Senior Expert: Resilience and Climate Adaptation

Start date: 01 January 2026 Duration: 2 years, extension is desired Location: Freiburg or Berlin, Germany Deadline for application: 05 December 2025 Do 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 150 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 Green Deal, the EU Missions, the New European Bauhaus, the UN SDGs, and others; Be part of an internationally recognised organisation that inspires, supports and critically evaluates new trends in (co-)creating sustainable and climate neutral cities; Grow professionally in a flexible, family-friendly work environment with opportunities for personal development, European travel, and professional cultural exchange. Please note that applicants must – due to legal reasons – hold EU citizenship or a valid EU residence permit and a valid German work permit. Applications not meeting these conditions can unfortunately not be considered.

We are looking for a colleague to join our Resilience and Climate Adaptation team with the following experience, skills, and character: Solid understanding of integrated sustainable urban development principles and processes, with a focus on resilience, climate adaptation, environmental management, green infrastructure, urban planning, landscape architecture, water resource management and/or disaster risk reduction; At least 5 years of professional experience, working in a project-based environment, ideally for and with local governments or other urban actors. Experience with network organisations, policy and advocacy is very much desired; Very good and clear oral and written communication; Confident interacting and collaborating with a wide range of partners, from grassroots organisations to ministries; Good understanding of the European policy landscape related to the topics of resilience and climate adaptation; Experience in advocacy and clear understanding of policy processes in the European context. Confident in engaging and leading the advocacy work in the EU and Brussels sphere, with a focus on the Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change, blue and green infrastructure, disaster risk reduction and the EU Climate Risk Assessment; Strong understanding of ICLEI’s work and mission, including of key partners in Germany; Solid experience in the management of multidisciplinary and international projects, ideally as part of the EU Missions and the EU Horizon Europe Additionally, experience with citizen and stakeholder engagement is desired, including work with vulnerable and marginalised communities; Proficient in English and at least one other European language, spoken and written; more languages are an asset, e. German; Curious, creative, collaborative, proactive, while able to work independently and stay grounded in a dynamic, sometimes fast-paced, international

Development and maintaining of a network of strategic contacts within EU institutions and relevant Germany-based stakeholders in the field of resilience and climate adaptation, and in particular the linkages with justice, democracy and citizen engagement; Engagement in project coordination and service implementation especially in processes supporting local and regional governments, and their local communities, to plan and implement resilience on the ground; Coordination of Horizon Europe projects and implementation of project work packages and tasks, including workflows and budget overview tasks within the team and together with external partners, cities, and funders; Organisation and support in developing agendas for and facilitating topic-related meetings and events convening stakeholders from a wide range of organisations; Assist in developing formats of exchange, evaluation, peer-learning, and capacity- building among cities and lend support in designing and facilitating creative workshops and events that encourage participants to interact, learn and network; Further development, promotion and application of ICLEI services and products supporting the resilient and nature-based development pathways; Lead the acquisition of future projects and writing of project

Initial 24 months contract with high potential for extension; Gross salary according to the Senior Expert position in ICLEI’s salary grid (indicative: 500 – 65.100 EUR per annum); Place of work: Freiburg or Berlin, 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