Senior Expert - Sustainable and Innovation Procurement (m/f/x)

Senior Expert Sustainable and Innovation Procurement

Start date: 01 March 2025 (flexible)
Duration: 24 months (extension intended)
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Deadline for application: 06 January 2025

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 Sustainable and Innovation Procurement team with a proven background in green, social and/or innovation procurement. The role will be at the forefront of procurement policy development and implementation, influencing procurement policy and supporting cities to boost the transformation through procurement practices.

ICLEI recognises sustainable, innovation and circular procurement as key tools to achieve sustainable urban development and seeks a candidate with the following experience, skills and character:

• A degree in a relevant subject such as public procurement, law, economics, environmental sciences, international development or other appropriate qualification;
• At least 7 years of professional experience working in a project-based environment, ideally for and with local governments or other urban actors, with at least 5 years experience on or closely related to the topic of strategic public procurement;
• An excellent understanding of the public procurement process and how Sustainable and Innovation Procurement is used by cities and public authorities;
• Proven expertise in the management of project work packages and tasks;
• Proven expertise in project acquisition and development;
• Proficient in English and at least one other European language, spoken and written; more languages are an asset;
• Confident interacting and collaborating with a wide range of partners, from grassroots organisations to ministries;
• Good understanding of the European policy landscape related to the topic of strategic public procurement;
• Experience in advocacy and policy processes in the European context;
• Team player with competence in conflict resolution, pro-active working style, ability to work self-organised within a complex working environment.

Your position will include the following main tasks:

• Lead on European projects that support cities wanting to develop their sustainable or innovation procurement practices;
• Identify opportunities and lead project proposal development in line with the work of the Sustainable and Innovation Procurement team and ICLEI;
• Lead and/or support the policy and advocacy processes of ICLEI that advance sustainable and innovation procurement at the European and international level;
• Pro-actively develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant international institutions and organisations on the topics of sustainable and innovation procurement at a European and international level;
• Provide advisory support to build capacities on sustainable and innovation procurement to local government and public authorities;
• Represent ICLEI at events and undertake presentations.

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 66.000 – 71.000 per annum);
• Place of work: Brussels, Belgium with flexible working time and up to 50% mobile work;
• 40h working week with flexible working time and up to 50% mobile work;
• 6 weeks of paid leave per annum;
• Working language is English;
• Occasional international travel.

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

Deadline for application: 06 January 2025

Please apply in writing, including a CV and letter of motivation to: jobs.europe@iclei.org

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

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.