Researcher, Energy Diplomacy, Berlin

RESEARCHER, ENERGY DIPLOMACY,  BERLIN

E3G is looking for a Researcher to join its Clean Economy team in Berlin (preferred, other locations possible) to develop and maintain the research base to inform and support the work of E3G’s Energy Diplomacy Team, with the initial focus on global gas markets, role of gas in energy systems transition and the politics of transition of fossil fuel producing countries.

Background

E3G is an independent climate change think tank with a global outlook. We are world leading strategists on the political economy of climate change, dedicated to achieving a safe climate for all.  We pride ourselves on bringing independence to an extremely polarised discussion and holding policy makers to account on their promises. E3G is consistently ranked as one of the top-ten most influential environmental think tank’s in the world by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index.

The Climate Neutral Energy Systems (CNES) programme undertakes analysis, builds strategies and facilitates interventions to facilitate a transition to a climate neutral energy sector. It looks at how societies, relationships and economy will change and seeks to put institutions and instruments in place to facilitate this. E3G has been a thought leader on energy systems transition, the potential of efficiency politics and the role of gas in the transition. As clean energy systems are becoming the new mainstream in some of the world, this transforms diplomatic relationships between countries, rebalances power and financial and trade flows.

Context and role overview

The global polycrisis, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, has triggered fundamental shifts on the global energy markets and in energy politics. The European Union and its member states must now revisit their energy diplomacy and rebalance bilateral, regional, and global energy partnerships and alliances. A new approach is needed to address new market and geopolitical challenges while driving global economy’s transformation towards climate-neutrality to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

This Researcher role will sit in E3G’s gas diplomacy unit. It will support E3G’s work on energy diplomacy to flatten the global gas demand curve with the ultimate aim of reaching peak gas demand before the mid of this decade. Additionally, it will support the work of the Senior Policy Advisor on Fossil Fuel Producer Diplomacy aiming to inform and shape transformation of fossil fuel producing countries away from reliance on oil and gas revenue and towards a more resilient economy base. Candidate’s work will help  inform the EU’s and its key Member States’ diplomacy instruments incl. the EU Green Deal, External Energy Strategy, bilateral partnerships and dialogues and multilateral fora etc. The candidate will provide analysis on the topic and support the network building and E3G’s engagement with key stakeholders in the civil society, academia, key governments, and EU institutions. The initial regional research focus of the role is Northern Africa and Gulf countries.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis to inform policy briefings, reports and presentations regarding international energy politics, particularly EU’s and Germany’s energy diplomacy and global gas trends;
• Provide administrative and organisational support;
• Prepare and contribute to communications products such as presentations, briefings and reports for internal, network and external use;
• Support the design and set up of effective databases and maintain, and further develop where required, databases, systems and information on behalf of the team;
• Contribute to, and support preparing and organising workshops and meetings with internal and external partners, stakeholders and experts;
• Contribute to preparing and reviewing (including editing and proofreading) communications and funding applications and reporting;
• Support regular project planning and management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and general team administration;
• Travel may be required.

This list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be required to undertake other tasks and duties as may be required within the Clean Economy team and the wider organisation.

Person Description

You are intellectually curious and enthusiastic about developing solutions in the transition towards climate neutral and resilient economies. You are committed to high quality outputs even when under pressure and use collaboration to get to better outcomes. You are a creative thinker, able to learn fast. You are able to reflect your own strengths and weaknesses and work in a team of diverse personalities. You are comfortable with complex research projects and confident in running analytical processes. You have excellent analytical and thinking skills with the capacity to gather, synthesise and assess information from a range of diverse sources and to think and apply ideas and analysis horizontally and find solutions across a range of areas.

Experience and Skills

The successful candidate will bring relevant professional experience with progressive levels of responsibilities and a track record of achievements in the following areas:

• A high-quality degree and substantial self-led research experience in a professional or academic setting (required), preferably on political economy, energy and climate policy, foreign policy, trade, geopolitics or a related field (desired);
• Demonstrate a keen interest in working on technical energy issues, energy diplomacy and geopolitics, EU and EU Member States energy politics, energy systems transition in the Northern Africa and Gulf regions. Hold experience in at least one of these areas;
• Proficient at working across a wide range of issues, information sources, and with diverse stakeholders with an openness to learning;
• Excellent written skills to present clear, accessible analysis from a range of complex information;
• Adept at communicating and conveying information and ideas clearly and credibly with colleagues, in meetings and other settings;
• Strong organisational and information management skills including proficiency in presentation and database tools and software incl. Excel, ability to interpret data and make basic data visualisations;
• Understand the need to develop, both personally and in others, and prepared to embark on a rapid learning curve;
• Communicate very effectively in written and spoken English. Knowledge of other languages such as German, Arabic or French are a plus but not required.

Further details

This role is located in Berlin. E3G offers flexible working arrangements and operates a hybrid based working approach.

E3G will require candidates to demonstrate that they have the right to live and work in the jurisdiction in which E3G employs them. E3G is unable to provide relocation assistance or visa support.

A remuneration package competitive with the non-profit sector will be offered. Salary up to €36K depending on experience (for the Berlin office, information about salary ranges in other locations available upon request). Benefits include 25 days of annual leave plus additional leave between Christmas and new year; travel and hospitalisation insurance.

E3G values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic background. We aim to build an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the populations we support, and actively seek applications from those who are marginalized and underrepresented. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

How to apply

Please include the following in English:

• A CV of maximum two pages
• A cover letter of no more than one page outlining your motivation to apply and the skills and experience you are bringing to the role, as well as your earliest possible start date and salary expectations.
• If your preferred location is not Berlin, then please indicate your preferred location in the cover letter.

The deadline for applications is midnight on the 3 September 2023. A first round of interviews will be conducted in the two weeks following the deadline. We will not be able to reply to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, we will not be shortlisting you on this occasion.