Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ promotes complex reforms and change processes, often working under difficult conditions. Its corporate objective is to improve people’s living conditions on a sustainable basis. GIZ International Services (InS) is the company’s business department offering services to international clients such as the European Commission.

We are currently looking for a Strategic Outreach & Liaison Officer (m/f/d) for strengthening our Brussels unit in the management of the EU Climate Dialogues (EUCDs2) project phase 2 that has started on the 1st of January 2025.

EUCDs2 is as an instrument to promote EU’s leadership in addressing climate change internationally based on the EU’s legislative framework to achieve the European Green and Clean Industrial Deals and Fit for 55 package. EUCDs2 serves as a targeted yet flexible EU instrument of diplomatic engagement, promoting effective and ambitious climate policies and actions in partner countries. It is anchored within and led by the Directorate General in charge of Climate Action and funded by DG International Partnerships.

The project targets identified 26 countries across the global regions using tailormade thematic entry points for a constructive, results orientated and opportunity-driven dialogue. The project has a complex institutional set-up based on inclusive participation of EU delegations and multiple EC services in activity design, implementation and closing.

EUCDs2 enables showcasing EU’s good practices and experiences, seizing political and business partnership opportunities building and expanding on the Team Europe approach. The project uses different delivery modes such as organizing study tours, seminars, workshops, conferences, trainings, knowledge gathering, outreach and advocacy involving multiple stakeholder groups.

The core team is composed of Team Leader, a Deputy Team Leader, a Strategic Outreach & Liaison Officer, as well as a Project Manager, a Country Correspondent Coordinator, a Procurement Officer, and a Project Team Assistant with the majority located in Brussels. In addition, the core team is supported by Country Coordinators located in almost all target countries. 

The vacancy Strategic Outreach & Liaison Officer (m/f/d) is a full time Brussel´s based position for 4 years – 48 months starting as soon possible with Direct Report to the Team Leader. GIZ offers a Belgian employment contract (full time).

Your main tasks:

Stakeholder engagement:

• Guiding and co-management of EUCDs2 stakeholder engagement in line with project needs and strategic advocacy focusing on Team Europe and EU climate related policy priorities in consultation with team members.
• Leading stakeholder and initiative mapping within relevant Team Europe initiatives and in target countries, updating policy and partnership trackers and ensuring accessibility of up to date technical and strategic relevant information on data systems.

Knowledge management & outreach:

• Leading knowledge management work including sharepoint system support in consultation with other team members.
• Guides internal (including IDA page) and external communications and outreach products including project presentations, briefing notes, and talking points. Leads communication expert especially on update of project newsletter and supervising project’s external delivery.

Country/multi-country work:

• Responsible for all processes related to successful activity development, implementation and closing in designated countries in collaboration with team members including locally based country correspondents (currently Türkiye, Egypt, Morocco, Ukraine, Argentina, Kazakhstan).
• Supports/co-leading/leading multi-country activities as identified by team leader and in collaboration with team.

Monitoring & evaluation:

• Co-leading with TL/Deputy TL the project monitoring of the performance against set indicators and milestones, advise the TL on real and potential deviations and ensures implementation as well as further development of mitigation plans to reduce risks and advise the TL on suitable corrective actions.

Meetings/travels:

• Assures regular consultation with key project partners of relevance and provide feedback to the Team.
• Attends/prepares/reports regular meetings with the contracting authority team, the Steering Committee and ad-hoc working groups as needed.
• Attends networking meetings in Brussels/Europe.
• Travel to target countries as needed.  

Job description:

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in humanities, international relations, business, communications, sustainable development, climate policy, environmental sciences, or related fields.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English, good knowledge of French and Spanish is an asset.

General Professional experience:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in an international organization, government, private or non-profit sector in development cooperation.
• Demonstrated experience working in EU-funded activities/programs including familiarity with complex, multi-layered processes. 
• Good understanding of multilateral processes, international protocol, and climate finance and climate policy and/or energy policy
• Excellent organizational skills - managing multiple workloads with minimum supervision under tight timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work in team and foster team spirit especially working with team members in different locations.

Specific Professional experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in strategic outreach, knowledge management, partnership building or related field.
• Proven experience with project management and operational processes.
• Experience with stakeholder engagement and relationship management (demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain relationships with key partners, ability to interface effectively with senior government, multilateral organizations, private-sector and CSO officials).
• Experience in preparing and coordinating intergovernmental sessions involving various stakeholders, conferences, regional outreach events and bilateral meetings, delivering high level partnership engagements.
• Experience working with multicultural environments with crossing functions and cultures (cultural and political sensitivity required).
• Experience with knowledge management and monitoring systems.
• Experience/interest to pilot AI options is an asset.
• Diplomatic experience is considered a key asset.

Notes:

• The position requires a work permit for Belgium, as the location of the work will be Brussels. Only applicants eligible to work in Belgium will be evaluated.
• Your application and CV must not indicate your date of birth and must not include a photography.
• Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.
• Applicants are asked to submit their updated CV together with a one-page motivation letter in English via link below.

Send your application before 18 June 2025 to the following email address: ins.brussels.recruiting@giz.de indicating in the subject of the email your full name and “EUCD”

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