Policy and Projects Officer

AEIDL, the European Association for Innovation in Local Development, is seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated full time Policy and Project Officer to support the implementation of the Rural Pact Support Office (RPSO) II. The role strengthens the team's capacity to coordinate national and regional partners, manage stakeholder relations, support events and missions, and ensure smooth day-to-day delivery of activities under the supervision of the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader. We welcome applications from candidates looking for either a freelance or an employee post. The post will be offered on a two year contract with the possibility of renewal. Role and responsibilities The Policy and Project Officer will work under the supervision of the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader. The primary tasks include but are not limited to: Organise and facilitate policy networking, coordination and peer-learning meetings with national and regional partners, including the preparation of agendas, facilitation materials and concise summary reports. Coordinate the work of national and regional partners, ensuring alignment with agreed communication approaches and the Annual Work Programme, and maintaining regular contact to provide guidance, follow up on actions, and collect inputs for internal reporting and planning. Coordinate the organisation and follow-up of national and regional activities, such as "The Rural Pact in my country" events. Coordinate RPSO missions, including the preparation of mission-related documentation, liaison with the client, and drafting of mission reports. Coordinate RPSO responses to stakeholder requests and enquiries, ensuring timely follow-up and effective internal coordination with relevant team members. Coordinate with a dedicated subcontractor for travel and accommodation arrangements for event participants, in line with project rules and procedures. Support the RPSO team in the organisation and facilitation of events, including policy labs, good practice webinars, RPCG meetings, national dialogues and conferences. Support stakeholder liaison and community engagement by contributing to the management and regular updating of the Rural Pact contact database, ensuring information is structured, accurate and compliant with data protection requirements. Support administrative and financial processes related to project activities and events such as invoice tracking and recording, verifying expense claims, budget tracking and reporting to the client in close coordination with the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader. Tasks may be expanded depending on the profile and interests of the selected candidate. Desirable skills and experience Essential Relevant knowledge of EU rural and territorial development policies and funding frameworks, combined with a solid understanding of the EU institutional and stakeholder environment. Demonstrated experience working in service contracts and/or projects for EU institutions, with a good understanding of the activities, governance and working methods of the Rural Pact and its Support Office, or comparable EU coordination and support structures. Excellent command of spoken and written English (C2 level or native). Proven ability to coordinate and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders across different governance levels (EU, national, regional and local). Demonstrated experience in policy networking and facilitation, including supporting and facilitating meetings, peer-learning exchanges and collaborative discussions using participatory approaches. Experience in organising online and in person meetings, events and logistical arrangements, including participant coordination, registrations and on-the-day support. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with the ability to manage databases, analyse and present data effectively for monitoring, coordination and reporting purposes. Ability to animate and manage online stakeholder communities, facilitating discussions, content sharing and collaborative learning. Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple parallel activities, deadlines and priorities in a structured, reliable and autonomous manner. Excellent attention to detail and a highly structured working style, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery of outputs. Capacity to adapt quickly to new tools, procedures and evolving priorities, combined with a proactive, solution-oriented approach. Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple parallel activities, deadlines and priorities in a structured, reliable and autonomous manner. Quick learner and team player, comfortable working in multidisciplinary and international teams. Desirable Good understanding of EU project workflows and management. Familiarity with EU institutions, decision- and policymaking processes. Good working knowledge of additional European languages (French would be considered a plus). Familiarity with participatory methods, peer-learning formats or community-building approaches in a policy or project context. Application process Send your CV in English in the Europass format with a short cover letter to jobs@aeidl.eu with the subject line RPSO Communications Officer by Sunday 18 January 2026 midnight. Your cover letter should include a description of how you meet the essential requirements of the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and that interviews may begin before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged. Working at AEIDL People are the most important asset of AEIDL, and we practice internally what we advocate externally – providing a working environment where we care for our staff in a culture of cooperation and collaboration. At AEIDL we seek to provide a healthy work-life balance, with a strong emphasis on cooperative teamwork. We have a human-centred approach to work, including flexible working hours, options for home working and regular social gatherings. We empower our staff to lead, decide and show initiative, embracing our "culture of co". Our culture of cooperation, co-creation, community-leadership, and caring for the common good is an inherent part of the AEIDL brand. At AEIDL you will benefit from our staff development programme, in which our team members contribute to designing and planning cooperative approaches to learning, mentoring and individual development. We value the development and sharing of skills, knowledge, and experience. We welcome ideas for our working and associative activities. Such staff-led initiatives include team building days, outreach activities, the European Local Innovation Forum (ELIF), and our eco-team, which ensures we practice what we preach. For employees we offer competitive remuneration packages, indexed on an annual basis, including a thirteenth month, double holiday pay (as per Belgian regulation), a home-working allowance, meal vouchers and a contribution to local transportation costs. We also offer affiliation to a private pension plan and a high-coverage hospitalisation insurance. In a standard year, employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave, 12 days of compensatory rest, 10 Belgian bank holidays as well as Europe day, equivalent to up to 43 days of annual paid leave. Who we are AEIDL is an association that learns from and fosters community-led innovation in areas such as territorial development, employment, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, environment, climate action and green growth. We add value by supporting and facilitating peer learning among local and national actors across Europe, analysing and evaluating relevant EU policies and advocating for enhanced support to community local action to help build a Europe for citizens. The personal data contained in applications sent in response to job offers are collected and recorded by AEIDL's HR/KM departments in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations concerning the protection of personal data. These data will be processed by authorised persons only to be able to assess your application for potential recruitment and will be kept for the time necessary to achieve this purpose. You may request access to your personal data and, if necessary, have them corrected. You also have the right to have them deleted, transferred, request a limitation of their processing or to object to it. These various rights can be exercised by contacting the following address: privacy@aeidl.eu.