Programme Manager, Europe

Programme Manager, Europe

This role is to work on our new AI & Climate Governance programme

• Reports to: Head of Business & Investor Engagement
• Preferred timezone: Europe, within CET +/-2. 
• Deadline: Monday 7 September
• Contract: Full-time (40 hours)
• Duration 12 months, with possibility of extension subject to funding

About Climate Catalyst

Climate Catalyst is a U.S. and UK based non-profit dedicated to galvanising the collective power of business, investors, and civil society to influence and accelerate policy change in Asia and Europe. We work to strengthen collaboration and mobilise new actors on pivotal climate challenges to build power and compel political leaders to act at the speed and scale needed to tackle the climate crisis. We do this by: 

• Engaging with diverse stakeholders to identify targeted campaign opportunities that have the greatest potential for collaboration to accelerate climate action.
• Bringing new and diverse organisations together to share ideas and learnings and design a potential campaign.
• Delivering creative campaign strategy, grants and other forms of support to build power and secure decisive action by governments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Working together to share learnings as we go.

To date, we’ve used this model successfully to build a strong and empowered communications network to challenge dominant narratives holding back progress in tackling the climate impact of aviation, to mobilise the business community in support of the EU Nature Restoration Law, the first legislation for peatlands restoration across Europe, and to spark action in India that led to commitment from the Ministry of Steel to develop green steel policy. 

About The Role

The Programme Manager will form part of our European programme team, working closely  to deliver impactful strategies that target emissions reductions from heavy emitting industries in Europe. This role will focus mainly on the issue of AI and climate governance - where experience is preferable but not required - and take the lead on delivering EU-targeted activities and outputs for this programme. This role is initially set as a 12-month, full-time contract, with potential to extend, and will report to our Head of Business & Investor Engagement.

What you will do

• Identify policy opportunities and contribute to determining strategic policy positions and recommendations for decision-makers and those who influence them.
• Build knowledge in the field of climate governance and AI, with a specific focus on policy mechanisms such as the Cloud and AI Development Act, and the EU Tech Sovereignty Package alongside other relevant files relevant to AI and climate.   
• Synthesise AI-relevant policies and research developments and design into public facing briefings for key stakeholders (policy makers, CSOs and the private sector).
• Work with NGO partner organisations to develop policy positions and execute advocacy activities on climate & AI, and to ensure effective engagement of the private sector across different stages of our programme.
• Conduct stakeholder mapping, research, and analysis to identify strategies and tactics to effectively engage key stakeholders, particularly business and investors, in support of our policy objectives.
• Strengthen and build relationships of trust with key businesses and investors, business NGOs, trade associations and other private sector actors.
• Keep track of climate policy, technology, and economic trends pertaining to the private sector internationally and their role in AI, and specifically in Europe.
• Engage subject-matter experts, consultants, and researchers as necessary to support our strategies.
• Produce private sector-orientated outreach and policy advocacy materials, including memos, brief reports, letters of commitments, talking points, and more.
• Produce and scope terms of reference for targeted research on AI and Climate governance which will shed light on trade offs and influence our target audience. 
• Represent Climate Catalyst at relevant events and forums organised by partners and businesses associations.

What You Would Bring

1. At least five years of experience working on EU policy making processes, including advocacy on emerging issues in the field of technology or AI and climate and the Brussels and/or member state levels. 
2. Demonstrated experience and skills in engaging policymakers and civil society in policy advocacy activities relating to climate change issues. Experience engaging private sector organisations is valued, but not essential.
3. Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver on organisation-wide strategies.
4. Knowledge and understanding of the key issues pertaining to AI and climate, or other industrial decarbonisation policies, and topics pertinent to Europe.
5. Strong initiative and an ability to work both autonomously as well as within a team.
6. Strong interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to distil complex issues for a lay audience.
7. Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with the network of civil society organisations and progressive business and investors. 
8. Awareness of the potentially diverse opinions and voices of Climate Catalyst’s partners and ensure they are taken into account in our policy positions and recommendations.
9. Ability to adapt and respond positively in circumstances where priorities need to shift quickly, and be open to working on different issues over time.
10. Humble, with low ego and ready to roll up your sleeves.
11. Committed to our values of courage, collaboration, diversity and learning.

Additional Information  

• This role is fully-remote, with a stipend available for use of co-working spaces. You must have a right to work in the European country you reside in.
• Our working language is English. Fluency in an additional European language is highly valued but not required.  
• This position requires travel. We anticipate at least two international work trips during the contract period. It will also likely require travel to EU Institutions in Brussels, as well as to events and meetings with European partners.
• You will be part of the European team, and report into the Head of Business and Investor Engagement. 

Compensation + Benefits

• The starting salary for this role is EUR 64,400. Compensation is adjusted based on the employee’s location and aligned to equivalent local salary bands.
• Benefits include: health insurance, stipends for wellness and phone/Wi-Fi, professional development, co-working space coverage, generous pension contribution and more. For more information about working with us at Climate Catalyst, visit our website at https://climatecatalyst.org/get-involved/work-with-us/. 

Diversity at Climate Catalyst

Climate Catalyst aims to design inclusive strategies to meet our objectives. We recognise that the only way to deliver on this is to build a diverse team composed of individuals with varying backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We encourage applicants from historically marginalised and currently underrepresented groups in the climate movement to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunities

Climate Catalyst is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable employment opportunity laws prohibiting discrimination. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

How to Apply

To apply, please upload a cover letter of no more than one page outlining interest in the role and your CV to this application page. We will not consider applications that have been AI-generated and may utilise AI detection tools during this recruitment process.