Senior Associate, UK

The European Climate Foundation is seeking a Senior Associate for its UK Programme, responsible for strategy development, grant-making, and policy insight related to climate finance and macroeconomic policy. The role aims to enhance political consensus for decarbonisation in the UK. Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in climate issues, expertise in finance or economic policy, and experience in UK policy-making. This position is remote.
Company Description

About the European Climate Foundation:

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative. We work to tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 1000 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society.

The ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change. We take a broad approach to the types of interventions we fund – from advocacy and activism to research and media engagement. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.

Position

About the role:

This role sits in the ECF’s UK Programme, reporting to the UK Director. The post-holder will have responsibility for strategy and grant-making on climate finance, economic narratives, and the politics of macroeconomic policy. There is also potential for the role scope to include trade policy and international diplomacy, depending on the successful candidate’s background and interests.

The ECF’s UK strategy aims to broaden and deepen the political consensus for decarbonisation, while securing actions to put the UK on track for net zero emissions. We aim to strengthen and improve the diversity of the public debate to ensure a fair transition that continues to enjoy strong public support.

We are looking for a motivated individual to become part of our close-knit UK team, with a strong preference for someone who has already made an impact on climate policy or politics. This is could have been through working in civil society, business or government.

Key Responsibilities
• The Senior Associate will be responsible for:
• Strategy development and implementation: leading ECF’s strategy on finance, economic narratives and macroeconomic policy in the UK context and iterating it over time; and contributing to the broader strategy for ECF in the UK.
• Grant-making: scoping out potential projects; co-creating proposals with potential UK partners and commissioning studies from consultants; and monitoring, evaluating and reporting on progress and impact of initiatives and grants.
• Policy insight and foresight: keeping abreast of local and national climate politics; making sense of relevant policy developments; and identifying potential new opportunities and challenges.
• Internal coordination and contribution: liaising with other ECF programmes where appropriate, including the climate finance, operations and communications teams; and contributing to the wider organisational culture and impact.
• Networking: building partnerships with key individuals across the policymaking, business and civil society communities; convening meetings and representing ECF externally where appropriate.

Requirements

Experience and competencies

Essential
• Strong interest in climate and the environment
• Expertise and experience in finance/economic policy – and the interest to engage at a technical level with the policy detail
• A deep understanding of the UK’s policy-making processes
• A campaign mindset and political acumen, focused on how to navigate the political system to make change happen
• A team player with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Structured, driven and able to manage many processes simultaneously
• Excellent written and spoken English

Desirable
• Demonstrated impact on policy or politics
• Expertise in trade and/or wider international policy
• Strong network in the UK climate community

Other information

What We Offer
• A permanent contract.
• Salary between £55,000 and £70,000, with position within the band dependent on experience and equity across the organisation.
• The opportunity to work as part of a highly dynamic, international group of individuals who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work.
• A flexible work environment and a supportive space to develop and challenge yourself.

Location

The role will be based in ECF’s London office, with flexibility to work from home some of the time.

Start date

As soon as possible.

How To Apply

Please upload your
• CV (in English)
• A cover letter explaining how you meet the criteria for the role, on no more than two sides of A4. Try to include examples – the STAR method can be helpful: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method

Timings:
• The deadline for applications is on Friday 21stFebruary at 10:00 GMT.
• First round interviews will be on Wednesday 26th February, via Zoom.
• Candidates through to the second round of interviews will be asked to deliver a 5-8 minute presentation. The brief for the presentation will be shared on Thursday 27th February.
• Second round interviews will be on the afternoon of Tuesday 4th March, in our London office by Borough tube station.

All applications will be treated confidentially. We will store your information in our internal database unless you specifically request otherwise.

Candidates need to have permission to work in the UK.

Diversity statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds to apply.