written and spoken English is a must. Fluent knowledge of at least one other EU language would be an advantage.  

What we offer   

• Permanent, full-time position.   

• Work-life balance. Enjoy a 35-hour work week with flexible working arrangements and a hybrid work model. 

• 25 vacation days + additional leave between Christmas and New Year.   

• Additional Employers pension contribution plan.   

• Mobile phone and mobile phone contract. 

• Hospitalisation and travel insurance. 

• The indicative gross monthly salary range for this position is between €4,310.30 to €4,956.90 in Brussels, FTE. E3G is open to discussion for exceptional candidates, depending on the candidate’s professional experience and skills. 

• Yearly process for remuneration review.   

You will be required to have the right to work in Belgium. E3G is unable to provide any relocation assistance to candidates who would need to move in order to take up this position. E3G will require candidates to demonstrate that they have the right to live and work in the jurisdiction in which E3G employs them

How to apply  

Please include:

• A CV of maximum two pages
  

• A cover letter of no more than one page outlining your motivation to apply and the skills and experience you are bringing to the role, as well as your earliest possible start date.
  

The deadline for applications is 21 October 2025. Whilst we very much appreciate the time you will have taken with your application, unfortunately due to the level of response we receive we will not be able to reply to every candidate.  Therefore, if you have not heard from us with 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful. 

E3G values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background. We aim to build an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the populations we support, and actively seek applications from those who are marginalized and underrepresented. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.