Policy Director - Benelux Business Roundtable
About Benelux Business Roundtable
The Benelux is an economically dynamic and densely populated region, with around 30 million inhabitants generating almost 10% of the total EU's GDP while only covering less than 2% of the entire land surface of the EU.
The Benelux Union brings together the kingdoms of Belgium and the Netherlands as well as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Benelux was founded in 1944, when the governments of the three countries (still in exile in London) signed a customs union agreement which came into effect in 1948. On 17 June 2008, the cooperation was renewed and now bears the name of The Benelux Union.
The Benelux Business Roundtable (BBR) was constituted on 1 July 2015. It comprises business leaders of some of the largest companies (in terms of employment, contribution to GDP and investment) in the Region as well as knowledge partners.
BBR Strategic Priorities 2024-26
In line with the general assembly of 29 September 2023, the BBR seeks to achieve impact for its members by building on its overall focus on Net Zero by 2050. Based on member input and expert assessment of priorities and opportunities at Benelux level (facilitated by McKinsey), the strategic priorities are as follows:
* The CO2 and H2 backbone: Advocate to establish the Rotterdam Antwerp CO2 pipeline connection. Accelerate CO2 infrastructure development and create synergies of scope and scale, involving critical partners (e.g. emitters, transport and storage providers). Foster cross-border strategy for H2 networks (containing grey, blue, green H2), and for business models enabling both H2 and CO2 networks.
* Cross-border circular economy: Foster cross-border strategy to capture value and develop business models for minimizing waste and regenerating materials, products or packaging, prioritizing where the Benelux industry can develop leadership positions.
* Digital backbone for scaling: With Benelux’s ambition to become the regional hub for renewable energy, a seamless flow of Digital Data amongst energy generators, large energy consumers, infrastructure players and storage operators will be necessary to accompany the backbones and Power Grids to drive down cost and increase efficiency.
* Joint Funding application: With expected large EU-investments to boost backbones and Power Grids across Europe, joint projects at Benelux level will enhance eligibility for EU-funding. In the case of cross-border projects, BBR should promote the joint application of EU-funds wherever possible.
* Skills strategy for energy transition: Labor migration is coming under pressure. Scarcity of skills will hamper the Net Zero transition. BBR should promote a cross-border strategy to identify and quantify critical skills gaps and to facilitate public-private partnerships for upskilling and reskilling plans towards KPIs.
What You’ll Do
BBR is creating a new position of Policy Director to support Eric ter Hark, Executive Chairman and the Board realize their mission to through a common approach on critical cross border issues, based on a common vision for the future of the Benelux region in Europe and the world.
The Director’s mission will be to help further BBR's cross-border strategic priorities through high-level task forces, to scale and accelerate solutions through working groups with key players, and to advocate by aligning relevant stakeholders across the Benelux.
Policy Director - Key Responsibilities:
* Monitor relevant political developments
* Represent BBR externally with other key stakeholders in business, government, academia and society supporting the Executive Chairman.
* Prepare High-Level Meetings with BBR senior executives including CEOs and Member State governments up to Ministerial level.
* Work with various federations towards common positions.
* Strive for pro-active Benelux positioning and alignment vis-à-vis internal market, industrial and competitiveness strategy in the European Union.
* Develop a recurrent dialogue with the various political levels and with the Benelux Union (i) in support of BBR impact priorities and (ii) in connection to Benelux-level or interregional Benelux+ policy priorities affecting industry.
* Broaden the BBR membership across relevant sectors and all Benelux countries.
* Research & prepare position papers, briefings, speeches, Press Releases, Publications, and Web Content.
Profile
Requirements:
* University Degree
* Minimum 7 to 10 years’ relevant experience but the successful candidate will likely be a highly experienced person.
* Knowledge and experience of institutions & political processes in the Benelux
* An interest, and ideally expertise, in energy policy
* Excellent English and Dutch
* Good French would be advantageous.
* Excellent writing ability and
* Able to represent BBR and be involved in advocacy
* Able to build constructive contacts across stakeholder communities
* Highly organised – working to deadlines
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 new Policy Director, together with Eric ter Hark, Executive Chairman and the Board.
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