Senior Associate

Position description

CLASP serves at the epicenter of collaborative, ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change and in the global movement for clean energy access, through appliance efficiency. Our mission is to improve the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We work hand-in-hand with governments, experts, industry, consumers, donor organizations and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive appliances possible.

CLASP has worked in more than 100 countries since our inception in 1999. CLASP is headquartered in Washington, DC, with teams in Europe, Kenya, India, China, and Indonesia. We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. See our Team Page to learn more about us.

CLASP’s Europe Team

As part of CLASP’s broader international Climate program, the Europe Team supports ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change through appliance and equipment energy efficiency in the European Union and the United Kingdom. We work with policymakers and other key industry and civil society stakeholders in both regions. We provide world-class technical and policy advisory services to governments in support of ambitious and cost-effective appliance efficiency policies. We accelerate the development of efficient product markets through minimum energy performance standards, informative product labelling, and promotion of the most efficient appliances.

In our day-to-day, we mostly work remotely within our virtual team in Belgium and the UK. We track and participate in EU and UK Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policy processes; test products for efficiency and develop world leading test methodologies; prepare and present evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations for the European Commission, national governments, and civil society; and drive innovative and impactful research projects and campaigns to inform policies that help protect the people and the planet.

About the Role

You will help plan and implement our European portfolio to drive ambitious product energy and resource efficiency policies and initiatives in the EU, member states, and the UK. You will represent CLASP at stakeholder meetings; design, manage and execute market, technical and consumer research and analysis projects; feed into European policy processes and projects; and support our business development efforts.

You’ll work remotely in Belgium, with easy access to Brussels to participate in relevant events and meetings. You’ll collaborate regularly with our small European team, as well as with our Climate Team colleagues around the world, and a wide network of partners in the EU and UK. Our remote team gets together whenever possible, both at meetings and conferences, as well as for our quarterly in-person working sessions.

Your Responsibilities

• Build and implement program strategies that keep the big picture in mind: Conduct and roll out projects and programs within the larger context of CLASP, partner, and sector efforts to make energy-related products as planet-neutral and people-positive as possible;
• Manage projects: Develop and manage projects, including preparing research specifications and work plans, tracking budgets, managing technical implementers, monitoring and reviewing programmatic activities and outcomes to ensure the highest quality work and outputs;
• Monitor and contribute to the policy process: Track Ecodesign and Energy Labelling product policies and compliance initiatives; contribute to consultations (with expert support where necessary); identify research and data needs; and engage with relevant stakeholders to maximize energy savings and carbon emissions;
• Conduct research and analysis: Plan and conduct technical, market, or consumer research tasks, and policy and data analysis. This can include consumer behaviour studies; product testing to inform test methods, regulatory requirements or policy compliance levels; researching best practices, or modelling potential CO2 emissions reductions from various policy scenarios;
• Write and communicate: Prepare compelling and well-written materials, including policy briefs, project reports, research outcomes, proposals and presentations. Collaborate with our communications team to disseminate your work;
• Represent CLASP and establish productive partnerships: Participate and present in formal and informal meetings and events. Maintain and develop new relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the EU, including the European Commission, civil society, and industry;
• Business and program development: Identify program development opportunities and collaborate with program managers and the Europe Director to gather essential information and prepare proposal concepts.

*In the future, this position may involve managing and mentoring junior staff, including interns.

The Ideal Candidate

• A confident writer and communicator: You are a strong writer, able to produce concise and impactful content targeted to the right audiences, with minimal reviews. You enjoy networking and are a confident speaker, whether you’re presenting or intervening in an important meeting;
• Manage cohesive processes: You develop and implement strategies along with your supervisor. You execute multiple projects, establish success indicators and evaluate project performance against these parameters;
• Align your teams and stakeholders by communicating: You advise teams and management on project performance, proposing/recommending solutions to maintain and improve delivery. You also assess requirements of clients and partners to effectively align deliverables to changing demands;
• An effective collaborator: You’ve successfully worked across cultural lines on a dispersed team, and you have the ability to operate in complex situations. You can easily gain trust from team members and are known for supporting them to ensure they are set up for success. You’re not afraid to ask questions;
• An abundant thinker: You believe that we are living in a world of abundant resources and that the right team of partners can make improbable things happen. You bring relentless curiosity, creativity and initiative to every task, project, and engagement;
• Flexible: You can manage a diverse set of team needs and aren’t afraid to step outside your job description or comfort zone to help the team reach its goals. You’re comfortable with shifting schedules and don’t expect every day to go “as planned”;
• Analytical: You have a demonstrated ability to conduct technical analysis and translate findings into policy recommendations. You’re well-versed with Excel and/or other tools;
• A humble teammate: Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand. You can earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects or large strategic goals;
• Mission-oriented: You believe in CLASP’s mission and are passionate about global access to clean energy, climate change, energy efficiency, and creating a more sustainable world.

Key Qualifications

• 3 – 5+ years of overall professional experience in energy or environmental policy, with a strong preference for experience on appliance energy/resource efficiency policy or financing;
• Outstanding communication skills in both written and spoken English. Proven ability to convey technical content in a clear and concise manner. Other European languages a plus;
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines and complete assignments with minimal supervision in a fast-paced workplace. Highly detail-oriented, producing polished work and managing smooth, well-coordinated and orderly processes;
• Strong project management skills. Demonstrated ability to manage contractors, manage relationships with diverse project stakeholders, and work through people to get results;
• Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative, strong work ethic and an ability to take initiative; a drive to learn and grow on the job;
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. You’re always asking: “whose voice is not at the table?” You have experience working with diverse teams and successfully navigating cross-cultural communication in both local and global contexts, and you deeply value creating a workplace that is supportive of difference.

Location and Travel

This is a full-time position based in Belgium. Occasional evening or weekend hours will be required, given the international nature of the organisation. Although the Europe team operates remotely, regular meetings in Brussels and London are expected. Ad-hoc access to a co-working space is available. We meet quarterly for team meetups, strategy sessions, and team building. Occasional international travel outside of Europe is expected 1-2 times per year. Candidates must be authorized to work in the EU and not need sponsorship.

Benefits

CLASP provides its employees with a highly competitive salary that is benchmarked annually with other non-profit organizations in Brussels. CLASP also provides a comprehensive benefits package, including fully paid health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families/dependents, unlimited leave and all national holidays, and a collegial environment that supports professional development, wellness and flexible telecommuting options.

Application instructions

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