ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies is looking for an Industrial Policy Trainee

Who we are

ZOE, the Institute for Future-Fit Economies, is an independent think & do tank active in Germany and in Brussels. 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 value an appreciative atmosphere, close collaboration, and willingness to learn. Further we offer:

• A motivating working environment in a small think & do tank that has become an established actor in Brussels 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

The role

The trainee will support our work on EU industrial policy. In this policy area we are developing recommendations on how to successfully design and implement industrial policy at EU level for a green and just transition. This includes ramping-up necessary production capacities for green technologies, mobilising private and public investments, avoiding profit-capture, and fostering socio-economic cohesion in the EU.

Key responsibilities

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

• Research on transformative industrial policy in different focus areas: fiscal & monetary policy, sustainable finance, trade policy, public procurement, etc.

• Drafting content for concept notes or short policy briefs

• Creating presentations & one pagers for external meetings & events

• Supporting policy and expert engagement in bilateral & multilateral formats

• Supporting the organisation of events such as policy labs

This role suits someone that is familiar with EU policy in at least one of the above-mentioned areas.

Core competencies

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

• Current Master’s student or recent graduate with Master’s degree in economics, political science, political economy, industrial engineering (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 Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years relevant experience in EU policy or related field

• Thorough and structured way of working, which enables you to collect and classify a large amount of complex information in a short period of time

• Demonstrated interest in and previous engagement with industrial policy and/or green transition research through work experiences, coursework, etc.

• Excellent writing and communication skills, fluency in English

• Strong research skills, knowledge of how to find information quickly and efficiently

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

Conditions

We are looking for someone to join our team for 30-38 hours per week for 6 months. The position will ideally start as soon as possible. We offer the possibility to work remotely or to be regularly present at our offices in Cologne, Berlin, and Brussels.

The gross monthly salary for full-time (38 hours) is 2151 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 federal states in Germany. For a full-time (38 hours) position, 30 holiday days are offered for 1 calendar year.

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 continuously accepting applications and encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please send: a) your CV (max 3 pages), b) a motivation letter (400–500 words) explaining why you would like to work with ZOE Institute and c) a sample of your work (power point slides, publication, press release or similar) to applications@zoe-institut.de. Please do not attach a photo to your application. Please state “Industrial Policy Trainee” in the subject line. If we shortlist you for an interview, we will get back to you as soon as possible with dates for an online interview. In case of any questions please contact applications@zoe-institut.de.

Thank you very much for your interest in ZOE Institute.