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 Senior Project Coordinator to work in the field of climate neutrality.

The candidate would start ideally in 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.

About the project
NetZeroCities (NZC) is an initiative launched as part of the European Green Deal and directly supporting the European Commission’s Mission for 100 Climate-neutral and Smart Cities by 2030. NZC is being implemented by a 33-member consortium comprising diverse partners from across Europe, supporting the 112 Mission cities to achieve the Mission objectives through expertise, tools and guidance, capacity building and knowledge sharing, and innovative approaches to systemic change.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Project Coordinator to co-lead the NZC Team in Eurocities, with direct experience of working with cities and expertise in local climate action. The NZC Team is expanding and will consist of 12 fulltime staff, with half of the team working directly with cities to support them to achieve their Mission objectives.

As Senior Project Coordinator, you will work as part of the broader Climate Neutrality Team and co-lead the NetZeroCities Team. You will manage a small group of city experts and work closely with the European Commission and NZC consortium partners. In this role, you will:

co-lead the NZC Team and managing a team of six expert city advisors and officers
take a leadership role in NetZeroCities and its governance and implementation
manage project work packages and allocated tasks for which Eurocities is responsible
manage resources and budget
support engagement with cities and support their climate neutrality objectives and make connections with consortium partners to ensure smooth delivery
liaise with the European Commission on project tasks and engagement with the city support team
promote project results and activities internally and externally
draft technical and financial reports
make links between the project and other areas of Eurocities activity, relevant Eurocities forums and working groups
support project development in cooperation with the projects & knowledge sharing director

You are an experienced professional who is full of initiative, self-driven, curious, creative, flexible and results-oriented. The skills and experience to do this job successfully include:

a successful track record of at least 10 years of work experience in the field of project management and climate change, particularly at the local level
a Master’s degree or equivalent in climate, environment, sustainability, urban planning, or related fields
experience of working directly with or in city/local governments, preferably in climate neutrality or related area
excellent oral and written communications skills in English
experience in capacity building and workshop design and facilitation
experience in working with multiple stakeholders/partners at transnational level
good networking abilities and interpersonal skills for an international environment
excellent relationship management, coordination and organisation skills
experience in managing a small team of people
problem-solving approach
flexibility to deal with multiple and changing priorities
good negotiating and influencing skills
Assets:

knowledge or experience of providing direct support services to cities or similar recipients
experience of process design and improvement
knowledge of the functioning of the EU institutions, policy priorities and main policy developments in the area of climate neutrality
experience writing EU project proposals
other languages

We offer
A full-time position as 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)
An open-ended contract linked to the length of the project (3 years), starting on 1 June 2023
€4,000 – €4,400 monthly gross salary, 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 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 23:59 CET on 16 April 2023 to: Patricia de Wouters, Head of HR, at jobs.climate@eurocities.eu.

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

Interviews will be held in person on 3 May 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

€4,000 – €4,400 monthly gross salary, 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.