Title: Policy Assistant – Energy Systems (traineeship)

Job category: Full time (38h/week), fixed-term   

Location: Brussels, Belgium   

Start Date: September 2024   

Duration: 6 months    

Application deadline: August 31st, 2024 

 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 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 energy with direct use of renewable electricity, as it is the most efficient way to decarbonise transport, heating, and industrial sectors. However, our current energy infrastructure can not support the increased demand for renewable energy. Therefore, significant infrastructure investments and policy changes are required to modernise and create a flexible, efficient system that can accommodate a higher share of renewables in the energy mix.  

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.    

About the job   

We are seeking a young professional who is eager to gain hands-on experience in policy analysis and development, with a focus on energy systems and particularly electricity grids. As a policy assistant, you will be an integral part of our team and work closely with our experts.   

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the monitoring of policy initiatives related to energy systems, 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 to support policy recommendations.   

• Contribute to the development of reports and articles on energy system or other relevant topics.  

• 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 advocacy efforts.   

• Support in the preparation and delivery of presentations, reports, and policy briefings for diverse audiences, including policymakers, partners, and the public.   

• Participate in representing Bellona Europa at relevant conferences, workshops, 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 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 has   

• 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 energy systems   

• Recently graduated with a master’s or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Policy, Energy Policy, 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   

• Strong 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 for candidates willing to be based in Brussels.     

• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.    

 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 per month, plus meal vouchers (8€/day) & a homework allowance. Trainees are not taxed. Bellona covers the phone calls & commuting tickets from home to the office. We also offer holidays beyond what is legally required.   

• 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 Ganni Vassallo, indicating ‘Policy Assistant Energy systems vacancy’ in the subject line, by 31st August 2024 at 18h00 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.