Strategic Foresight Manager

About ECF

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level.

We support over 1000 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

The ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change. We are committed to engaging and hiring people from a wide diversity of backgrounds to strengthen the cause. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.

About the role

ECF plays an important role as a thought leader and ecosystem support in the climate philanthropy and civil society communities. ECF’s Strategic Foresight function, established in November 2022, is an important contributor to this role. Strategic foresight looks across long, medium, and short-term time horizons to identify critical questions facing the climate community, develops pathways and scenarios around preferable and plausible futures, and tests strategies against scenarios. It works across the organization and programme teams to identify critical issues and scan the horizon for major trends and weak signals to prepare for. The strategic foresight team is constantly looking at geopolitical scenarios and how they could affect the organization. It also works closely with the CEO office and the Strategic Planning function. The role will require some travel within Europe.

The strategic foresight manager will work closely with the Executive Director for Strategic Foresight, along with the Strategic Planning function and other programme teams, to develop the next phase of the work.

Key responsibilities

• Strategic foresight and scenario planning processes: supported by the Executive Director, identify, design and execute relevant strategic foresight and scenario planning processes for ECF and its ecosystem of partners. This can include:

  • Identification of strategically relevant topics

  • Direct drafting of geopolitical scenarios

  • Identification and management of strategic foresight consultants when necessary

  • Facilitation of scenario workshops and exercises

• Grantmaking strategy and management:

  • In support of the overarching strategic foresight priorities, identify partners for grantmaking and oversee grants.

  • Oversee the Strategic Foresight budget and represent the budget line in relevant internal budget processes

• Ecosystem development and partnerships: together with the ED, identify and maintain relationships with key strategic partners for ECF to collaborate with or provide strategic foresight services

• Fundraising and business development:

  • Working with Strategic Partnerships, support the Executive Director in fundraising for strategic foresight and for ECF more generally, including preparing written materials and joining meetings with funder partners

  • Help develop the model of strategic foresight as a more specific set of tools and initiatives for ECF’s ecosystem

  • Develop communications materials on strategic foresight activities

• ECF processes: represent strategic foresight in ECF internal processes, such as strategic planning, and work with relevant stakeholders to integrate strategic foresight in the organization.

Requirements

Experience and Competencies

• Genuine interest in the mission and values of the ECF

• 7+ years of experience in philanthropy, civil society and/or academia working on topics such as climate and sustainable development

• Keen analytical and research skills, able to work across multiple issue areas and make connections between them

• Excellent strategic thinker, with the ability to follow through with smart and adaptive implementation plans

• Strong networking skills that enable effective collaboration with a diverse group of partners

• Facilitation experience

• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to synthesize complex issues into effective strategy documents

• Proven track record of working in an environment that demands professionalism, discretion and confidentiality

• Proven project management skills

• Experience managing people and budgets

• Enthusiastic personality, with a positive, can-do attitude

• Excellent command of the English language (both spoken and written).

Other information

What we offer

• A temporary contract position up to 2 years (depending on the country of application).

• A unique opportunity to work as part of a dynamic, global team who combine their passion to make a difference with a rigorous approach to work.

• An extended network of close partners with technical understanding of the issues, strong international and local change-making experience and a deep knowledge of grant making and strategy development.

• A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself.

• Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience and country benchmarks.

Location

The Hague, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, London, Warsaw

Valid working permit is a MUST

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short cover letter, in English to the hiring team.

Deadline for application: Monday the 14th of July.