Start date: 01 March 2026
Duration: 1 year contract (with possibility of extension)
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Deadline for application: 12 January 2026
Do you want to contribute to making our cities better places to live?
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.
ICLEI‘s European Secretariat is based in Freiburg (Germany), with specialised offices in Brussels and Berlin, and a staff of more than 150 colleagues from all over Europe, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines.
For our Brussels Office, we are looking for a junior advocacy expert who:
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Has already gained some experience in EU policy processes and institutions (EU institutions internships / Blue book traineeship or one year experience);
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Has gained some experience in campaigning;
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Has talent, skills and interest in writing position papers, talking points and policy briefs for ICLEI’s work in Europe;
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Is interested in working with European towns, cities and regions, specifically on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Governance Regulation revision, and potentially other related sustainability and climate-policy files;
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Likes networking and representing our organisation’s mission and values vis-à-vis external actors, when assigned.
The position is based in our Strategic Communications, Membership and Advocacy Team and includes the following main tasks:
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Supporting ICLEI’s advocacy and campaign work on the EU MFF, the Governance Regulation revision, and associated policy processes relevant to cities and local governments;
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Conducting policy research and drafting publications, briefing notes, and communication materials aimed at urban practitioners and EU stakeholders;
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Supporting the organisation of events such as policy roundtables, stakeholder meetings, and webinars;
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Actively networking with EU institutions, alliances, and organisations based in Brussels, particularly those engaged in climate governance, financing, and sustainability policy;
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Assisting in member relations and campaign work in relation to the different policy files;
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Assisting in project management and general administrative tasks.
We offer you the following conditions :
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One year contract with possibility of extension;
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Gross salary according to the Junior Expert position in ICLEI’s salary grid (indicative: 42.000 – 44.500 EUR per annum);
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Place of work: Brussels, Belgium;
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40h working week with flexible working time and the possibility of up to 50% mobile work;
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6 weeks of paid leave per annum;
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Working language is English (other European language skills are an advantage);
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Occasional travel within Europe is foreseen.
Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or a valid EU residence permit and a valid Belgian work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered.
Deadline for application: 12 January 2026
Please apply in writing, including a CV and letter of motivation to :[email protected]
Please note that we review applications continuously upon receipt and early submissions are encouraged. For more information about ICLEI Europe visit: www.iclei-europe.org
ICLEI Europe’s Equal Opportunity and Employment Policy :
ICLEI Europe’s hiring policy is geared to ensure that the organisation hires employees without regard to their colour, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, socio-economic background or sexual orientation. ICLEI’s policy is that applicants for employment and career progression are considered solely based on their qualifications and competencies.
