Brussels based full-time Senior Experts (English & French speaking)

Job Description

Project: “EU Global Support Facility for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)”

NDC Facility Objective: To strengthen EU partner countries transition towards low-carbon, resource efficient and resilient economies and livelihoods in line with the EU Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the Sustainable Development Goals.

NDC Facility Purpose: Under the auspices of INTPA (and EU Delegations), to support the design, update and implementation of NDCs, LTS & related strategies in line with international frameworks, ensuring alignment with the EU Green Deal, the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Position: Brussels based full-time Senior Expert (English & French speaking)

The Senior Expert will work closely with the EU Global NDC Facility Team Leader (TL) and the Project Management Team by providing senior expert advice and technical support to our DG INTPA and EUD client’s demands related to the following areas of expertise:

1. Support to upgrade and implementation of NDCs or long-term (mid-century) low green-house gas emission development strategies; analytical work on GHG emissions inventories at sector and national level, and/or carbon footprint calculation methodologies for the assessment of Project GHG emissions and emission variations;
2. Support to the design and implementation of climate adaptation measures, NAPs, nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation purposes;
3. Technical assistance, advice on climate loss and damage, disaster risk reduction, risk and emergency preparedness, early warning systems, risk assessment and management, and resilience of communities, livelihoods and ecosystems;
4. Support to design and implementation of public economic policies (fiscal, monetary, financial, or procurement) contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation objectives;
5. Support to design and application of Environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures and standards in the context of sustainable economic development and finance (e.g. EU Taxonomy, disclosures, standards as included in the EU renewed sustainable finance strategy) and the Paris Agreement;

Qualifications and skills

• Relevant University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in natural resources management, environment, sustainable development, agronomy, social, political, or economic sciences or relevant, directly related discipline;
• Knowledge of the key international processes and instruments of the international climate change regime. These include, among others, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Agreement, the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction;
• Solid knowledge of EU climate, environment and energy policy;
• A good understanding of the EU development cooperation policy and/or EU Member States financing mechanisms for development and financial regulations governing their budgets;
• Ability to operate in the English language at C2 level for understanding, speaking and writing skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages as demonstrated by certificate or by past relevant experience;
• Ability to operate in the French language at C2 level for understanding, speaking and writing skills according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages as demonstrated by certificate or by past relevant experience;
• Ability to operate in Spanish or Portuguese (B2 level) is an asset;
• Advanced IT skills.

General Professional Experience

• At least 10 years of professional experience in the nexus climate change and sustainable development in the context of international cooperation with developing countries.

Specific Professional experience

• At least 4 years of field experience in the areas of climate adaptation and mitigation policies and/or project design and implementation in a developing country;
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in at least one of the areas of expertise mentioned above (a, b, c, d, e);
• Experience in multi-country programmes is an asset;
• Previous experience with EU-funded projects is an asset;
• Training delivery and knowledge sharing experience is an asset;
• Experience in gender mainstreaming related to his/her area of expertise is an asset.

Start and duration: This position is full-time (220 person days/year), over 5 years (till September 2026)

Place of work: The Expert will be based in Brussels. Regular travel to the countries supported by the Facility will be undertaken, subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Deadline: ASAP

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and it is recommended to send application before the deadline.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About the Organization

DAI is the largest single provider of development services to the European Commission.

From corporate locations in Ankara (Turkey), Belgrade (Serbia), Brussels (Belgium), Cologne (Germany), London (United Kingdom), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Vienna (Austria), our team of 100+ employees oversees a portfolio of more than 95 EU projects in more than 80 countries.

Our EU Business Unit covers the whole spectrum of DAI operations, from project delivery, framework contract implementation, and global facilities management to business development, communications, and knowledge management. The EU team is seamlessly integrated into DAI’s global organisation, tapping the full range of technical specialists and support staff from our United States, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, and other locations.

This team orchestrates a network of some 800 in-house and external experts currently engaged on short- and long-term assignments encompassing all EU technical areas, including governance and public administration reforms, sustainable economic growth and agriculture, resilience, conflict and security, gender and social inclusion, climate change and green growth, digitalisation, global health, education, and social protection.

DAI has extensive experience working with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), and European development financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

We partner with these and other clients to support the European Consensus on Development and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, we report on our contributions to achieving the SDGs in our annual Communication on Progress. In 2021, we signed up to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) for greenhouse gas emission reductions. As an employee-owned and mission-oriented enterprise, we are wholly committed to upholding the highest standard of responsible and sustainable business.”

As an employee-owned and mission-oriented enterprise, we are wholly committed to upholding the highest standard of responsible and sustainable business.