Principal Manager, EU Represent. Office

Purpose of Job
Along with other staff in the EBRD Brussels Office, the Principal Manager is responsible for coordinating the Bank’s wide-ranging relations with the EU institutions and other related stakeholders in Brussels. The Principal Manager will share responsibility for advising senior management on the Bank’s strategy of policy and operational engagement with the EU institutions, as well as organising and supporting such engagement.

Background
Within Corporate Strategy, the Brussels Office in collaboration with the EU Affairs team based in London is responsible for coordinating the Bank’s overall relations with EU Institutions and Brussels-based stakeholders and to facilitate the deepening and widening of the Bank’s strategic, policy and operational engagement with the EU. The Bank’s relationship with the EU has several dimensions: the EU is a shareholder in the Bank, it is the Bank’s largest donor, a driver of policy and legislation in EBRD countries of operation (directly in some and indirectly in others). The EBRD Brussels office is led by the Director for EU Affairs and Strategic Relationships, and is an integral part of the Corporate Strategy team based in London, reporting to the Managing Director Corporate Strategy.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Liaise with departments across the Bank to maintain a good overall picture of the different relationships, policy initiatives and current issues between the Bank and the EU institutions.  Ensure appropriate information flow and coordination across different teams on the various strands of engagement.
• Lead internal reflection on the Bank’s strategy of engagement with the EU institutions, and prepare strategy papers for management approval.
• Lead work on identification of opportunities to deepen and strengthen the Bank’s engagement with the EU institutions; which policy areas, what form of engagement, which EBRD teams/officials to mobilise; timing and substance of such engagement.
• Shared responsibility for the organisation of structured visits for senior EBRD officials to Brussels (i.e. President, Vice President Policy and Managing Directors, others as appropriate), identification and guidance on timing, interlocutors and substance, accompaniment and guidance of senior officials, preparation of briefing materials.  Contribute actively to discussions with colleagues involved in EU engagement, contributing the team’s specialist knowledge of the EU institutions, of EU policies and operations, and of different engagement streams.  Ensure follow up.  Shared responsibility for logistical support for visits.
• Primary responsibility for the organisation of the visits of the EBRD President with senior EU officials, which include visibility events.
• Manage, actively expand and cultivate relations with the Bank’s network of contacts and interlocutors across the EU institutions, with Permanent Representations of EU Member States and Missions of EBRD countries of operation, Brussels offices of international and European bilateral financial institutions and – where possible and relevant – Brussels-based think tanks and NGOs, in areas of interest and relevance to the Bank.
• Represent the Bank effectively in discussions with the EU institutions accurately representing the Bank’s mandate, operations, specificities, areas of comparative advantage and complementarity, and engagement/collaboration with the EU institutions.  
• Shared responsibility for organising representation of the Bank at the appropriate level in key EU events and policy discussions, including from the Brussels Office.
• Shared responsibility for monitoring institutional, policy and operational developments in the EU institutions of relevance to the Bank’s policies, operations and countries of operation, for informing relevant colleagues, and analysing key developments.
• Ensuring EBRD input into important and relevant EU policy papers and processes and to country strategies for EBRD countries of operation.  Ensuring appropriate consultation of EU policymakers of key EBRD strategies and policies.
• Acting as a resource on EU policies and institutions for colleagues across the Bank.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• A degree from a leading university and a post-graduate degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant professional work experience. Strong working familiarity with the EU institutions and with EU policy-making processes, preferably gained from substantive work experience in the EU institutions in an area of relevance to the EBRD.
• Good knowledge of EU external relations policies and of EU internal policies of relevance to the Bank’s EU Member State countries of operation.  Ideally, experience working with EU cooperation programmes, in the external and internal field.
• A good understanding of economic and financial issues, sufficient to understand and effectively represent the Bank and its operations. Familiarity with the mandates and operations of international financial institutions.
• Strong policy research and analytical skills, excellent written and oral communications skills with, in particular, the ability to convey complex messages succinctly and clearly.
• Excellent interpersonal co-ordination and negotiation skills. Strong partnership skills.
• Excellent organisational skills, and ability to juggle a large number of tasks, some strategic/analytical/substantive and others more logistical.
• Fluent English, excellent English drafting skills is a prerequisite.

What is it like to work at the EBRD? / About EBRD 

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in.  

At EBRD, our Values – Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility – are at the heart of how we work. We bring these to life through our Workplace Behaviours: listening well and speaking up, collaborating smartly, acting decisively with full commitment, and simplifying to amplify our impact. These principles shape our culture and define our success. We seek individuals who not only share these values but are also committed to embedding them in their daily work, fostering a positive and high-performing environment. 

The EBRD environment provides you with: 

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in. 
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity. Our workforce reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and innovation and enhancing our ability to serve our clients, shareholders, and counterparties effectively.
• A hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals; that is based on trust, flexibility and connectedness. 
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital transformation at the heart of what we do. 
• A workplace that prioritises employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits. 

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic background or disability.   

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).