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EuroACE is seeking to recruit an experienced, dynamic, person to take on the role of Communications and Marketing Manager. The successful applicant will join a small, hard-working team and will be expected to make a positive impact on our communications and marketing strategy and activities.

Download the Job Ad in pdf format

EuroACE, with its 15 company members, is the go-to industry association for energy efficiency in buildings. Its work focusses on EU policy developments and it has several channels through which is acts. These include the Renovate Europe Campaign (REC), the Central and Eastern Energy Efficiency Forum (C4E Forum), and EU funded projects. Each of these initiatives has its own identity and online presence and there is a strong need to ensure that our communications through these channels are strategically coordinated to ensure maximum impact on a widely diverse and growing audience.

Working at the Secretariat of EuroACE in Brussels, regularly interacting with members and staff, the Communications Manager will take on all aspects of our communications work and will regularly report to the General Assembly of EuroACE and to the Steering Group of the REC.

Principal duties and activities

This list can be adapted to meet the priorities of the organisation and in response to skills demonstrated by the successful applicant:

Devise, in consultation with staff and members, a detailed Communications and Marketing Strategy for EuroACE.
Manage, update, and feed all online channels used by EuroACE and its initiatives.
Edit, and design articles, position papers, brochures, PowerPoint presentations, and digital material to disseminate the work of EuroACE to a wide audience.
Manage relationships with external graphic designers, webmasters, event organisers etc..
Build a strong relationship to key media personnel in Brussels and beyond.
Assist in the organisation of the meetings of our Work Group on Communications, Outreach, and Membership (WG COM), including note taking and follow-up.
Actively market EuroACE to attract new members and funding opportunities.
Represent EuroACE at selected meetings and workshops.

The Communications and Marketing Manager will be given the opportunity to:

Deepen his/her knowledge and contacts in the expanding EU policy field of energy efficiency.
Co-define a Personal Professional Development Plan while with EuroACE.
Engage with the members of EuroACE, the REC partners, and the staff at the EuroACE Secretariat.
Take on further responsibilities over time as the role evolves.

Qualifications, experience, and skills

Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as Communications, Journalism, Graphic Design, or Digital Communications.
Minimum of five years’ experience in a similar role managing diverse communications actions in a company, NGO, or association.
Exemplary written and spoken English with a high level of competence in at least one additional EU language.
Strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills complemented by good attention to detail.
An engaging disposition with excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and meeting deadlines.
Excellent understanding of IT tools (the full MS Office suite, especially PowerPoint, Outlook, Business Management software etc.), videoconferencing tools (e.g., GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, etc.), graphic design software (InDesign, Adobe, Canva or other), and content management software such as WordPress.
Availability to occasionally travel at national and EU level.
Already established contacts with relevant journalists is a plus.

Contract

The contract of employment will be under Belgian Law and only applications from persons legally entitled to work in Belgium will be considered.

The successful applicant can expect an annual gross salary (full time) in the range of €42,000 to €52,000 (pro-rata for part-time applicants), depending on previous experience, with benefits such as a group pension, lunch vouchers, mobility allowance, and eco-cheques.

Process

Applications for this post must be submitted by e-mail to adrian.joyce[@]efficientbuildings.eu by noon on Monday 11th of September 2023. Please put Application for Communications Manager + name as the subject line of your application.

The applications must consist of a short letter of motivation, two or three samples of previous work, a curriculum vitae and the names and contact details of two referees that can be approached by EuroACE during the recruitment process.

EuroACE intends to interview around 5 applicants shortly after the closing date and will only contact those that are chosen for interview. A second round of interviews will follow for the top three candidates, and they will be set a practical assignment for presentation at the second interview.

EuroACE reserves the right not to appoint any of the applicants, even after interviews are completed.

On 21 June, EuroACE gathered High level policy makers and industry leaders to exchange on the role of efficient buildings for people, competitiveness, and the climate. Here are the event’s main highlights (download here):

1. Industry leaders support an ambitious Buildings Directive and call for a deal by the end of the year

Last month at the IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, 45 governments from around the world and 50 CEOs endorsed the agency’s call to double global energy efficiency progress by the end of this decade. A strong Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is needed to achieve this objective in the building sector.

2. Market visibility is needed to unlock investments

Establishing Minimum Energy Performance Standards in the EU will encourage investments throughout the renovation value chain, unlock further production capacity and help companies optimise training programmes. Clear timelines and benchmarks will also help homeowners to better plan their renovation works whilst improving living conditions for millions of citizens.

3. Energy efficiency solutions are already available today

Energy efficiency solutions are well known, proven and already available: insulation, windows, ventilation systems, decarbonised heating and cooling systems, technical building systems, lighting and building automation and control systems. All of them will be needed to achieve the highest performance standards.

4. Improved access to finance is key to drive energy renovations

EU and national funds must be used more efficiently to cut costs for homeowners, and dedicated mortgage portfolio standards and renovation loans should facilitate access to finance for vulnerable households and worst performing buildings as a priority.

5. Improved living conditions is a key concern driving energy renovations

Multiple benefits such as improved health, comfort, indoor environmental quality are key drivers for homeowners to conduct energy renovations. More ambition is needed under a ‘Healthy Indoor Climate’ framework in the EPBD, particularly as ninety percent of time is spent indoors.

6. Switching to digitalisation by design

Digital technologies play a key role in gathering data about building renovation projects across the EU but also to improve the design process. Policymakers should encourage the use of the smart readiness indicator as well as digital design and simulation technologies like digital twins and building information modelling to enable a robust planning approach throughout the entire planning life cycle.

7. Buildings can provide essential services to the energy system

Energy efficiency has a crucial role in decarbonising the electricity system and paving the way for a 100% renewable energy future. Energy efficiency reduces costs that would otherwise be passed on to customers by avoiding unnecessary generation capacity (to cover peak load), and transmission costs.

8. Energy renovations should be made simpler for consumers and businesses

The EPBD is a package deal: performance requirements must go hand in hand with improved access to information and streamlined administrative procedures. One Stop Shops and information tools such as Energy Performance Certificates, Renovation Passports and the Smart Readiness Indicator must be rolled out to facilitate and simplify renovation works.

9. The EPBD is not a stand-alone legislation. Industry leaders call for an equal level of ambition in Energy Market Design and Net Zero Industry Act.

Including provisions on energy efficiency technologies and demand side flexibility in these texts is essential:
– Enabling a significant production ramp up and the development of a skilled workforce will be key to ensure the availability of energy efficiency technologies.
– New market rules are needed to facilitate the integration of efficiency and smart buildings as central actors of the energy system.

10. The EPBD should tackle both operational AND embodied emissions

New provisions on deep renovations, minimum energy performance requirements and technical building systems all address the decarbonisation of buildings. But the EPBD should also start factoring in embodied emissions. A common vision on whole-life carbon is required through the calculation and reporting of the Global Warming Potential of a new building. This should lead to a common EU framework so that data can be collected and exchanged.

EuroACE is hiring a Communications and Marketing Manager