Page
Bellona Europa is hiring: Policy Assistant – Clean Construction
Title: Policy Assistant (traineeship) – Clean Construction
Job category: Full time (38h/week), fixed-term
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Start Date: As soon as possible (March 2024 tentative starting date)
Duration: 6 months with possibility of extension and/or an employment contract
Application Deadline: February 2nd, at 23h59 CET
As an organisation, Bellona works at the forefront of environmental innovation and industrial decarbonisation. Being a group of evidence-based environmentalists, our goal is to implement new, more sustainable actions, which can effectively reduce CO2 emissions and that are implementable today. We advocate for pragmatic and systemic approaches that deliver the greatest impact, today and tomorrow, while not shying away from addressing contentious issues. We endeavour to cooperate with all stakeholders but also act as a watch dog against greenwashing.
To achieve our climate targets, it’s essential to replace carbon-intensive materials and products with lower-carbon equivalents. In the construction sector, greenhouse gas emissions happen at different stages of a building or infrastructure’s life. At Bellona, we focus mostly on the embodied carbon emissions of construction products, such as cement and steel, and on zero-emission projects, particularly in cities; as well as on mechanisms to promote demand for these low-carbon products, such as green public procurement.
About the job
We are seeking a young professional who is eager to gain hands-on experience in policy analysis and project development, with a focus on clean construction, and particular on materials and construction equipment, as well as on green public procurement. As a policy assistant, you will be an integral part of our team and work closely with our experts, who will guide you and empower you to take ownership as you progress.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist in the monitoring of policy initiatives related to public procurement, infrastructure, and non-road mobile machinery, e.g. going through policy proposals, support the drafting of amendments, etc.
- Conduct research, evaluate data, and stay informed about the latest developments and trends in policy and technically to support policy recommendations.
- Contribute to the development of reports and articles on clean construction or other relevant topics, as well as to different project deliverables.
- Support collaboration with legislative bodies (at EU level and in relevant Member States, nationally and locally), other NGOs, and industry stakeholders to contribute to sustainable policies and coordinated advocacy efforts.
- Participate in representing Bellona Europa at relevant conferences, workshops, meetings and events, sharing insights and expanding networks.
- Contribute to the organisation’s overall mission by actively participating in other initiatives and projects as required.
- Assisting with the organisation of meetings, workshops, events, conferences or webinars related to the built environment.
- Support in the preparation and delivery of presentations, reports, and policy briefings for diverse audiences, including policymakers, partners, and the public, and develop communication material for social media.
The ideal candidate will have
- Strong motivation to work on addressing the climate crisis and clear alignment with Bellona’s overall mission.
- Understanding of the policy-making process at EU and national levels. Knowledge of regulations, policies, and frameworks related to clean construction is a plus.
- Recently graduated with a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Policy, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Engineering).
- Strong interest in policy development and advocacy, with a desire to learn and grow in these areas.
- Experience conducting research and with critical thinking. Experience managing databases is a plus.
- Strong project management, networking and communication skills, and an interest in working in a multicultural environment.
- Fluency in English. Additional languages are an asset.
- Ability to work proactively and collaboratively within a team.
- Eligibility to work and reside in Belgium.
- Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.
- Eagerness to learn and tackle complex tasks.
These criteria are meant to be indicative, not prescriptive. We encourage applications from candidates who have similar qualifications, even if they do not fulfil all the above criteria.
What we offer
- An initial 6-month Belgian CIP contract (with a possibility for an employment contract at the end of the traineeship)
- About 1200 EUR net per month in total, including meal vouchers (8€/worked day). Trainees are not taxed. Bellona covers the phone subscription & commuting tickets from home to the office. We offer the full holiday allowance for all employees, beyond the Belgian legal requirement, and additional time off during the end of year period.
- An opportunity to gain hands-on experience and contribute to ambitious environmental policy in Europe.
- Exposure to influential stakeholders and the chance to be part of meaningful initiatives.
- A collaborative working environment with an inclusive team.
If you are a passionate and proactive individual with a proven interest for working on climate change, this internship offers you the chance to make a real impact in the field and to work at the heart of EU climate policy.
How to apply
Please send us your application respecting the following instructions: One PDF document including both your cover letter (1 page max) and your CV (2 pages max). Your PDF file should be named as follows: familyname_name.pdf. Please send your application by email to our HR mailbox hr@bellona.org for the attention of Irene Domínguez, indicating ‘Policy Assistant Clean Construction vacancy’ in the subject line, by 2nd February 2025 at 23h59 CET at the latest. Kindly indicate where you found our vacancy. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.
About Bellona Europa: Bellona Europa is an independent, non-profit organisation that meets environmental and climate challenges head on. We are solutions-oriented and have a comprehensive and cross-sectoral approach to assess the economics, climate impacts and technical feasibility of necessary climate actions. To do this, we work with civil society, academia, governments, institutions, and industries.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get our latest news