Overview
Director of EU Parliamentary and Business Engagement, EDF Europe. This senior role leads engagement with the European Parliament and European business, supporting EDF's objectives across biodiversity, carbon pricing, and the energy transition. The successful candidate will have deep experience with Members of the European Parliament and their staff and committees, sound political judgement, a confident and authoritative communication style, and an established Brussels network.
About EDF Europe
Environmental Defense Fund Europe is an affiliate of Environmental Defense Fund, a leading international non-profit organisation that creates transformative solutions to environmental problems. With programs from Boston to Beijing, Environmental Defense Fund has grown in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, economics, market-based approaches, and innovative private-sector partnerships.
EDF envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We seek talented candidates who share the Core Values that allow us to experiment courageously in our work while staying true to who we’ve been as an organization for 50 years.
This is a senior position leading the engagement with the European Parliament and European business and assisting on Member State and European Commission engagement across the range of interests of EDF – from biodiversity to carbon pricing by way of the energy transition. The successful candidate will have a deep experience of working with Members of the European Parliament and its staff and Committees and will have sound political judgement, a confident and authoritative communication style and an established Brussels network.
The Director of EU Parliamentary and Business Engagement will be a key advisor to EDF Europe and EDF Programmes globally on the who, how and when of interaction with the European Parliament and European businesses to achieve EDF objectives.
The role will focus on establishing strong relationships with the European Parliament, creating a trusted partnering model for both the European Parliament and internal EDF stakeholders. This role will report to the AVP European Strategy & Engagement and compliment the AVP in their Commission expertise, to create a holistic approach to relationship building and influencing with the EU institutions.
You will act as the main contact point for EDF Program colleagues wishing to engage with the European Parliament. You will oversee, coordinate and plan all European Parliamentary interactions, using your Brussels network to determine which institution to engage and crucially when, ensuring there is no siloing or working at cross-purposes in EDF. You will provide daily briefings on the environmental dossiers of the European Parliament as well as coordinating access and contact points through breakfast meetings and networking events.
Leading with your intelligence on political developments in the European Parliament, your role will play a key part in supporting EDF Programmes to develop strategies to engage and inform decisions and legislation in the EU.
This requires a deep understanding of the European Parliament and the European political structure as well as a well-tested and comprehensive network in the Parliament.
The post holder will work with businesses and business organisations in Europe to support the work of our programmes and to develop links with our mirror relationships in the US. A good track record of working at a senior level with businesses will be necessary to ensure the best engagement strategies are developed and implemented.
Based in Brussels, you will be exposed to and build on your existing network of business groups to build the EDF profile and connect commercial interest with the EDF + Biz team.
Representing EDF Europe with key stakeholders, you will maintain and develop our profile and reputation in Europe. You are able to confidently operate at MEP and CEO level and able to interpret the myriad of political influences in the EU.
The post holder reports to the Associate Vice President, European Strategy & Engagement based in London.
What You’ll Do
Lead engagement with the European Parliament and European businesses, coordinating EDF’s approach across Member State and European Commission engagements on biodiversity, carbon pricing, and the energy transition. Build a robust Brussels network and work with internal EDF stakeholders to prevent siloing and ensure timely engagement.
Key Responsibilities
* Develop and implement a European Parliament engagement strategy for a set of legislative and policy priorities and ensure cross-programme endorsement and collaboration within EDF.
* Provide intelligence and political analysis of trends in EU policy making and how EDF can engage to influence outcomes.
* Raise the EDF profile by organizing targeted events, high-level visits, campaigns and representation at key EU events, in collaboration with AVP European Strategy & Engagement and Head of Communications.
* Support EDF brand development in Europe with an established network of EU Parliamentary contacts.
* Coordinate senior management visits to Brussels and other EU-related events and ensure high-quality preparation, briefings and follow up.
* Build on the Brussels network to identify and develop relationships with Parliament and business group stakeholders.
* Identify and develop relationships with Parliament and business groups partners.
* Help grow the work of EDF + Biz team in Europe by advancing our profile and agenda, and building relationships and strategic partnerships with high-impact companies, investors, and industry consortia.
* Support EDF’s programmatic work with business in Europe by encouraging and facilitating industry adoption and implementation of initiatives such as the Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership reporting framework.
Skills & Experience
* Master level education in International Relations, Economics, Political Science, Environmental Science or related topics or equivalent professional experience.
* Strong existing network, and track record of demonstrable expertise, in the European Parliament and with the key business groups in Brussels.
* Confident applying the who, how and when of Parliamentary relationship management.
* Strong working familiarity of the EU policymaking and legislative process in respect to EDF working areas.
* Strong political judgement.
* Excellent influencing and persuading skills at a senior level.
* Excellent analytical skills and able to provide strategic guidance in EDF relations with key partners.
* Results oriented, excellent organisational skills and ability to juggle a variety of tasks from different programmes within EDF.
* Fluent English essential, fluency in other EU languages highly desirable.
Recruitment Process
Dober Partners has been retained to draw up a shortlist of prospective candidates against the criteria set out in this document, and using their discretion and expertise to recruit a Director of EU Parliamentary and Business Engagement, together with senior colleagues.
For further information about this opportunity please contact:
Mark Dober
M: +32 477 950 466
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