Senior Policy Officer for Circular Economy and Waste

European Environmental Bureau

Length of contract
1 year

Start date
13 July 2026

About the Organisation

European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is the largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe. We bring together over 190 member organisations in more than 40 countries, representing some 30 million individual members and supporters. We advocate for progressive policies to create a better future where people and nature thrive together.

About the role

As our new Senior Policy Officer, you’ll be part of the EEB’s dynamic and impactful Circular Economy team, strengthening our work on waste policies at the EU and international level. You will play a central role in advancing the EEB’s work on waste prevention, waste management, and circular economy policies, with a strong focus on ambition, impact, and evidence-based advocacy. You will work independently, and in cooperation with our vibrant, active member community in the Circular Economy Working group, proactively identifying political, policy, and funding opportunities to deliver high-impact work.

You will actively cooperate with the other members of the EEB circular economy team, other relevant EEB teams, the EEB members, and a broad range of external partners and experts. You will represent the EEB externally in public events, multi-stakeholder platforms, and with the media, including preparing and delivering public presentations, defending EEB’s positions, and co-designing events with partner organisations.

Internally, you will contribute to wider EEB processes and outputs (briefings to EU Presidencies, reports to EEB Board, relevant web pages, articles in EEB publications). The role offers the opportunity for the right candidate to lead on and support the organisation in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities related to the circular economy, waste prevention, and waste management, as well as related project management.

This role offers room to grow, professionally and personally. You’ll have opportunities to deepen your expertise, take on new responsibilities, and help strengthen a dynamic and inclusive team and evolving civil society space. You’ll work closely with the Head of Circular Economy and Deputy Policy Manager for Circular Economy and collaborate with colleagues across the organization and beyond.

You are an experienced Senior Policy Officer with a strong background in EU waste and circular economy policies, and a clear commitment to environmental protection and social justice. You combine solid analytical skills with the confidence to represent the organisation in policy discussions, public events, and multi-stakeholder settings, and an ability to find funding for the work. We also welcome applications from candidates with a minimum of three years’ experience who may join as an Officer, with the opportunity to grow into the Senior role.

Responsibilities

Policy Analysis and Strategy:

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on key legislative files, with particular attention to the Circular Economy Act, including the Waste Framework Directive, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, Landfill Directive, the implementation of the Regulation on Circularity Requirements for Vehicle Design and on Management of End-of-Life Vehicles, and other relevant initiatives;
• In service of the policy work, keep abreast with developments in circularity, sound material management, and waste-related issues, methodologies, and indicators; Mobilise expert input and carry out specific in-depth research where required.

Outreach and Advocacy Towards Policymakers:

• Lead on the EEB’s engagement with EU institutions within the waste sphere, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, and Member States;
• Provide timely policy input, develop positions, and act as an internal waste expert and focal point across the organisation.

Civil Society Mobilisation:

• Coordinate and evolve the strategy for waste-related work with our vibrant and active Circular Economy Working Group members;
• Build and participate in coalitions with various stakeholders to support advocacy, campaigning, and communication efforts;
• Contribute to relevant internal and external expert groups (European Commission, OECD) and co-develop EEB positions and materials together with EEB members and partners.

Narrative Building and Representation:

• Translate technical and scientific evidence into clear advocacy messages, and contribute to the design of campaigns, public communications, and advocacy materials in close cooperation with the EEB communications team.
• Represent the EEB externally in public events, multi-stakeholder platforms, and with the media, including preparing and delivering public presentations, defending EEB’s positions, and co-designing events with partner organisations.

Project Management and Fundraising:

• Support the organisation in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities related to the circular economy, waste prevention, and waste management;
• Manage projects in accordance with their budgets and scope, keep a clear eye on deliverables, and develop relationships with existing and potential new funders.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Skills & Experiences:

• At least 5 years of experience working in the EU and national circular economy, waste, and environmental policy field, including policy analysis and development (candidates with less experience may also be considered for a Policy Officer role, where they can demonstrate exceptional motivation and particularly relevant expertise)
• Ability to understand, analyse, and clearly communicate the key scientific, economic, and legal dimensions of complex policy topics, both in writing and orally
• Strong communication and networking skills, including confidence to take the floor at public events and engage with the media
• Experience facilitating multistakeholder processes, integrating different perspectives across value chains and stakeholder groups
• A sound understanding of EU institutions, EU environmental law, and the functioning of EU environmental legislative and policy‑making processes.

Assets:

• Experience engaging with civil society organisations and economic actors along product or waste value chains
• An understanding of the technical complexities of waste management and waste policies, the capacity to work with life‑cycle assessments (LCA) and other scientific or technical data, and an understanding of how these inform product policy, production processes, and waste management performance
• A track record of successful fundraising and project management for EU policy work.

Required Qualifications

• A relevant academic degree (equivalent professional experience)

Compensation & Benefits

• An organisation committed to its values of democracy, fairness, respect, integrity, and sustainability, and a purpose-driven, supportive, and friendly team with 70+ people working for a better future in which people and nature thrive together.
• An attractive workspace in the heart of the EU quarter and a healthy organisational culture, including, for instance, staff away days and (optional) social gatherings.
• Possibility to work from home 4 days a week and from another EU country for up to six weeks per year.
• Flexible working hours with a transparent floating time system.
• Various monetary benefits, including a holiday bonus, a generous pension scheme, lunch vouchers, teleworking indemnity, transport allowance, and travel insurance.
• Quality trainings (group and individual), peer learning, and skills shares.
• Next to 20 days of legal leave, we offer 5 days of extra-legal leave during the winter break closure, 5 days of extra-legal leave anytime in the year, and 2 days of extra-legal leave for office-wide long weekends in spring and autumn, that is, a total of 32 paid leave days. (plus other forms of paid leave under certain conditions, such as leave for compelling reasons, and additional leave offered when having worked with the EEB for 4+ years).

Conditions of employment

• As our contracts fall under Belgian law, the candidate must commit to being officially registered in Belgium and working from our office in Brussels (with structural teleworking).
• The EEB welcomes applicants from outside the EU, and we consider it a privilege to have non-EU nationals amongst our staff members and to benefit from their perspectives and skills.
• If you are not an EU citizen, please let us know if you have a work permit for Belgium.
• Please note that it is not always possible for us to initiate and succeed with work permit applications for non-EU nationals due to legal restrictions, additional costs, and practical issues for a medium-sized non-profit organisation. If you do not hold a work permit for Belgium, please feel free to reach out to request further information before you apply.
• If you hold a work permit, please mention if you hold a valid Single Permit (A card) or a permanent residence permit (B card, long-term resident).

Working locations

• Brussels, Belgium

How to apply

• We are looking forward to receiving:
  • A short letter of motivation
  • Your CV (without pictures)
  • A completed questionnaire
• We value clarity, motivation, and authenticity more than formal letters and too much detail.
• Only applications comprising these three elements will be considered.
• Please send your complete application to [email protected].
• Please clearly mark "Senior Policy Officer Circular Economy and Waste" in the subject of your email.
• Please read our recruitment privacy statement before applying
• Please answer the following question in max 300 words:
  • Which challenges and opportunities do you foresee for NGO participation in scientific/expert committees?
• Please do not have AI tools write your answers. If we detect arguments or text blocks that have been generated by an AI tool, your application may be rejected. We are interested in genuine perspectives and original ideas.

Interviews

• Shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide two references later.
• Due to limited staff resources and the number of applications anticipated, only candidates selected for interviews will receive a reply.
• The interviews first round (tentative) 17th, 18th, or 19th June 2026

Policies

The EEB strives to be a fair, inclusive, safe place and a welcoming and learning organisation. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Your experience matters. Please consult our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy. Please do not use pictures in your CV. Do leave out any information that may contribute to unconscious bias, such as reference to your nationality, date, or place of birth. We respect our employees’ lives outside of work, support colleagues in care roles, and take work-life balance and wellbeing seriously.

Return to listing