Head of the Climate Programme

Head of the Climate Programme

CEPS - Centre for European Policy Studies

Brussels, Belgium

Description of the role

CEPS is looking for a Head of the Climate Programme to steer and further develop its work in this domain. Working closely with the Head of the ERCC Unit and the Head of the Energy Programme, the Head of the Climate Programme will drive research and fundraising activities in the climate domain with the objective of strengthening CEPS’ outreach and further expanding this portfolio.

The position requires a deep understanding of EU climate policy and an established professional network in this field, with the expectation that the selected candidate will work across a range of domains within the climate policy area. The scope of the Climate Programme includes, but not limited to, carbon markets and carbon pricing instruments, including EU ETS, ETS 2, CBAM, and voluntary carbon markets; negative emissions and carbon dioxide removals; methane and other non-CO2 emissions; industrial decarbonisation solutions (including for energy-intensive and hard-to-abate industries) and the climate components of industrial policy and cleantech; as well as the international dimension of EU climate action, including the UNFCCC process and the Paris Agreement. This list is non-exhaustive and may be further developed and complemented in collaboration with the ERCC management in response to policy developments.

In addition to candidates with a research background in think tanks or academia, CEPS also welcomes applications from experts from other sectors (e.g. industry, NGOs, consultancies) with in-depth knowledge of EU climate policy and a strong motivation to pursue a career in a policy research think tank.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The selected candidate will:

• Drive and coordinate the development of the CEPS ERCC Unit’s Climate Programme.
• Conduct research activities in the field climate policy and industrial decarbonisation.
• Lead the acquisition of new projects to sustain stable and healthy funding for the Climate Programme, working closely with the Unit’s management.
• Regularly publish research policy papers, studies, reports and op-ed-style commentaries.
• Represent CEPS and its work on climate policy in high-level meetings, conferences and policy forums.

Your background, qualifications and skills

Our ideal candidate:

• You have a Master’s degree or PhD in economics, environmental economics, climate policy, sustainability, international relations, business economics or political science, etc. and have developed expertise in the field of the climate policy.
• You have at least 10 years of experience and demonstrated knowledge in some of the following areas: EU and international climate policy, EU industrial decarbonisation policies, market and non-market climate policy instruments, carbon markets, EU carbon border adjustment mechanism, climate change governance. For details on specific research areas, please see the role description above.
• You have experience/a proven track record in leading or contributing to fundraising activities and take a proactive, positive approach to this work.
• You have an established network of contacts – EU and beyond – in the domains of climate policy and industrial decarbonisation.
• You can work independently but you also enjoy teamwork with senior and junior colleagues and are open to giving and receiving feedback.
• You have a strong work ethic and a commitment to respecting colleagues and deadlines.