Policy officer - Clean vehicles and air quality Transport & Environment

Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe's principal environmental group campaigning for more sustainable transport in the EU, is currently seeking a highly motivated and proactive individual in the area of clean vehicles and air quality.

The position requires a skill set that combines strategic thinking, EU political savvy, networking, advocacy, research and impactful communications. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to grasp extremely technical issues and translate them into simple and persuasive policy messages.

We offer the chance to help shape policies with huge implications for people and the environment in Europe and across the globe as well as a competitive salary with a substantial package of benefits.

The role will involve:

• developing and managing a new multi-year campaign to reduce air pollution from vehicles and other mobile machinery. The policy officer will be expected to work with limited supervision within the vehicles team;
• analysing and dissecting complex policy issues from a variety of sources including scientific studies, European Commission reports and EU legal texts; and using these to develop a detailed understanding of the issues from a health, environmental, business, economic and societal perspective;
• developing position papers and advocacy and campaigning strategies based upon robust evidence and argumentation in order to reduce the health and environmental impacts of greenhouse gas and pollutants' emissions;
• building a network of NGO, academic, industry and government contacts and working with these to communicate and advocate T&E’s position to policymakers, politicians, business leaders, journalists, civil society actors and our international network.

The successful candidate MUST meet all of the following criteria:

• have a thorough technical knowledge of air pollution emissions from vehicles and EU legislation;
• a minimum of three years relevant professional experience working on technical issues in the fields of clean or low carbon vehicles or air quality;
• excellent communication and presentation skills and an ability to write English fluently, accurately and concisely;
• the confidence to think and act with initiative, to engage and influence policymakers, industry representatives and other stakeholders at the highest level;
• project management experience including strong interpersonal and team-working skills and an ability to deliver to tight deadlines.

The successful candidate should also have:

• a personal commitment to sustainable transport and the aims of Transport & Environment;
• the ability to speak at least one other EU language fluently;
• a willingness to travel.

This is a full-time position based in Brussels, and subject to a six-month probation period.

To apply, please send a short cover letter outlining the ways in which you meet the above-mentioned criteria, together with a copy of your CV to vacancy@transportenvironment.org.

Closing date for applications: 19 December 2012.

Interviews are scheduled to be held on the 7 January 2013. If a second round of interviews is required these will be held in the week commencing the 14 January 2013. The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible. Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted for the first round of interviews.