Senior Energy Policy Officer

**Job Title**

**Senior Energy Policy Officer - full time**

**Division**

**European and Central Asian Division**

**Unit**

**Policy**

**Location**

**Brussels**

Introduction

**BirdLife Europe and Central Asia (ECA)** is looking for a dynamic, passionate and committed policy officer to support BirdLife Partners on EU energy strategies and policies with a specific focus on offshore development.

Overall Purpose of the Job

The European energy system is under massive change - speed and scale will intensify and impact all natural environments. BirdLife wants to constructively contribute to finding the solutions that will allow scale in renewable energy sources and electricity grids - while at the same time protecting nature and ecosystems.

The Senior Energy Policy Officer will support and coordinate the vast BirdLife network from across Europe on how to facilitate a nature-friendly energy transition into the national and the European policy processes. The Senior Energy Policy Officer will share their technical knowledge with national Birdlife representatives and contribute to informing and shaping national and European energy policies, especially for offshore, interact with industry players, project developers, and policy makers and constructively propose solutions to enable reaching the high renewable and electricity grids deployment targets.

Among the Main Responsibilities for the Senior Energy Policy Officer are:
1. Contribute to the mission and work of the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN) in coordination with the Renewables-Grid Initiative (RGI)

2. Oversee the formulation and promotion of BirdLife’s positioning and consensus within the network on the deployment of offshore wind in the wider context of the energy transition.

3. Liaise with BirdLife partners on engaging with their national governments on energy transition issues by contributing to defining and writing offshore expansion policies/guidelines.

4. Be a key reference point in explaining the links between energy infrastructure needs, constraints, and limitations of available options and specifically the role of offshore renewable energy infrastructure towards climate protection and, ideally be a driver for more nature protection in the offshore environment.

5. Assist in developing constructive working relationships with key influential bodies, especially the European Commission & European Parliament, other NGOs and industry players, to win their support for our programmes and policies individually and collectively, including providing briefs and papers for decision-makers.

6. Cooperate with other policy and conservation colleagues, and in particular support the Head of EU Policy, and Task Force Coordinators. Interact with energy/climate specialists from partner organisations and involve them in relevant discussions to develop and promote BirdLife’s position and to provide support for their implementation.

7. Contribute to fundraising activities.

8. Contribute as appropriate to any BirdLife ECA publications and media interactions.

Qualifications Desired

9. Has a solid proven technical understanding of energy systems, energy policies and the energy transition, including the role of offshore in reaching decarbonization targets

10. Has at least 5 years of proven relevant experience

11. Is able to work both in teams and independently; relate with senior industry and public official representatives, participate in experts groups and actively contribute at shaping opinions and increasing knowledge

12. Understands conservation and biodiversity issues in relation to the energy transition

13. Is fluent in English in all forms. Additional European languages are an asset

14. Is able to travel within Europe

15. Has a good understanding of the EU institutions is an asset

16. Has a high standard of computer literacy (Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook and the Internet)

What We Offer

The contract will initially run for 2 years with the possibility to extend it. The work location is Brussels. Partial home office arrangements available with at least 2 days a week office presence required.

How to Apply

Additional information

The selection process will include both remote and face-to-face interviews if the pandemic situation allows.

About BirdLife

BirdLife ECA is a **Partnership of 48 national conservation organisations** and a **leader in bird conservation**. Our **unique local to global approach **enables us to deliver high impact and long term conservation for the benefit of **nature and people**.

BirdLife ECA is one of the six regional Secretariats that compose BirdLife International, the global authority on the status of bird species. Based in Brussels, it supports the European and Central Asian Partnership and is present in **47 countries **including **all EU Member States**.

With more than **4.100 staff **in Europe, **2 million members** and tens of thousands of skilled volunteers, BirdLife Europe and Centr