Senior Research Fellow « EU Financial Instruments for Climate Innovation »

From February/March 2023, Permanent Contract (CDI)

The Institute for Climate Economics (I4CE) was created in 2015, in the context of the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement. Its mission is to provide analysis and policy recommendations to French, EU and international decision-makers, to foster the transition towards a climate-neutral economy adapted to climate change. I4CE is now looking for a senior research fellow to create a new workstream dedicate to EU financial instruments for climate innovation.

Policy and economic context:

Delivering the ambitious EU climate targets and maximising their positive impacts require to meet the climate innovation financing challenge. From deploying charging points for electric vehicles to making green steel the norm, innovative projects in the clean energy, industry and transportation sectors require targeted support because they are riskier.

Position description:

The Senior Research Fellow takes part in I4CE activities to inform the debate on economic and financial issues related to EU climate policies. In particular, he/she will focus his/her work on the EU role to meet the financing needs to develop, scale, and deploy climate innovation in the European Union. This is a brand-new focus area for I4CE, as part of the new EU Programme established in October 2022.

In close cooperation with I4CE’s EU Programme Director, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, the senior research fellow will develop this new workstream. He/she will produce written analysis (e.g. policy-papers, policy-briefs) and co-create policy recommendations aiming at improving the EU policy (e.g. (e.g. Innovation Fund, MFF, a possible new investment plan.) to ensure it supports the development and deployment of the innovative solutions required to deliver climate neutrality by 2050.

The European Commission (esp. DGs CLIMA, RTD, GROW), the European Parliament (esp. ITRE and ENVI) and the Council (esp. Germany, France, Czechia, Sweden, Spain) are the primary recipients of these analyses and policy recommendations.

Tasks description:

In cooperation with the EU Programme Director, co-create this new research workstream and plan strategically the work to be done in 2023 and 2024;
Lead independent research on climate innovation financing challenges and the EU capacity to help meet them. This includes reading of relevant literature, and having conversations with relevant stakeholders (e.g. cleantech investors, start-ups, EU officials);
Write policy-papers, policy-brief, and co-create policy recommendations for EU action;
Engage in discussions with like-minded organizations to share analysis and co-create ideas;
Take part in the outreach activities towards EU policymakers.

Professional profile:

You are very comfortable in independently conducting research with a strong analytical component, including defining the research methodology to be applied. You have an excellent knowledge of climate finance issues and European energy/industry/climate policies. You have extensive innovation, economic and financial knowledge.
You will co-create and lead I4CE‘s workstream on EU financial instruments for climate innovation.

The qualities required for this position are :

Five to ten years professional experience in one or several relevant sectors: EU affairs, innovation policy, climate finance, cleantech investment, industry decarbonisation and/or energy policy;
Excellent capacity to write policy-papers in English, ability to produce different types of deliverables (long reports, policy briefs, blogposts, etc.);
Excellent analytical and synthesis skills;
Ability to work in a team; good circulation of information and sharing of methods and good practices with I4CE colleagues and external partners;
Strong autonomy and organisational skills;
Experience/knowledge of EU decision making procedures and the EU funding landscape.

Language skills required:

Professional command of written and spoken English, (C2);
Minimal oral knowledge of French (B1) is recommended to ease daily interactions with the wider I4CE team;
Knowledge of other EU languages, esp. German and Polish, is a plus.

Location:

Office based in Paris (30 rue de Fleurus 75006 Paris); remote work possible depending on profile and location (e.g. France, Belgium, Germany).

Salary:

According to profile and experience

Start date:

From February/March 2023, a later date could be envisaged if required.

To apply: Send (1) a CV, (2) a cover letter, and (3) a writting sample in English, to Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, EU Programme Director, as soon as possible and before Tuesday, 10 January 2023.

For more information on I4CE: 2022 activity report.

Download the position description

Contacts I4CE Send (1) a CV, (2) a cover letter, and (3) a writting sample in English as soon as possible and before Tuesday, 10 January 2023.

Thomas PELLERIN-CARLIN

Directeur du programme Europe Email

À propos d’I4CE

L’Institut de l’économie pour le climat (I4CE – Institute for climate economics) est un institut de recherche / think tank dont la mission est de fournir une analyse et une expertise sur les questions économiques et financière liées aux politiques climat-énergie en France et dans le monde. Parmi ses thèmes de prédilection : la fiscalité énergie-climat, les investissements qualifiés climat, la finance durable, les instruments innovants pour l’agriculture, la forêt et les territoires, ou encore l’adaptation.

Grâce à ses recherches appliquées, l’Institut et ses 30 collaborateurs contribuent au débat sur les politiques liées au climat. Toutes les analyses sont publiques afin d’appuyer la réflexion des institutions financières, des entreprises ou encore des territoires et les aider à intégrer concrètement les enjeux climatiques dans leurs activités. I4CE est une association d’intérêt général, à but non lucratif, fondée par la Caisse des Dépôts et l’Agence Française de Développement.