International Carbon Capture Campaigner

POSITION TITLE: International Carbon Capture Campaigner

PROGRAM: Fossil Economy

FOCUS AREA: Carbon Capture Technologies (CCS, DAC, BECC), EU & global

SUPERVISOR: Program Director Fossil Economy 

LOCATION: Geneva or remote in Europe (regular EU / Europe travel)

SALARY RANGE:  €56,000 - €63,500 (Europe) OR CHF 59,500 - CHF 67,250 (Switzerland)

DEADLINE: April 1, 2024

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

As our window to prevent catastrophic climate impacts narrows, purported technological fixes like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon removal approaches like direct air capture (DAC) are gaining momentum around the world despite the significant risks they pose, their demonstrated ineffectiveness and unproven feasibility. Governments in Europe and elsewhere are embracing ‘carbon management’ as a new paradigm, delaying real climate action while handing out new subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. 

CIEL’s Fossil Economy Program works to transform the fossil economy by fighting the expansion of petrochemical production, confronting the overuse of plastics, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides,  and working to expose and stop purported techno-fixes like carbon capture and storage, carbon dioxide removal, and other geoengineering approaches. By unmasking the speculative nature of unproven technologies and industry greenwashing, we work to accelerate the implementation of real solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity collapse, and toxic pollution. The Fossil Economy Program works closely with CIEL’s Climate & Energy Program to expose the role of carbon capture in justifying expanded fossil fuel production and delaying the transition to a fossil-free future, and to hold State and corporate actors who rely on these speculative, ineffective, and dangerous technologies to account.  

As our International Carbon Capture Campaigner, you will be the key point person for CIEL’s work opposing the reliance on, deployment of, and public investment in carbon capture, carbon removal, and other carbon management technologies at the European and international policy level. The role involves close collaboration with key civil society partners and networks, strategy development and implementation, research and policy advocacy, as well as communication and media work. A significant part of the role will be dedicated to campaigning in Europe and in EU policy fora, and the rest will be focused on the international and global level. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Advocacy & Campaigning (60%)

• Strategy: Collaborate with Fossil Economy, Climate & Energy,  and other CIEL staff members to develop and continually refine short, medium, and long-term strategic campaigns to advance CIEL’s overall mission and vision with respect to carbon capture and technological carbon removal in Europe and at the international / global policy level. 
• Relationships: Maintain effective working relationships with relevant partners, including NGOs, frontline/grassroots groups, Indigenous Peoples organizations, academics, scientists, as well as government agencies and intergovernmental organizations and/or other stakeholders. 
• Policy Advocacy: Coordinate, and collaborate with partners to expose the problems with, and confront growing campaigns for, CCS, DAC and related technologies in key European and international fora and negotiations to counter public support and to strengthen restrictive governance. 
• Communications: Work with the Communications Department to develop, draft content for, and implement a proactive communications strategy, in close coordination with key civil society partners and other key program staff to build public awareness of the  hazards posed by CCS, DAC and related technologies, including through educating and engaging journalists.

• Representation: Represent CIEL in coalitions, public meetings, workshops, and other processes as assigned. With support from the communications team, engage in media interviews to advance campaign objectives.

Research & Analysis (30%)

• Develop and maintain solid expertise on relevant political and regulatory frameworks and issue areas at the international and European levels. Monitor technological, political, and policy developments to inform strategies and interventions.
• Conduct research to fill in specific research and knowledge gaps.
• Draft high-quality reports, briefings, talking points, factsheets, or other written materials for a variety of audiences to convey results of research and critical information to movement partners, policy makers, financial actors, and the press.  
• Prepare and disseminate (verbally and in writing) clear and compelling analyses to educate relevant audiences.

• Balance long-term projects with rapid response research and analysis to respond to partner demands, press inquiries, and breaking news. 

Administration and Other: (10%)

• Coordinate specific projects or initiatives with other key staff and partners.

• Assist in information flow within the CIEL Fossil Economy program and with other CIEL programs, especially Climate & Energy and Communications.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested or assigned by Program Leadership and Program Management Team.
• Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
• Meet periodically as requested, with supervisor and other team members, and participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities, including regular staff performance evaluations.
• Support fundraising efforts, such as proposals and reports, as relevant.
• Meet target dates, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work products / outputs.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications:

• 3 - 6 years of relevant experience in advocacy campaigning and campaign coordination.
• Familiarity with the fossil fuel industry (including its operations, actors, and impacts), climate justice, energy systems, greenwashing and technofixes to the climate crisis
• Solid understanding of the EU decision making process.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to distill key messages from technical information and translate them to different audiences and on different platforms.
• Experience of working in and facilitating coalition and movement spaces, and with partners, including frontline / grassroots groups.
• Able to oversee and deliver multiple priorities by target dates and perform a wide variety of tasks over the course of the workday.
• Comfort admitting what you don’t know and recognizing that seeking and receiving feedback is part of the learning process.
• Awareness of how your words and actions affect others, openness to and respect for others’ perspectives.
• Commitment to incorporating principles of justice, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the work.
• Ability to successfully work on multiple priorities concurrently, including having strong planning and organizational skills, and ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work both independently and in close coordination with a team.
• Able to travel internationally, and for periods of 1-2 weeks (public safety guidelines permitting).

Desired Qualifications:

• In-depth familiarity with carbon capture and carbon removal technologies and/or climate science
• Familiarity with international law, policy, and governance, particularly as it pertains to climate change, biodiversity, and pollution. 
• Professional proficiency in French and/or Spanish and/or another European language other than English

A successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies: 

• Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of curiosity, proactivity, and constructiveness.
• Nimble Learning: Approaches unfamiliar tasks proactively and with an open mind. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.  
• Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.  
• Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.  
• Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against them.  Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to accomplish the goal. 

Location note: This position may be eligible to work from the following locations:

• In our Geneva, Switzerland office provided you have the ability to legally work in Switzerland,  (i.e., a citizen of EU/EFTA member states).
• CIEL has the capacity through an Employer of Record service to hire employees in certain jurisdictions outside of where we are headquartered. Thus, candidates may be eligible to work remotely from another country, depending on the country and provided your work schedule can align with European time zones and you are able to travel within Europe frequently. You must have obtained your own legal authorization to work and live in the country from which you wish to work.

This is a full-time position. If you are selected for this position and elect to work remotely, you are expected to provide your own space from which to work. CIEL will contribute a taxable one-time stipend of USD $750 for fully remote workers, with an additional USD $250 per year for the purposes of maintaining your remote work space.]

Application instructions: Applications are due by April 1. Desired start date: As soon as able. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and any other required materials or responses. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please. Note that CIEL does not sponsor visas of any kind. You must have prior work authorization in order to be considered for this position.

Anonymous Demographic Survey: Please complete this anonymous demographic survey as part of your application to CIEL. The survey will only be used to help us evaluate our efforts to recruit a diverse pool of candidates. Your answers will not in any way be linked to your application, and the answers to the survey will not be handled by anyone on the hiring committee for the role.

About CIEL: For 30 years, CIEL has used the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL’s dynamic team of international attorneys and experts work together in a collaborative and supportive work environment to tackle some of the most interesting and challenging issues facing people and the planet. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, actively committed to the principles of multiculturalism and building an organization that is as diverse as the communities we serve around the world. We know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger, and we actively encourage qualified applicants with various backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and (dis)abilities to apply. If you need an accommodation or assistance with this application, please contact Human Resources at jobs[at]ciel.org.