Operations Officer Power System Transformation and Management (f/m/d)

Agora Think Tanks - with our brands Agora Energiewende, Agora Industry, Agora Agriculture and our sister organisation Agora Verkehrswende - develop feasible and science-based policy proposals for decarbonising energy, industry, transport and agriculture. With our team of 160 employees in Berlin, Brussels, Bangkok, and Beijing, and based on our deep expertise, we advise decision-makers and facilitate a productive exchange of ideas. Because no single institution can tackle the complexity of the transition from fossil fuels to renewables and to climate neutrality, Agora cultivates an intensive dialogue with stakeholders from politics, civil society, the economy, and science and is active in a global network of think tanks promoting the net-zero transition.

As a bipartisan, non-profit organisation funded by foundations and public institutions, we are independent of corporate and political interests. Our exclusive mission is to serve the climate and the common good.

Our work requires not only experts in energy, industry, and agriculture, but also the support of experts in administration of different kinds as crucial and highly valued members of the team.

Are you a person who is good at organizing and planning, with strong self-initiative, and excellent multicultural people skills? You also have an interest in climate protection and clean energy? And you have some experience of working with budgets and tracking processes? Then we would like to get to know you better.

To strengthen our team, we are seeking at the earliest possible starting date an: Operations Officer for the Management of Agora Think Tanks and Power System Transformation (f/m/d), One full-time role (38 hrs, 100%) or Two part-time roles (min. 19 hrs, 50%) based in Brussels.

In this role, you work closely together with Agora’s executive management as well as with the Director of our Power System Transformation Team, oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate with partners and contribute to the strategic planning.

Your responsibilities as Operations Officer for the Management of Agora Think Tanks will include

• Directly supporting the CEO and serving as focus point responsible for monitoring Agora’s work programme activities and managing documentation, including systematic filing and record keeping;
• Liaising with the relevant departments across Agora to ensure cohesion of procedures;
• Ensuring the flow of information and communication between external partners and our Supervisory Board;
• Drafting, formatting and editing correspondence/presentations and preparing and updating progress reports, briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries;
• Supporting the CEO in general management functions, including administrative tasks such as daily email and diary management and processing invoices and documents;
• Supporting the preparation of travel, and assisting with visa matters;
• Supporting the organisation of events and international visitor groups, including agenda preparation, drafting minutes, overseeing budget, travel and logistical aspects;
• Supporting the management office team in budget management; planning, processing and administrating grants for cross-organisational projects;
• Assisting in proof-reading technical documents.

Your responsibilities as Operations Officer Power Systems Transformation will include

• Serving as focal point responsible for organising the planning and monitoring of programme and project implementation activities of the team, involving liaison with diverse units in Agora to ensure the smooth running of daily work and forward planning;
• Supporting the Director in budget and grant strategy, planning and administration, working closely with the Finance Team; processing of grants, including preparation of contracts and monitoring of cash flow;
• Monitoring the status of programme and project activities, and manage documentation necessary for the successful delivery of the project activities, including reports and programmatic filing and record keeping of the division;
• Drafting, formatting and editing correspondence/presentations and preparing and updating progress reports, briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries;
• Supporting the preparation of travel by staff of the team;
• Supporting the organisation of substantive events, including agenda preparation, drafting minutes, overseeing budget, travel and logistical aspects;
• Liaising with the relevant units in Agora and member organisations to ensure cohesion of procedures;
• Assisting in proof-reading technical documents.

We offer

• An opportunity to work in a mission-driven, highly motivated, and professional team;
• An attractive office space in the EU quarters of Brussels and the option of hybrid working with good digital facilities;
• A diversity of working experiences, including professional relationships with colleagues and experts from a variety of countries around the globe;
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement; including access to a mental well-being platform;
• 29 vacation days;
• Team events and other get-togethers with colleagues from around the globe;
• Assistance with the visa process for international candidates;
• A full or part-time role with an initial two-year employment contract.

We are looking for a new colleague with

• A proven track record and expertise in international organisation’s administrative policies and procedures, in particular those related to financial and budgetary management;
• University degree and 1-2 years of work experience or relevant educational background plus a minimum of four years relevant work experience;
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, ability to develop presentations, appealing graphics, and compelling texts;
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with attention to the big picture as well as to details;
• Experience in working in international teams and networks;
• Dedication, reliability, perseverance;
• Native or near-native command of English (spoken and written); other language skills, German in particular, are a plus;
• Willingness to travel internationally occasionally.

How to apply

We assume that there are excellent candidates for the job who do not meet all the criteria in the description. Maybe you have certain skills we haven’t thought of yet? Tell us why you are the right person for the job.

Does our job advertisement appeal to you?

Then we look forward to receiving your application by 10.12.2023 via the Apply Now button. Please include your CV, a cover letter and mention if you are interested in a full time or part-time role.

For reasons of objectivity, we ask that you refrain from submitting an application photo.

We welcome applications regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability and age, and sexual orientation. Our offices are not completely barrier-free, but we are open to find individual solutions.

As part of this, we are soliciting anonymous information on a voluntary basis regarding our applicant’s backgrounds. This information will be used only to inform future recruitment strategies and will not impact hiring decisions in any form. Your input will not be forwarded to third parties and will not be used in connection with your application.

Please follow this link to participate in the survey: https://limes.sefep.eu/index.php/833735?lang=en.

If you have any questions, please contact Fatima Saleh at fatima.saleh@agora-thinktank.org.