OPEN VACANCY: POLICY OFFICER

Who we are:

Founded in Brussels in 1993, COGEN Europe, the European Association for the Promotion of Cogeneration, is the cross-sectoral voice of the cogeneration industry. Its mission is to work with European Union (EU) Institutions and stakeholders to shape better policies and eliminate administrative, regulatory and market barriers to the wider use of cogeneration in Europe.

Europe is a global leader in innovative energy efficiency technologies, including cogeneration, and our Members are at the heart of that success. Today 16% of the EU’s heat and 11% of its electricity come from high-efficiency cogeneration (CHP). CHP already contributes up to 21% of the EU’s CO₂ reduction target and 14% of the EU’s energy efficiency target for 2020, and there is still potential in Europe for a doubling of that contribution by 2030. In the context of smart integration energy systems, cogeneration links heat, gas and electricity networks locally in the most efficient and flexible way. The cogeneration sector is committed to the creation of a resilient, decentralised and carbon neutral European energy system by 2050 with cogeneration as its backbone, empowering European citizens and industry to generate their own efficient, reliable and affordable clean heat and power locally. The implementation of the Clean Energy Package as well as the ongoing debate on the European Green Deal will have a significant impact on Europe’s future energy system.

COGEN Europe is involved in a wide range of activities, including:

• Representing the interests of Members and of the cogeneration sector as a whole before the EU Institutions and other relevant organisations and institutions
• Coordinating CHP experts work through technical Working Groups and Task Forces
• Organising events such as the COGEN Europe Annual Conference and the COGEN Europe Recognition Awards ceremony
• Producing statistics and other publications on the cogeneration sector
• Participating to relevant projects co-funded by the EU

​​The COGEN Europe network covers the wider Europe as well as Japan and the United States. We have over 60 members: 12 national associations and 50 organisations spanning the entire value chain from technology manufacturers and users to consultancies. Membership is open to any organisations involved in cogeneration that wish to have a say in the EU policy debate.

What we are seeking:

COGEN Europe plans to enhance its policy capability with a view to provide regulatory support to its Members and promote CHP as a key tool to fully deliver on the European Green Deal. Within this framework, we are seeking a motivated and skilled Policy Officer, who is able to work on complex files and to manage technical working groups/task forces. Coordinating the policy work of our Members and providing reliable, timely and up-to-date analysis and information in relevant policy areas will be the key tasks of this role. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in EU policies on energy efficiency, renewable energy, greenhouse gases and industrial emissions, an interest in energy system integration and CHP technologies, as well as a degree in a relevant discipline. Knowledge of EU climate and energy funding and sustainable finance (taxonomy, etc.) policies will be a plus.

Main tasks:

• Coordinate the activities of Members’ Working Groups and Task Forces in the areas of climate change and energy
• Be in charge of policy files that include energy efficiency, renewable energy, ecodesign/energy labelling, EU ETS/effort sharing, industrial emissions, energy taxation, competition policy, green finance
• Support the policy team on issues related to micro-CHP and fuel cells
• Draft reports, newsletters, speaking points, presentations, briefing/background notes and position papers
• Support the planning and implementation of advocacy activities
• Contribute to the planning and organisation of events

Main qualifications:

• Academic background in one of the following fields: environment, energy, political science, economics, law or related field
• 2 to 5 years’ relevant work experience
• Full professional proficiency in English, both orally and in writing (native is a plus), and in another EU language
• Good knowledge of EU decision-making processes, and a robust experience working on EU energy and climate policies
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain a network with EU policymakers and other stakeholders in Brussels
• Excellent reporting, writing and presentation skills
• Good public speaker, able to represent the Association in public conferences and external meetings
• Ability to work in a multinational team and to prioritise tasks
• Ability to handle stress and meet deadlines
• General knowledge or interest for the European integration process

What we offer:

Our office is an exciting and dynamic place to work, engaging with industry leaders and decision makers at the forefront of energy policy, helping to shape the future energy market. You will enjoy engaging within a small team as well as across a wide number of external stakeholders. We offer a full time contract with salary conditions appropriate to experience.

We would like the preferred candidate to start her/his activities in March 2021.

How to apply:

Please send by e-mail an updated CV, a cover letter (both files in PDF) and salary expectations to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with “Policy Officer Vacancy” in the subject line, by Sunday 3rd January at 23:00 Brussels time. Earlier applications are most welcome. The cover letter should ideally explain what you can bring to the Association in terms of relevant experience and motivation, and should not be a summary of your CV.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.