Research Fellow - Climate, Trade and Industrial Policy

Position description

Application Deadline: May 16, 2025
Department: ODI Europe
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Workplace type: Hybrid
Compensation: €5,062/month
Reporting to: Head of Policy

Purpose of Job

There is growing interest in the role that well-designed industrial policies targeted at environmental outcomes could play in accelerating the global net-zero transition. However, long-standing international tensions between climate and economic interests are increasingly coming to the fore. Similar to past mercantilist policies, green industrial policies can undermine competitive markets, both domestically and internationally, if accompanied by protectionist policies. These can lead to competition and trade disputes. Such debates are taking place within a context of increasingly fragmented global trade, heightened geopolitical rivalry, and growing anxieties among developing countries that they will be further marginalised in their efforts to combat and mitigate the climate crisis.

ODI Europe’s work on climate, trade and industrial policy focuses on generating independent research and convening global policymakers and stakeholders to identify shared solutions to harness climate and trade interests and accelerate the global net-zero transition. This role is based in ODI Europe in Brussels.

About us

ODI Europe is an independent, global affairs think tank based in Brussels with a global network of partners. We bring research, ideas and dialogue with the world into the European policy debate to drive global change. At the intersection of major issues, we bring global evidence to the debate and foster international dialogue. We have strong networks across the world and work closely with colleagues in our offices in London and Washington D.C.

This role

In their role, the research fellow will conduct policy research and coordinate advisory projects on green industrial policy. It will engage with policymakers in research and advisory processes, and disseminate results. The role will also contribute, under the supervision of colleagues, to developing, fundraising for, conducting and managing policy relevant, high-quality and innovative research, policy advice and public affairs programmes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research:

• Develop new concepts, ideas and methods to extend intellectual understanding and inform policy relating to climate, trade and industrial policy in Europe;
• Author research reports, policy briefs and other documents for publication by designing and undertaking analysis, and interpreting, evaluating and writing up the findings;
• Coordinate internal and external peer review processes for own publications;
• Assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research, and develop ideas for the application of research outcomes.

Policy Advice, Public Affairs, and Dissemination:

• Monitor and analyse developments in Europe to identify opportunities for policy influencing around climate, trade and industrial policy;
• Carry out public affairs work, promoting ideas, knowledge and institutional concerns with the aim of informing policy and programmes on climate, trade and industrial policy;
• Disseminate the results of research through publishing in peer reviewed journals, presentations at conferences and events, responding to ad hoc media requests in area of specialization, production of creative communications, etc. (with the support of the communications colleagues).

Project Management:

• Take responsibility for the implementation, and administrative and financial management, of research, advisory and public affairs projects, with support from Senior Research Fellows and Project Managers;
• Manage the work of staff and partners working on your own projects.

Fundraising:

• Develop research proposals that can secure external funding to sustain the successful candidate’s own professional activities and those of early-career researchers that they manage, and to contribute to covering the Institute's costs.

Line management:

• Recruit, induct, develop, and support directly managed staff (interns and (Senior) Research Officers) to deliver high-quality work and to support their professional development and wellbeing;
• Review resource needs and implement strategies to meet changing workloads of direct line reports;
• Set appropriate objectives aligned with team/institutional priorities, and monitor and manage performance against these.

Collegiate life:

Contribute to the Institute’s collegiate life through:

• ODI Europe activities in discussion groups, lunchtime meetings, staff meetings, working groups, interviews, external representation;
• Intellectual exchanges with other research team members.

Qualifications

Essential Experience:

• A post-graduate degree, or degree with relevant work experience, in economics or law;
• Deep knowledge of European institutions and the policy environment;
• Extensive knowledge of the key issues and organisations relating to climate, trade and/or industrial policy;
• Demonstrated ability to produce research outputs under time pressure;
• Experience in undertaking policy-oriented research and/or direct policy formulation.

Skills/Abilities:

• Fluency in English;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate successfully with cultural awareness; Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Strong presentation and networking skills;
• Multitasking skills;
• Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint);
• Ability to work in a team; Willingness and ability to travel internationally; Ability to work on own initiative and under minimal supervision, accepting responsibility and to responding with confidence to complex and evolving problems.

Desirable:

• Ability to speak another language.

Key Relationships and Contacts

Internal: Director of ODI Europe, researchers in ODI Europe, senior research associates, researchers in ODI trade and climate teams, programme manager.
External: European institutions; NGOs/donors; Local partners/individuals in country; Other research institutes.

Additional Information: We review applications on a rolling-basis.

All staff are expected to:

• Positively support equality of opportunity both within ODI Global and externally;
• Help maintain a safe working environment and take responsibility for own and colleagues’ Health and Safety;
• Undertake such other duties within the scope of their post as may be asked by their manager.

Why should you work for us?

ODI Global is committed to developing and supporting diverse and inclusive teams of people who share our passion, where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We welcome applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds including those who experience intersectional marginalisation on the basis of their class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious identity or belief, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We also welcome applications from those living with disabilities.

Benefits:

We prioritise the well-being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth. Enjoy a generous annual leave allowance, including public holidays and additional time off during Christmas and New Year. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and study leave to support your professional development.

Our commitment to employee well-being extends beyond annual leave. We provide comprehensive benefits such as maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental leave, competitive pension schemes and interest-free travel loans (varies by local jurisdictions). We offer sick pay, an Employee Assistance Program, and staff events and social activities to ensure your physical and mental health.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on Globaljobs.org