All Things Urban

Eurocities is the network of more than 200 cities in 38 countries, representing 130 million people, working together to ensure a good quality of life for all.

You greet your neighbour as you leave home on your way to do work that is meaningful and decently paid. The air is clean and free of honking car horns. Using the free public wifi, you see that today the public square is a local artisans’ and farmers’ market. Your phone polls you on a few quick ideas that the local administration wants to try. You truly feel like you are a part of the city, and, as such, a part of Europe.

This is the future that European cities have been working to build through Eurocities since 1986. We help cities inspire each other. When a crisis hits, the urgency of local coordination and information sharing is starkly obvious – but with longer-burning issues like climate change, social equality and a vibrant economy this ‘glocal’ approach is no less essential.

That’s why we work with over 200 of Europe’s largest cities to improve the lives of over 130 million residents across 38 countries. That’s the ‘cities’ part of ‘Eurocities’. Hundreds of cities have already committed to getting carbon emissions down to zero, welcoming migrants and refugees, and governing through dialogue with their residents.

Local governments work on the ground with citizens and residents, and are essential partners for turning EU policies and ambitions into reality. As such, cities must be included directly in European decision making and should be in direct receipt of European funds. That’s the ‘Euro’ part of ‘Eurocities.’ So Eurocities, Europe plus cities, equals a better future for all.

Organisation
Eurocities, the network of major European cities, is recruiting a project coordinator to work in the field of citizen participation and democracy. The successful candidate would report to Eurocities executive director.

The candidate would start 1st of June 2023.

Eurocities is a dynamic and international team where we trust in people, value constructive exchanges and collaborative work. We help people thrive in a friendly, open and healthy environment while promoting a work/life balance.

As project coordinator, you will be responsible for Eurocities activities for a Horizon Europe project aiming to establish and develop a European network of practitioners and researchers in the field of democracy, civic deliberation, participation and citizenship education. This network will be spread across Europe to foster inclusive democratic innovations. The objectives are to:

Create, foster and sustain a strong Network of policy makers, practitioners and researchers to benefit from each other’s knowledge, practice and networks, and address some of the key questions in the democracy field in a shared way.
Systematise and connect the fragmented knowledge on democratic innovation and governance research to better inform democratic processes and the rule of law
Establish a coordinated European approach and pathways to promote systematic accessibility of democratic research and innovation to EU policy makers and other interested stakeholders
Raise the ambition of policy making through policy recommendations that seek to strengthen and reimagine democracy via innovation and experimentation at all levels of governance.
In this role, you will:

Manage Eurocities’ activities and responsibilities in the framework of the project. This includes:
providing policy recommendations for European policy on strengthening and renewing European democracy across a broad range of areas, including via cultural and creative approaches; developing a Democracy Lab aimed at co-developing inclusive democratic innovations; and organising 4 policy dialogues and 1 high-level political event
Working in tandem with the policy adviser for urban governance
Building synergies between the project outcomes and Eurocities activities on urban governance
Liaising with the lead partner and other partners
Managing the project budget within Eurocities’ responsibility
Preparing required deliverables, technical reports, and cost statements
Ensure strong links with our policy work and relevant EU platforms and initiatives
Contribute to the Eurocities activities and working groups.
Disseminate information to members on the project outcomes in cooperation with the communications team.
Stimulate and support project development in the domain of governance and democracy in cooperation with the project & knowledge-sharing director.

You are an experienced professional who is full of initiative, self-driven, curious, creative, flexible and results-oriented.

You have:

a successful track record of five years’ work experience
strong experience in EU-funded project management
a background in citizen participation/democracy
in-depth and up-to-date knowledge on citizen participation/citizenship education
experience in event organisation
experience translating project work into policy recommendations
full proficiency in English, and are able to write clear and concise reports in English
good networking abilities and interpersonal skills for an international environment
excellent relationship management, negotiating, coordination, and communications skills
Assets:

experience in working with local and city governments
experience in coordinating and working with multiple stakeholders at EU or/and local level
other languages
experience in policy work
experience in writing policy recommendations and publications

We offer
an open-ended contract linked to the length of the project (until February 2027), starting in June 2023
a part-time contract (80%), either as:
an employee, under Belgian legislation. The selected candidate will need to either live in Belgium or be willing to move to Belgium for the duration of the contract (candidates need to provide a Belgian address). Or
a freelancer, based in any EU country and able to prove freelancer status as a natural person.
2.500 € – 2.950 € monthly gross salary for 80% work regime, according to profile and experience
flexible working hours
part-time teleworking
Benefits
Meal vouchers, pension plan, hospitalisation insurance, public transport costs, 13th month, éco-chèques, 90€ net per month of teleworking allowance, training opportunities.

How to apply
Applicants are requested to send a letter of motivation, explicitly describing point by point their relevant experience and linking it to the requirements for the position, in one page maximum, together with a CV with at least two referees (including your current or last employer) by 12:00 on 19 March 2023. to: Patricia de Wouters, Head of HR, at jobs.projects@eurocities.eu

Please send the documents in pdf format and mention ‘project coordinator citizen participation’ in the subject line.

Interviews will be held in person in Brussels on 11 and 12 April 2023.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. CV and personal data of non-selected candidates are not shared with anyone outside Eurocities and will be deleted immediately after the recruitment process. For more information, read our privacy policy.

eurocities.eu

2.500 € – 2.950 € monthly gross salary for 80% work regime, according to profile and experience

We’re not fully sure whether this role is open to international candidates. If you would need visa sponsorship or work authorisation, we recommend checking directly with the employer before applying.