Lead EU Climate Economics and Finance

Position description

The next few years will be critical in determining whether the EU Green Deal’s ambitious goals can be transformed into tangible investments and real-world action. As the new European Commission focuses on the implementation of the Fit for 55 package, Europe’s journey to climate neutrality will demand significant investments in clean technologies, the transformation of industrial sectors and value-chains, and an expansion of energy infrastructure that is aligned with net-zero goals.

Agora estimates that achieving climate neutrality will require additional investments equivalent to at least 2.7% of the EU’s GDP – approximately €462 billion annually (in 2023 prices) throughout this decade. Most investments will come from private sources, incentivised by a mix of regulation, market signals and enabling measures. However, public funding plays an important role by facilitating private investments, supporting clean energy infrastructure build-out or providing support for lower-income households to switch to climate-friendly technologies.

The upcoming discussions on the EU budget for 2028–2034 will shape this funding landscape, taking place under complex conditions. Simultaneously, the EU will legislate on the proposed 90% emissions reduction target for 2040 and design a new climate governance for the post-2030 period. This raises the need for sharp analysis, strategic foresight and thought leadership to help guide the evolution of EU climate, economic and finance policies.

Under the umbrella of the Agora Think Tanks, Agora Energiewende develops politically feasible and science-based strategies and solutions for the transformation to climate neutrality – in Germany, Europe, and internationally. As a think tank and policy lab we facilitate a productive exchange of ideas amongst stakeholders from politics, business, science and civil society. As a non-partisan, non-profit organisation funded by foundations and public institutions, we are independent of corporate and partisan interests. Our exclusive mission is to serve the climate and the common good.

To strengthen our team, we are looking for a Lead EU Climate Economics and Finance (f/m/d) full-or part-time (min. 30 hours) – based in Brussels or Berlin.

As Lead EU Climate Economics and Finance you will be part of Agora’s EU team and responsible for work on EU climate policy, EU economic and finance policy and economic analysis, with a particular focus on thought leadership targeting key policymaking processes at the EU level.

Your responsibilities include

• Developing analysis to support the review of the Fit for 55 package with a particular focus on the ETS and CBAM;
• Thought leadership to support the development of a new post-2030 climate and energy policy architecture;
• Assessing the specific investment needs for the transformation of the EU economy towards climate-neutrality, as well as regulatory and public finance instruments that can maximise the “crowding in” of private investments;
• Assessing policy proposals for the next EU Budget 2028-2034, including options for new own resources;
• Assessing policies and measures to support the competitiveness of EU industry in the transition to climate-neutrality, including on the financing of energy infrastructure as part of the upcoming Clean Energy Investment Strategy;
• Assessing the social and distributional effects of climate and energy policies, as well as the broader transformation of the EU economy to climate-neutrality;
• Conceptualizing complex research projects in close collaboration with Agora colleagues in Berlin and Brussels;
• Taking full responsibility for managing and leading specific research projects, including budget, monitoring, reporting, and stakeholder management;
• Helping to conceptualize and provide input to a new flagship annual conference and publication on the State of the EU Industrial Transformation;
• Pro-actively contributing to building partnerships and working closely with network partners in Brussels and throughout Europe;
• Liaising with expert colleagues across the Agora Think Tanks to facilitate their contributions to projects and knowledge sharing;
• Strongly engaging with key stakeholders, and directly advising government authorities on key policies;
• Representing Agora Energiewende at meetings and public events; frequent contributions to panel discussions and conferences; working with media;
• Actively contributing to internal strategy development and discussions;
• Coaching less experienced colleagues and supporting their professional development.

What we offer

• An opportunity to work in a mission-driven, highly motivated, and professional international team;
• Diverse experience, including professional relationships with colleagues and visitors from a variety of countries around the globe;
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement; including access to a mental well-being platform;
• Entitlement to a number of paid leave days significantly higher than the statutory entitlement (exact amount depends on country of employment);
• A cooperative working atmosphere with flat communication and decision-making hierarchies;
• An attractive workplace in one of our offices and the option of hybrid working with good digital facilities;
• Assistance with the visa process for international candidates;
• A structured onboarding programme and regular team and organisation-wide retreats to bring us all together; and
• A full or part-time role with an unlimited employment duration.

We are looking for

• A proven track record and expertise in EU climate policy, in particular relating to the ETS and CBAM;
• A proven track record and expertise in EU economic and finance policy, including past experience working on the EU budget; experience in EU State aid and competition policy is a plus;
• A proven track record and expertise in economic and policy analysis; experience working on EU impact assessments is a plus;
• Demonstrated experience in working with policy-relevant data and databases; knowledge of Python or other programming languages is a plus;
• A Master’s degree in economics, finance, business, political science or similar, and at least 8 years of relevant work experience;
• Strong networking skills and the ability to navigate in a complex environment of EU institutions, industry associations, stakeholder groups and media;
• Ability to represent Agora Energiewende at a senior level in meetings with the European Commission, European Parliament, national governments and stakeholders;
• Experience in contributing to conferences and workshops as speaker or facilitator;
• Ability to design and steer complex analytic research projects, guide consultants, and write high quality documents;
• A confident, calm, practical and entrepreneurial outlook, with openness to working on diverse challenges and topics;
• Strong leadership and management skills;
• Experience in working in international teams and networks;
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;
• Full command of the English language in reading and writing; active knowledge of German and other European languages is a plus; and
• Willingness to regularly travel to Berlin/Brussels and other European capitals.

We assume that there are excellent candidates for the job who do not meet all the criteria in the description. Maybe you have certain skills we haven’t thought of yet? Tell us why you are the right person for the job.

Application instructions

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