Overview

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia in Brussels is looking for:

EU Nature Policy Officer – Maternity Cover

BirdLife International – the largest nature conservation organisation in the world – is looking for a dynamic, passionate and committed EU Nature Policy Officer to join the BirdLife Europe & Central Asia (ECA) team.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB

The EU Nature Policy Officer, as part of BirdLife Europe and Central Asia’s policy team will help ensure that EU policies are designed and implemented in a way that promotes biodiversity conservation. He/she will support and coordinate BirdLife Partnership’s work on EU Nature Policy, notably the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Natura 2000 network, the restoration agenda, help formulate positions and represent and promote BirdLife’s views to the EU Institutions. He/she will also help design and deliver successful campaigns, projects and publications aiming to achieve BirdLife’s policy priorities. 

MAIN DUTIES/WORK PROGRAMME RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To keep abreast of EU legislative and policy developments primarily related to the Birds and Habitats Directives/Natura 2000/Restoration and other fields as appropriate. To promote the correct implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives across EU and neighborhood countries in particular through:
    • Being the main Brussels based BirdLife advocate on EU nature and biodiversity policy;
    • Providing policy support to BirdLife (national) Partners, including by being the main reference for and by providing support to the Nature Task Force in close collaboration with the Task Force Coordinator, and in line with the agreed work priorities of the Task Force;
    • Providing technical support to the Nature Task Force and its coordinator (organisation of meetings, taking minutes, maintaining Task Force archive, relevant web-pages etc.) ;
    • Providing general and specific support to BirdLife Partners regarding the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, in particular Natura 2000 and provisions on species conservation/hunting (e.g. through briefs and papers, and through phone and e-mail communication as well as visits, when possible);
    • Providing general and specific case work support to BirdLife Partners regarding infringements of the Birds and Habitats Directives.
  • To help generating, formulating, adopting and advocating to EU level decision makers BirdLife positions related to the EU 2030 biodiversity strategy, mainly on policy issues regarding Protected Areas, restoration and species protection.
  • 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 and Central Asia at technical EU committees, working groups, and at the European Habitats Forum etc. in relation with areas described in Overall Purpose of Job.
  • To co-operate with all BirdLife Europe and Central Asia staff, in particular with the Head of EU Policy, the other members of the EU Policy Team and the Regional Director, as well as with the Coordinator and the members of Nature Task Force and to fully involve them in relevant discussions to facilitate and promote BirdLife’s positions; 
  • To help provide detailed briefs and papers for decision-makers, along with the other staff in the office. To provide detailed briefs and updates on relevant policy areas for the Partners (particularly for the Birds and Habitats Directives Task Force).
  • To help identify opportunities for funding, in collaboration with specialist fundraisers, (other) European Division staff and Partners. Contribute to reporting to donors as necessary.
  • To contribute to the publications of BirdLife Europe and Central Asia.
  • To represent BirdLife Europe and Central Asia at external meetings and conferences as necessary.
  • To contribute as appropriate to the work and general policy of BirdLife Europe and Central Asia and the European BirdLife Partnership. 
  • To respond to inquiries as necessary from within and outside the Partnership.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL SKILLS 

Good general knowledge and authoritative manner about biodiversity conservation. Candidate should have a good understanding of policy issues related to the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the EU biodiversity Strategy, and a good understanding of the working of the EU institutions.

Ideal candidate would also have detailed experience and knowledge regarding the Nature 2000 network (designation, protection, management, financing), the EU legal framework around hunting of birds, the legal framework for the protection and recovery of bird species, compliance with and enforcement of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Knowledge about BirdLife work on implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and of the work of BirdLife Partners in the EU is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

Excellent oral and written English with the ability to produce policy briefs and reports.

Good interpersonal, networking and team working skills.

Basic standard of computer literacy (Excel, Word, Power Point and Outlook and the Internet).

Ability to work in a multicultural environment and grasp problems related to different situations across Europe.

Additional languages are an asset.

Personal disposition

Commitment to nature conservation.

Strong self-motivation and curiosity.

Problem-solving attitude and capacity to resolve potential conflicts.

Assertiveness and confidence.

Creativity both in thinking and in executing tasks.

WHAT WE OFFER

Duration: 10-month contract (January-October 2021)

Working hours: full-time

Location: Brussels, Belgium. Due to COVID-19 pandemic remote working from abroad could be authorized for a limited period and under certain conditions.

Monthly salary: €3,000

Please note that a consultancy could also be possible.

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 Officer.

Closing date: 3 January 2021 at midnight CET. Please consider that applications received after the closing date will be automatically discarded.

SHORTLISTING AND INTERVIEWS

Date of the interview: week of 11 January 2021

Shortlisting is based on CV and cover letter. The interviews will be held remotely. 

Please note that due to the large number of expected applications only successful candidates will be contacted.

About us

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia is the European and Central Asian Division of BirdLife International, and is one of the six regional offices of BirdLife International, a global Partnership of autonomous, national non-governmental conservation organisations, with a large grassroots membership in 115 countries and territories.

BirdLife’s mission is to conserve wild birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, by working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources.

BirdLife has an international team of permanent staff covering conservation and science, policy and advocacy, capacity building, fundraising, communication, finance and administration supporting the 47 European and Central Asia Birdlife Partners. 

With more than 4.100 staff in Europe, 2 million members and tens of thousands of skilled volunteers, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, together with its national Partners, owns or manages more than 6,000 nature sites totalling 320 000 hectares.

In Brussels, the BirdLife ECA team works mainly on EU policy issues and aims at improving EU legislation relating to the environment and biodiversity.