Who we are

PlasticsEurope is the pan-European association of plastics manufacturers with offices in every major capital of Europe.  For over 100 years, science and innovation has been the DNA that cuts across our industry. With close to 100 members producing over 90% of all polymers across Europe, we are the catalyst for the industry with a responsibility to openly engage with stakeholders and deliver solutions which are safe, circular and sustainable. We are committed to implementing long-lasting positive change.

 We are looking for an EU Public Affairs intern for a six-month internship to support our advocacy team in all its activities.

The position is for a highly motivated, well organised and efficient candidate who is looking to gain hands-on experience in EU policy and advocacy as well as country and issue-specific knowledge linked to the plastics industry.

 Responsibilities:

• Support the advocacy team in researching and monitoring EU policy and legislative developments on environment, climate and sustainability, particularly in the context of the EU Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan and Chemical Strategy for Sustainability and other issues relevant to the EU Plastics Industry;
• Review and prepare summaries and analysis of EU policy documents and official reports, and draft background material;
• Support the organization of and attend internal working group meetings. Prepare meeting notes and follow-up actions;
• Prepare presentation material for internal and external meetings and briefing notes;
• Attend and report on external conferences, events and webinars organized by the EU Institutions and by other stakeholders;
• Provide assistance for the organization of events and projects;
• Provide general administrative support.

Your profile:

• University degree preferably in European studies, Law, Political Sciences or similar;
• Knowledge of and a keen interest in EU policy and decision-making processes as well as a good understanding of the functioning of the European Institutions;
• Strong research skills with the ability to pay close attention to details;
• Analytical skills and ability to digest complex information into concise and informative briefs;
• Ability to work autonomously and show initiative;
• Very good command of English, oral and written;
• Knowledge of other European languages would be an asset;
• Sound knowledge of MS Office tools;
• Possession of an EU passport, student visa, or other means of residing in Belgium for a minimum of six months.
• Previous experience in an EU institution, consultancy, or trade organization (desirable)

Mandatory - In possession of an EU passport or work permit granting full access to the employment market in Belgium for the duration of the traineeship.  

What we offer:

• Six months paid internship (Convention d’immersion professionelle) based in our headquarters in Brussels with the potential to extend for a further 6 months;
• Reimbursement of the public transport and meal vouchers;
• International and dynamic multicultural environment.

If you wish to apply, please submityour CV (maximum two pages) and cover letter (maximum one page) via the ‘APPLY’ button below by 8 May 2024.

Apply here

Applications will be reviewed as received and the position will close when filled. So early applications are welcome. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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 2500 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. ICLEI Europe has more than 150 staff from all over Europe and beyond, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines and expertise. 

Working with us, you will have opportunities to: 

• be part of a growing, internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable, climate neutral and resilient cities; 

• work with leading urban researchers, politicians and practitioners on European innovation projects; 

• contribute to European and international processes that influence urban policies and financing schemes, such as the European Union’s Green Deal, the EU Mission ‘100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities’, the UN SDGs, etc.; 

• grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for personal development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange. 

We are looking for a new colleague to join our Finance Team as Junior Officer for Project Management and Controlling. The Finance team is responsible for the day-to-day accounting and financial operations of the ICLEI European Secretariat. It is also responsible for overseeing, managing and directing all financing issues for a large number of European projects, and for preparing financial reports and audits for these. 

We are looking for candidates with the following experience and skills: 

• Degree or professional training in finance management, controlling, accounting or other relevant field; 

• At least 1 years of relevant professional experience; 

• Good knowledge of MS-Excel and other standard office software; 

• A good grasp of figures and calculations;

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work on a multitude of projects in parallel; • Good communication and interpersonal skills; 

• Ability to work both independently and within an international team; 

• A very good command of English (reading, writing and speaking) - additional European language(s) are an asset; 

Your position will include the following main tasks: 

• To support the financial management of projects under the supervision of the responsible project management and controlling officer 

• Assisting in the preparation of financial reports for project funders and auditors 

• Supporting the development of controlling and reporting templates in line with the various financial requirements of different funders and projects; 

• Regularly collecting, processing and monitoring internal financial data for projects and keeping them up to date; 

• Collecting and processing information from external project partners for financial reporting. 

We offer you the following conditions: 

• Initial 24 months contract with high potential for extension 

• Gross salary according to the Junior Officer position in ICLEI’s salary grid (indicative: EUR 43.000- 45.000 per annum); 

• Place of work: Freiburg/Germany; 

• Working time 60-100% of a full time position (full time position: 40h working week with flexible working time and the possibility to work partly remote); 

• 6 weeks of paid leave per annum; 

• Working language is English; 

• Occasional travel within Europe according to prior mutual agreement is foreseen; 

Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or valid EU residence permit and a valid German work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered. 

Apply here - Deadline for application: 30 April 2024 

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 

For any questions, please contact us at: jobs.europe@iclei.org

More information regarding our current vacancies is available here: https://iclei-europe.org/jobs/ 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 race, 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.

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 2500 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. ICLEI Europe has more than 150 staff from all over Europe and beyond, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines and expertise. 

Working with us, you will have opportunities to: 

• Deepen your understanding of how cities design and implement sustainability and climate neutrality policies, what kind of challenges they face and how best to support them; 

• Work with leading urban researchers, politicians and practitioners on European innovation projects, to provide solutions for today’s urban challenges; 

• Contribute to European and international processes that influence urban policies, such as the EU Green Deal, the EU Missions, the New European Bauhaus, the UN SDGs, and others; 

• Be part of an internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable and climate neutral cities; 

• Grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for personal development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange. 

We are looking for a new colleague to join our Governance Innovation team with the following experience, skills and character: 

• Solid understanding of integrated sustainable urban development principles and processes, with a focus on integrated urban planning, social innovation and/or social 

entrepreneurship, and behaviour change; 

• At least 3 years of professional experience, working in a project-based environment, ideally for and with local governments or other urban actors; 

• Very good and clear oral and written communication; 

• Confident interacting and collaborating with a wide range of partners, from grassroots organisations to ministries;

• Proficient in English and at least one other European language, spoken and written; more languages are an asset; 

• Curious, creative, collaborative, while able to work independently and stay grounded in a dynamic, sometimes fast-paced, international environment. 

Your position will include the following main tasks: 

• Collaborative implementation of projects on integrated urban planning and urban regeneration; 

• Design and facilitation of capacity-building programmes for cities with partners and colleagues; 

• Regular communication with relevant organisations and institutions; 

• Organisation and facilitation of, and contribution to virtual, hybrid and in-person meetings, including trainings, interactive workshops, international project meetings, and conferences; 

• Researching and writing publications targeted to urban practitioners, including reports, briefs, case studies and news articles; 

• Contributing to project acquisition efforts, including concept development and project design, writing, and budgeting. 

We offer you the following conditions: 

• Initial 24 months contract with high potential for extension; 

• Gross salary according to the Expert position in ICLEI’s salary grid 

(indicative: EUR 51.000 – 53.000 per annum); 

• Place of work: Freiburg/Germany; 

• 40h working week with flexible working time and the possibility to work up to 50% remote; • 6 weeks of paid leave per annum; 

• Working language is English; 

• 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 German work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered. 

Apply here - Deadline for application: 15 May 2024 

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 For any questions, please contact us at: jobs.europe@iclei.org 

More information regarding our current vacancies is available here: https://iclei-europe.org/jobs/

ICLEI Europe’s Equal Opportunity and Employment Policy 

ICLEI Europe’s hiring policy is geared to ensure that the organization hires employees without regard to their race, 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.