ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies is looking for a Communications & Events Trainee

Cologne, Berlin or Brussels | Starting as soon as possible | 32-38 hours per week

Who we are

ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies is an independent think & do tank active at the EU level. We are dedicated to policy-oriented research and evidence-driven advocacy for a future-fit economy. At the interface of politics, research, and civil society in the EU, we develop impulses for an economy that enables people to live well within planetary boundaries. We are a small team that values an appreciative atmosphere and good communication.

Further we offer:

• A collaborative, motivating working environment in a small think & do tank that has made it to the top of EU politics in a short space of time

• A strategic, agile, value and purpose-oriented working style

• Flexibility of working time and place, supporting a healthy work-life-balance

• Ways of working to build our organisation together and align individual and organisational purpose

• An office in Cologne and co-working spaces in Berlin and Brussels

Key Responsibilities

This trainee position will support the MERGE and MAPS projects and contribute to ZOE’s communications team. MERGE and MAPS are part of ZOE’s work in the area of beyond GDP and post-growth. They use co-creative approaches for developing policies, models, and indicators for a sustainable and inclusive economy. In autumn and winter, both of these projects will embark on a series of co-creative labs with policymakers and other stakeholders in Brussels and online.

ZOE’s communications team oversees ZOE’s external communications and supports all teams and projects to develop effective messages. In autumn and winter we will be conducting message testing on new economy narratives.

As part of a motivated and impact-driven team you will carry out a variety of tasks, including:

• Drafting content for different audiences, including reports, policy briefs, publications, newsletters, web and social media posts

• Supporting the preparation, logistics, and coordination of in-person and online co-creative labs and events

• Preparation of presentations, briefings and key documents for stakeholder meetings

• Organisational tasks including project management and planning

• Background research and analysis on various topics related to beyond GDP and post-growth

• Monitoring of current economic policy events and debates

• Analysing qualitative data from interviews with policymakers, modelers, and experts

• Drafting concept notes and summary documents before and after events

• Website updates, including basic graphic design

Core competences

We are looking for people who share our core principles: value orientation, sustainability, agility, self-organisation. Your profile would include the following skills, background, and knowledge:

• A background in political economy, (ecological) economics, communications, public policy/administration, political science, or similar. In particular, current master’s student or recent graduate (or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired through other demonstrable means) with at least 6 (cumulative) months of other professional experience, such as an internship or volunteer work.

• Great organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Fluency in German is an advantage.

• Pro-active and responsive with ability to quickly understand complex content and tasks.

• Experience in social media content management, content production, graphic design, and website editing. (Can also be from personal use.)

• Analytical skills and knowledge of qualitative data analysis methods.

• Proven interest and commitment to new economic thinking, sustainability, beyond GDP and post-growth policy, and social policy, etc.

• Experience in events organisation (physical and online) is a bonus.

• Familiarity with EU policymaking process and the EU institutional set up is a bonus.

• Proven interest in narrative thinking and how to communicate new economies is a bonus.

• Must have the right to work in Germany or Belgium for the duration of the traineeship.

Conditions

The contract is 32-38 hours per week for six months, with flexible working hours to be arranged. The position will start as soon as possible. Work can be performed from home, with the possibility to work from our offices several days per week.

The gross monthly salary for 38 hours per week is 2,151 euros, prorated for fewer hours. The remuneration for this position is based on our internal salary framework, informed by the collective agreement of the public service of the Länder. For a full-time (38 hours) position, the trainee will be offered 2.5 paid vacation days per month. This is 15 days over a six-month traineeship.

Diversity

We believe that our society’s behaviour disproportionately hurts the most marginalised people – including people of colour, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, women and LGBTIQ people. We are committed to challenge this through our work for socially just development and by creating a diverse workplace at our organisation. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people who are members of marginalised communities.

Application procedure

We are accepting applications as of now. Please send your CV (max. 2 pages), a short writing sample (this should not be something co-authored; can be a sample from your studies), and a letter of motivation (400-500 words) to applications@zoe-institut.de. Please state "Communications & Events Trainee" in the subject line. Please do not include a photo with your application. If we shortlist you for an interview, we will contact you as soon as possible with dates for an online interview. If you have any questions, please contact anja.boenke@zoe-institut.de

Thank you very much for your interest in ZOE Institute.