Senior Expert Sustainable and Innovation Procurement/
ICLEIDo you want to contribute to making our cities better places to live?
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network working with more than
2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active
in 125+ countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission,
nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development.
ICLEI‘s European Secretariat is based in Freiburg (Germany), with specialised offices in
Brussels and Berlin. ICLEI Europe has more than 140 talented staff from all over Europe and
beyond, covering a broad variety of professional disciplines and expertise.
Working with us, you will have opportunities to:
• Deepen your understanding of how cities design and implement sustainability and climate
neutrality policies, what kind of challenges they face and how best to support them;
• Work with leading urban researchers, politicians and practitioners on European innovation
projects, to provide solutions for today’s urban challenges;
• Contribute to European and international processes that influence urban policies, such as
the EU Public Procurement Framework, Green Deal, the EU Missions, the New European
Bauhaus, the New Urban Agenda, the UN SDGs, and others;
• Be part of an internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically
evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable, climate neutral and resilient cities;
• Grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for
personal development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange.
We are looking for a new colleague to join our Sustainable and Innovation Procurement team with the following experience, skills and character:
• A degree in a relevant subject such as public procurement, law, economics, environmental
sciences, international development or other appropriate qualification;
• A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience. For example, you may have worked in the
procurement department of a local authority, supported the procurement of goods, works
and services or worked for an organisation that supports public authorities with procurement;
• A good understanding of the public procurement process, and a good understanding of
how procurement operates in public organisations;
• Experience of working in or managing projects;
• Ability to be well organised, prioritise tasks and produce good quality work;
• A very good command of English (reading, writing and speaking);
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, e.g. drafting reports, newsletters and
delivering presentations;
• Confident user of all Microsoft Office applications.
Desirable:
• Direct experience in running public procurement procedures;
• Experience working for, or with, a local government or public authority;
• Experience of working on European funded projects or service contracts;
• Experience in providing advisory services to build capacities on sustainable and
innovation procurement;
• Experience of delivering and designing training material;
• Knowledge of the legislative environment in which public procurement operates within
the EU.
Your position will include the following main tasks:
• Lead on European projects that support cities wanting to develop their sustainable or
innovation procurement practices;
• Strong role in the strategic and conceptual development of the sustainable and innovation
procurement topic;
• Support the policy and advocacy processes of ICLEI that advance sustainable and
innovation procurement at the European and international level;
• Pro-actively develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with relevant international
institutions and organisations on the topics of sustainable and innovation procurement at
a European and international level;
• Provide advisory support to build capacities on sustainable and innovation procurement to
local government and public authorities;
• Develop and deliver workshops or training on sustainable and innovation procurement to
public procurers;
• Design and facilitate virtual, hybrid and in-person workshops, communities of practice and
meetings that encourage people to participate, learn and network;
• Undertake research and develop publications targeted at public procurers and policy
makers, including reports, guidance, policy briefs and case studies;
• Identify funding opportunities and write project proposals;
• Represent ICLEI at events and undertake presentations.
We offer you the following conditions:
• Initial 24 months contract with high potential for extension;
• Gross salary according to the Senior Expert position in ICLEI’s salary grid
(indicative: EUR 60.768 – 63.300 per annum);
• Place of work: Freiburg/Germany;
• 40h working week with flexible working time and the possibility to work up to 50% remote;
• 6 weeks of paid leave per annum;
• Working language is English;
• Occasional travel within Europe is foreseen;
• Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or valid
EU residence permit and a valid German work permit. Applications not meeting these
conditions can unfortunately not be considered
