Policy Officer
Rural Youth Europe is recruiting a Policy Officer. The Policy Officer will be responsible for shaping and driving Rural Youth Europe’s advocacy efforts, ensuring that rural youth issues are effectively represented in European policymaking. This includes policy research, drafting position papers, engaging with policymakers, and contributing to advocacy campaigns on diverse key rural youth issues, including sustainability and energy transition.
Additionally, the Policy Officer will have to (co-)manage policy-oriented projects of Rural Youth Europe, so the standard project management tasks might be included in their tasks (project development and implementation, organisation of activities and workshops, policy inputs in the fundraising work of the organisation etc.).
The Policy Officer reports to the Secretary General of Rural Youth Europe. The position is based in the Brussels office of Rural Youth Europe, with possibility of remote working occasionally and it includes occasional travels outside of Belgium.
What is Rural Youth Europe?
Rural Youth Europe (RYE) is a European non-governmental umbrella organisation, whose aim is to unite rural youth organisations across Europe to promote rural development and youth participation. It is an umbrella for rural youth organisations working to promote and activate young people in rural areas. Today, 24 member organisations from 20 nations and more than 500,000 young people are part of Rural Youth Europe. RYE works to enhance the lives of rural young people by providing intercultural learning opportunities through mobility, volunteering and youth work, while also advocating for rural youth issues. It has an elected board of seven rural youth leaders from around Europe, and a European secretariat with its head office in Brussels.
Responsibilities and tasks
- Developing and implementing RYE’s advocacy strategies to influence policy on rural youth issues at the European level.
- Conducting policy research and developing intellectual outputs, like position papers, reports, toolkits and contributions to relevant consultations.
- Representing RYE in advocacy spaces, including meetings with institutions, policy makers, and other stakeholders.
- Building and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers, partner organisations, and networks in the youth and rural development sectors, in Brussels and beyond.
- Monitoring policy developments affecting rural youth and identifying opportunities for engagement.
- Supporting the board and secretariat in integrating policy perspectives into projects, events, fundraising applications and communications.
- Organising events, activities and workshops, and meetings to raise awareness and build alliances for rural youth advocacy.
- Working together with the rest of the secretariat and the board to ensure the smooth implementation of projects and activities, both online and face-to-face.
- Undertaking other day-to-day tasks within the organisation, depending on shifting needs.
Applicant profile
We are looking for a motivated applicant who has:
- Experience in international youth work/NGO work (either as a paid staff member or as a volunteer).
- Experience or strong interest in rural youth issues.
- Experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and/or political engagement, particularly in youth or rural development. A focus for the next period will be on sustainability and energy transition in relation to rural youth, so any background on these areas will be an advantage.
- Experience in drafting policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy materials.
- Strong knowledge of policymaking processes and institutions, especially EU ones.
- Very good knowledge of English (both written and oral).
- Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with policymakers and stakeholders.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel and work occasionally during weekends and evenings.
- Computer literacy (including experience with Microsoft Office365).
- Ability to work under pressure, independently and responsibly, and with good organisational skills.
- Willingness to support and work with a team of volunteers and other employees.
The ideal candidate shall:
- Have excellent time management and organisational skills, able to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks.
- Be committed, motivated, and passionate about rural youth issues, political engagement, and policy advocacy.
- Have the ability to identify policy opportunities and respond strategically.
- Be confident in speaking and presenting in advocacy settings.
- Have experience in networking and coalition-building.
What we offer
- A fixed term full-time contract (38 hours per week) under Belgian law, to start between early May to early June 2025 until December 2026, with the possibility of extension.
- A starting gross salary ranging between 2200 and 2500 EUR (subject to experience). It can also include additional benefits (such as meal vouchers, public transportation pass, frais forfaitaires). The exact package is to be agreed with the selected candidate.
- 20 days of holidays plus additional days when the office is closed between Christmas and New Year for approximately two weeks.
- Days in lieu of working outside of regular working days.
- An amount of annual training days per year, and other developmental and travelling opportunities in the framework of work.
- Working with a dynamic and diverse team of secretariat and board members, member and partner organisations and their dedication to rural youth issues.
- An open, positive, international and flexible working environment with the possibility of working remotely, in accordance with the policies of the organisation.
Applicants are asked to send a CV and motivation letter by Tuesday 8th of April 2025, 23:59 CET to office@ruralyoutheurope.com.
The candidate should have the right to work and live in Belgium and should be able to be in Brussels by the starting date of the contract.
It is anticipated currently that interviews will be held online on the 15th of April 2025. Successful candidates may be invited to carry out a relevant task before their interview.
We reserve the right to extend the deadline or to not select any applicant, should they not fit the profile provided.
For any questions, you may approach the RYE Secretary General, Spyros Papadatos, at office@ruralyoutheurope.com.