European Policy Lead – Energy Transitions Commision

SYSTEMIQ, the system change company and certified B Corp, was founded to drive the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change by transforming markets and business models in five key systems: nature and food, materials, and circular economy, energy, urban areas, and sustainable finance.

 

We are guided by the conviction that all system transformations are rooted in human transformations. We must continue to bring more diverse people and voices into real conversations to succeed. We know we don’t have all the answers; we may not even have all the right questions. But we know that open mindsets drive change, so relationships, people, and trust are at the heart of everything we do.

 

 

Do you want to be part of the change?

 

Lord Adair Turner has chaired the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), a global coalition bringing together energy producers, energy-intensive industries, technology providers, finance players, and environmental NGOs since its inception in 2016. He is a leading global authority on the transition to net zero by mid-century and regularly advises industry and political leaders. Before the ETC, Adair was the first chairman of the UK Climate Change Committee (2008-2012). He was chairman of the Institute for New Economic Thinking until January 2019, where he remains a Senior Fellow. He is Chairman of Chubb Europe, a Trustee at the British Museum, a member of the Advisory Board of Envision Energy, and previously chaired the UK’s Financial Services Authority.

 

The ETC is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century and develops transition roadmaps laying out how to reach net-zero emissions, as well as recommendations and tools to inform the implementation of those roadmaps. We engage with decision-makers across policy, finance, and industry to promote decisive climate action and initiate collaborations that will speed up the deployment of low and zero-carbon solutions.

In 2023 the ETC’s European programme is focused on strengthening relationships with key European Commission (EC) interlocutors and briefing leaders from the EC and key countries on the insights developed by the ETC Global Energy Program and the Mission Possible Partnership.

Working from Brussels, Belgium, the European Policy Lead will support the Energy Transitions Commission to deliver on three fronts:

1. Developing a tailored and strategic approach to engagement with the leading European interlocutors underpinned by a sound understanding of the political landscape. This includes establishing, building, and maintaining trusted relationships to support high ambition outcomes.
2. Engaging with and convening key stakeholders (government, civil society, and private sector) to deliver a series of high-ambition roundtable events and bi-laterals. This includes coordination of briefings to political officials and industry leaders, scheduling meetings, organising and participating in stakeholder discussions and workshops, setting the agenda, drafting minutes, and communicating progress internally.
3. As a specialist in European policy, you will conduct targeted research and analysis to underpin the dialogues on critical issues of the European energy transition and contribute to the ETC regional and global energy programme insights, alongside developing policy positions on such issues.

 

 

Located: Brussels I Belgium- Remote working

Contract Type: 6 month contract

 

 

Primary Deliverables

 

From day one, you’ll hit the ground running as the European Policy Lead working with the Energy Transitions Commission:

• Develop and implement a strategic engagement plan for the Energy Transitions Commission’s European programme. Prioritising opportunities for high-impact interventions, you will utilise the ETC’s network of senior stakeholders and respond to member state and European priorities.
• Build excellent knowledge of the European Commission and Parliament landscape to identify and explore opportunities to address key challenges within the Green Deal and Fit for 55 package and unlock implementation barriers.
• You will coordinate the engagement with leading European policy interlocutors and C-suite executives, including curating high ambition Roundtable meetings, bi-laterals, and workshops in close collaboration with the ETC Vice-Chair, European Ambassador, Director, and Deputy-Director: developing the agenda, coordinating delivery, and driving content development, etc.
• Orchestrate meetings with multiple stakeholders to help drive external collaboration and decision-making (in person, hybrid and online). Organise the delivery of significant events, ensuring smooth running and appropriate technical setup.
• Conduct research and analysis on the European energy transition to inform the ETC perspective and support the global energy programme, especially examining implementation barriers.
• Proactively build strong and trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Communicate your insights and collaborate with the relevant teams focused on European policy within Systemiq and with the ETC’s other regional programmes.
• Support the senior team with meeting briefings, presentations, and speaking notes.
• You will contribute to the definition of the Energy Transitions Commission’s impact and implementation strategy for future years in collaboration with the Energy Transitions Commission’s Director, Deputy Director, and Global Programmes Lead.

 

 

About You

 

• Are excited. About the opportunity to contribute to the overall efficiency of the Energy Transitions Commission to influence public debate and support accelerated decarbonisation of Europe’s energy system.
• Have a Plan. And know how to get buy-in and support for the deployment, embedding, and sustainable utilisation of any operations intervention
• People in Numbers. You use data-driven techniques to solve people problems
• Understand that change can be hard. You have a working knowledge of change management and the people side of behaviour change
• Delight in the details and apply your detail-oriented project management skills to ensure our team has the knowledge and support they need to deliver the global projects, products, and services
• Have thoughts on process. Your workload is meticulously organised and maintained, and you have a reputation for follow-through. You have exceptional time management and work prioritisation, and driving multiple responsibilities simultaneously with limited oversight does not faze you.
• Are humble. No task is too small for anyone, and you are eager to learn. You’re all about the team, not the individual.
• Get it done. You have a methodical approach to your work with a strong focus on accuracy, attention to detail, consistency, and superb quality. You take the initiative and can operate autonomously when needed.
• You’re a people person. You have outstanding interpersonal skills and can quickly establish rapport, build trust, collaborate, and demonstrate credibility and authority. You have proven stakeholder management skills and remain calm under pressure.
• Words Matter. You have excellent communication skills, whether in-person, virtually, or by email, and you value listening and solving others’ challenges
• Creative. You look at new ways of working, utilising design thinking. You’re resilient and pragmatic.
• You’re solution-oriented. You can clearly explain issues, contribute to their resolution, and effectively influence and negotiate to achieve consensus and successful outcomes. You can anticipate needs, make reasoned decisions, and communicate them effectively.
• Early Adopter. Embrace the digital world and demonstrate aptitude and ability for system administration, reporting, and utilisation.
• Curious. Keeps professional knowledge, capabilities, and skills up to date and an open and continuous learning mindset

 

 

Essential Qualifications / Experience

 

• Business international level of Dutch, French or German, and English (required) – both written and oral
• 3-5+ years in a top-tier policy or strategy consulting firm or equivalent high-caliber environment
• Proven experience working with European policy institutions on the European climate and energy policy landscape
• Experience working in/with membership organisations and the corporate, NGO, and policy worlds

 

 

 

Applications from current residents in the following cities will be considered:

 

Brussels I Belgium

 

Disclaimer: Please ensure you are legally eligible to work/live in Brussels, Belgium, when applying for this role. Visa sponsorship or relocation costs will not be provided.

 

 

Diversity & Inclusion

 

We believe that diversity and inclusion are at the heart of system change and the mission we have set ourselves. So we commit ourselves to:

• Embedding diverse and inclusive ways of working from day to day. This includes recruitment, performance management, and people processes and policies.
• Providing a supportive environment. We want people to be themselves and be at their best, regardless of their background, personality, gender, sexual orientation, race, mental health, religion, or other characteristics.
• Enabling a long-term, sustainable approach to work and life more generally. We want to support our people at all stages of their lives – as parents or caregivers, through changing life circumstances – and to accommodate personal priorities where they matter most.

 

 

Reward and Recognition

 

The remuneration and benefits package will reflect the successful candidates’ experience and the country where hired.