Junior Policy Advisor (m/f/d)

Junior Policy Advisor (m/f/d)

supporting the GIZ co-Presidency of the Practitioners’ Network

(location: GIZ Representation in Brussels)

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is currently looking for suitable candidates to fill two Junior Policy Advisor positions focusing on support for the upcoming co-Presidency of the Practitioners Network for European Development Cooperation (PN) of GIZ. The candidates are expected to start in February 2026. The positions are embedded in a highly political, multi-stakeholder European environment and require close interaction with EU institutions, Member State agencies, and senior institutional counterparts.

About the GIZ Position

GIZ will assume the role of co-President of the PN, starting in late May 2026 with Czech Aid (Czechia) for a duration of 12 months. The co-Presidency of the PN entails both the setting of a strategic agenda, jointly with the PN members, as well as the running of the Network, in close cooperation with the PN Coordination team. For this purpose, the Brussels Representation reinforces its teams to support the strategic coordination of the co-Presidency.

Role purpose

The selected candidates will play a central role in the planning, implementation, and support of the coordination of the PN co-Presidency of GIZ with CzDA. They will support the setting of strategic priorities for the PN and engage with Members and the PN Coordination team based in Brussels. They will actively contribute to shaping and steering the strategic agenda of the co-Presidency, advising senior management on priorities, trade-offs, and potential institutional or political opportunities and risks. They will be embedded in a larger team of Policy Advisers of the GIZ Representation in Brussels and will cooperate closely with the two Partnership Managers working on GIZ’s strategic partnerships with EU Member State organisations. They will closely coordinate and work with the two GIZ Focal Points for the PN (based at the GIZ Representation), as well as with the office of the Chair of the Management Board of GIZ. They will also liaise closely with other relevant GIZ units and projects in Brussels and Headquarters.

Main responsibilities

The main tasks of the PN co-Presidency Junior Advisors are, among others:

• Support the PN Focal Points in the planning and implementation of the PN co-Presidency of GIZ with CzDA, in particular by carrying out the agency’s flagship issues (articulation between financial and technical cooperation, operationalisation of the Network, financial sustainability, enhancement of European agencies and joint implementation, etc.).
• Actively contribute to the definition, monitoring, and adaptation of the strategic priorities of the PN, in coordination with the co-President, PN Coordination, and network members.
• Contribute to the activities of the PN, within governance bodies, working groups, and task forces, and ad hoc meetings.
• Support the co-Presidency in PN governance bodies and technical fora.
• Contribute to the development of partnerships with prospective PN members and other partners.
• Support the development of a strategic vision for the PN for the years to come.
• Draft and/or coordinate the preparation of strategic notes, concept papers, and analytical inputs supporting decision-making and high-level positioning of the co-Presidency.
• Participate in the organisation of high-level events (joint trips, major international events, General Assembly, etc.).
• Contribute to visibility and communication work (internal and external communication).
• Support the coordination work between the GIZ Representation, GIZ Headquarters, and other relevant GIZ units/projects/offices on Presidency-related activities.
• Identify and anticipate political, institutional, and operational opportunities and risks related to the activities and positioning of the co-Presidency and formulate appropriate recommendations.

Profile

Essential qualifications and requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in European Affairs, European Law, Political Science, International Relations/International Cooperation;
• One year of successful professional experience in the development and/or international cooperation sector, including exposure to complex institutional environments and/or multi-actor coordination processes;
• One year of successful experience in a project management role, including event organisation, and/or in communication;
• Excellent knowledge of the issues and actors of international cooperation, and in particular of the German international cooperation system;
• Excellent overall knowledge of the functioning of the EU in the field of external relations, international partnerships, and neighbourhood and enlargement policies;
• Professional experience in the Brussels environment, related to EU external action policies and related financing instruments;
• Commitment to the GIZ mission and values;
• Valid work permit for Belgium;
• Excellent level of written and spoken English;
• Good level of written and spoken German.

Core competencies:

• Excellent team player;
• Excellent coordination, organisational, and communication skills;
• Very good analytical, interdisciplinary thinking;
• Strong capacity for strategic analysis and political judgement;
• Experience in the presentation of complex policy content and in political communication, notably through social media;
• Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic skills;
• Very good writing and synthesis skills;
• Strong autonomy, adaptability, and organisational skills; responsiveness and flexibility;
• Ability to manage various processes and tasks in parallel;
• Willingness and proactiveness to take on additional responsibilities to support the team or in response to shifting priorities;
• Ability to familiarise oneself very quickly with new organisational issues and complex policies;
• Very good networking skills, capacity to quickly build good working relations with colleagues inside and outside the organisation, and to promote connections and exchanges;
• Proactive attitude to tasks and responsibilities; creativity and pragmatism;
• Flexible approach to work and adaptability, including willingness to engage in peer learning and support;
• Open-minded and critical thinker.

Additional qualifications:

• Professional experience related to the PN, and/or with its members under an MPCA, would be considered a strong asset;
• Previous experience with GIZ is a differentiating asset;
• Any ability to work in another EU language will be considered an asset.

What we offer

The position will be based in a dynamic and attractive office in Brussels’ European Quarter. We offer a a limited contract of 30 months under Belgian law (PC200) as a full-time position, with a competitive salary, defined on the basis of the level of experience of the selected candidate(s).

The package includes 5 additional holidays per calendar year, lunch vouchers, complementary health insurance in case of hospitalisation and subsidy for from/to work transport (public transport or bike) and a home office policy.

GIZ will only accept candidates providing a valid work permit for Belgium for the full period of the contract.

How to apply

Applicants are asked to submit their updated CV together with a one-page cover letter (in English) to the attention of Ms. Ute Jung by Friday 30 January at 17:00 (CET). E-mail: recruitmentrepbrussels@giz.de .

The motivation letter should explain how the candidate fits the position as well as her/his motivation to support the work of the PN co-Presidency with GIZ. It must also to include the candidate’s yearly gross salary expectations in EUR and when she/he would be available to start the assignment in Brussels.

Please note that we will only consider applications that fully comply with the required qualifications, work permit regulations and skills. Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited for an interview. We thank you for your understanding that we cannot give feedback on the status of applications from non-selected candidates.