The EU Nature Policy Assistant, as part of BirdLife Europe’s policy team will help ensure that EU policies are designed and implemented in a way that promotes biodiversity conservation. They will support the coordination of BirdLife Partnership’s work on Nature Policy, notably the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, the Natura 2000 network, and the Emerald Network outside of the EU; and help formulate positions and represent and promote BirdLife’s views to the EU Institutions. They will also help design and deliver successful campaigns, projects and publications aiming to achieve BirdLife’s policy priorities

Responsibilities

• As part of the BirdLife Europe policy team, contribute to the development and implementation of the BirdLife nature and climate programme.
• Keep abreast of EU legislative and policy developments primarily related to the Birds and Habitats Directives/Natura 2000 and other fields as appropriate, and promote the correct implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives across EU and Candidate Countries
• To help generating, formulating, adopting and advocating to EU level decision makers BirdLife positions and advocacy strategies related to the implementation of the Nature Directives, the EU biodiversity strategy, species conservation and protected area targets.
• To assist in developing constructive working relationships with key influential bodies, especially the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as relevant NGOs and stakeholders, and to win their support for our priorities, positions and programmes individually and collectively.
• To represent BirdLife Europe at technical EU committees, working groups, and at the European Habitats Forum etc. in relation with areas described in Overall Purpose of Job.
• To help provide detailed briefs and papers for decision-makers, along with the other staff in the office, and provide regular updates on relevant policy areas for the BirdLife Partners.
• To help identify opportunities for funding, in collaboration with other BirdLife staff and Birdlife Partners, and contribute to reporting to donors as necessary.
• To contribute to the publications of BirdLife Europe.
• To represent the BirdLife Europe at external meetings and conferences as necessary.
• To contribute as appropriate to the work and general policy of BirdLife Europe and the European BirdLife Partnership.
• To respond to inquiries as necessary from within and outside the Partnership.

Read the full job description here.

Education, Skills and Other Requirements 

Minimum General Education : Master’s degree

Job Specific Education/ Qualification : University MsC degree or equivalent (possibility for work experience in lieu of)

Job Specific Knowledge:  Policy and Advocacy, conservation biology, EU politics and institutions, NGO networks

Communications skills: Very good oral and written skills, and facilities to speak to a broad audience as well as technical one

Creativity & Initiative:  Good sense of initiative, self-motivated, ability to work in teams and creative mind is a plus

Computer Literacy:  Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows

Languages: English essential, other European languages a plus

Travel requirements:  Occasional nights away from home, ready to travel by train (including night trains and long journeys). We have a low-flying policy hence the need for train travels of up to 9 hours.

BirdLife offers:

• Salary of EUR 2.930 gross/month
• Full-time working hours
• Lunch vouchers
• Reimbursement of 50% of the transport expenses
• 13^th Month salary

Duration: 1-year contract – Belgian contract

How to Apply

Please submit a full CV and a comprehensive cover letter (all in English) setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience, knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to: recruitment.europe@birdlife.org

Please include in the email subject: EU Nature Policy Assistant.