Position Title: Policy and Advocacy Manager

About the role: The Policy and Advocacy Manager is a near-full-time role as part of a small, highly-competent, ambitious, flexible and supportive Network Secretariat team based in Brussels with the primary aim of reinforcing European CLT Networkʼs impact and influence at the European level, as well as facilitating member engagement in National and local advocacy activities.

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Contract: Permanent, 80%(4 days a week)

Start Date: As soon as possible in 2025

Travel: Occasional travel mainly in Europe

Application Deadline: 20 December, 2024

Interviews: 6-10 January 2025

For more information about the role: Director European CL T Network: keti.tskitishvili@cltb.be or Policy and Advocacy Manager: mike.neaves@cltb.be

How to apply:

Email your CV and a Cover Letter with answers to the following questions to europe@cltb.be:

• What would be your three priorities as the Policy and Advocacy Manager?

• What has motivated you to apply for this role?

• Why would you be effective in this role?

• Indicate your availability/starting date

Incomplete Applications will not be considered.

We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

You will need to have the right to work in Belgium.

If you face any challenges with the application process, please let us know.

About the CLTs

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) reimagine the fundamental components of land and housing to offer a proven solution to common challenges we face in achieving a just transition. Across the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and Spain there are over 500 CLTs, with the movement growing across other parts of Europe.

CLTs are non-profit, democratic, community-led organisations. They develop and manage homes that are affordable to low and middle income households, as well as other assets that contribute to thriving local communities. They act as long-term stewards of these assets, ensuring they remain permanently affordable.

About the European CLT Network

To connect and catalyse the movement, the European CLT Network was established in 2023 with financial support from Laudes Foundation and World Habitat.

• Our vision is that CLTs become recognised as a mainstream option for affordable, inclusive and sustainable land use and housing across Europe.

• Our mission is to enable the growth of CLTs across Europe and support them to maximise their long-term social and environmental impact.

For more information about the European CLT Network see our summary presentation deck here and website here.

Context for the role

The European CLT Network is a young organisation aiming to 1) raise the awareness of CLTs, 2) influence public policy, and 3) change market practices. In this context, you will join a small, highly-competent, ambitious, flexible, and supportive Network Secretariat team based in Brussels working to achieve these objectives. Subject to further co-funding, the position could become full-time with the agreement of the post holder.

You will play a critical role in reinforcing ECLTN’s impact and influence on policy at the European level, as well as supporting member engagement in advocacy activities with a view to integrating CLTs into relevant policies, including those concerning relevant EU funding opportunities.

You will be responsible for coordinating, implementing, and monitoring strategic advocacy and engagement to help achieve Network objectives and towards advancement of the CLT agenda.

Responsibilities

Advocacy and Policy Development

• Implement, monitor, and evaluate the ECLTN Advocacy Strategy targeting key stakeholders at European and member levels to promote CLTs as a mainstream solution for affordable and sustainable housing and development

• Influence policy change through advocacy activities and engagement with EU institutions and other policymakers to support CLT initiatives.

• Monitor and analyse policy developments to ensure the European CLT Network stays informed about relevant policy changes through analysis of their impact on CLTs and delivery of insights to network members.

• Build strategic partnerships with aligned European organisations (e.g., NGO, industry, etc.), in part through participation in alliances and coalitions to advance the CLT agenda and increase the influence of the European CLT Network.

• Support member advocacy efforts through expert assistance to network members in developing and implementing their own advocacy strategies, in part through policy and advocacy capacity building.

Fundraising

• Anticipate and influence public and institutional funding opportunities, most notably relevant EU programs.

• Coordinate and contribute to the preparation of relevant funding proposals from the perspective of policy and advocacy with a view to achieving the mission of the organisation.

• Lead/Contribute to writing of the high quality proposals for institutional funding opportunities.

• Cultivate Donor Relationships: Build and maintain relationships with key contacts at funding institutions to secure long-term support.

Communications

• Enhance network visibility through relevant advocacy activities and more broadly in partnership with communication consultants through contribution to the development and implementation of the ECLTN communication strategy to raise awareness of the networkʼs mission: leveraging campaigns, social media, storytelling, and partnerships.

• Plan, organise and execute events to promote CLT initiatives and engage stakeholders effectively where strategically relevant

Values to align with

• We are a small, non-profit, mission-led start-up with big ambitions for changing the land and housing status quo.

• We are a membership-led Network.

• We emphasise learning and experimentation and view how we work as an evolving design.

• We vision and empower horizontal ways of working, collective leadership and capacity building, as well as mutual learning.

• We believe in a commons based approach to land and housing.

Person Specification

This role is ideal for a strategic thinker who is passionate about policy, advocacy, and funding within a non-profit setting. The successful candidate will have a strong background/track record in influencing policy at various levels and securing funding from institutional sources.

Education and experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Public Policy, Communications or a relevant field.

• 4–7 years of professional experience in advocacy, policy development ,communications, and with NGO funding.

• Demonstrated experience in development, implementation and evaluation of advocacy and communication strategies.

• Experience in forming and nurturing strategic partnerships and alliances to advance organization’s mission and agenda

• Record of managing and delivering profile-rising events and campaigns

• Experience of cultivation of an organisation’s identity and public outreach strategies through digital media, campaigns, storytelling, think pieces.

• Experience with EU funding mechanisms, including proven track record of success in securing funding from EU Institutions and other institutional and public sources.

• Fluent English language is essential.knowledge of additional languages is a plus.

Desirable:

• Interest and understanding of issues relating to land, housing, built environment or the just transition.

• Confident user of creative communication tools such as Canva, Mailchimp, PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, video-editing tools.

Qualities and approach

• Communicator: You excel in written and verbal communication.

• Strategic and Proactive: You independently develop and execute strategies aligned with sector trends.

• Relationship Builder: You collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders globally.

• Creative: You think innovatively to address challenges.

• Organized: You manage multiple projects efficiently.

• Collaborative: You value teamwork, feedback, and shared goals.