Junior Officer – Urban Research, Innovation, and Development

Position description

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2,500 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. Our Members and team of experts work together through peer exchange, partnerships and capacity building to create systemic change for urban sustainability. We work in a multicultural, international environment with colleagues and partners around the globe.

We seek a highly motivated, pro-active and experienced candidate for the position of:

Junior Officer, Urban Research, Innovation, and Development

The successful candidate will be a part of the international ICLEI World Secretariat team based in Bonn, Germany, and will be placed within the Urban Research, Innovation, and Development Team.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Main responsibilities:

• Support the implementation of ICLEI’s Global Research & Innovation (R&I) Strategy across ICLEI offices and within the World Secretariat by:
  • Contacting and collecting inputs from all ICLEI offices and global thematic coordinators to ensure up-to-date research priorities are identified;
  • Maintaining the R&I Strategy mechanisms, including the research partners list, the ICLEI Academy, etc.
  • Conducting research and collecting data and information on requested topics, linking current and relevant trends in academia to ICLEI’s work;
  • Supporting the development and dissemination of ICLEI urban research publications (case studies, policy briefs, reports, peer-reviewed papers) and communication materials (blog posts, newsletters, etc.). Tasks include designing visual displays of data and information on climate change and sustainable urban development for various audiences.
• UrbanShift project deliverables:
  • Conduct desk research to support the review of the Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Assessments (ISUDAs) for all project cities;
  • Conduct a thorough analysis of compiled data through ISUDAs to support the development of the Aggregated Analysis Report.
• Support the organization of and contributions to research & Innovation sessions at events such as Daring Cities, the Innovate4Cities Conference, and UNFCCC COPs.
• Support the collaboration with innovation partners such as the UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub and Mission Innovation.
• Since ICLEI is an accredited observer organization to the IPCC, support the Head of the Team in carrying out the associated duties and responsibilities:
  • Contribute to the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SR-Cities) by supporting the creation and curation of knowledge products from all ICLEI offices to feed into relevant processes;
  • Support updating the urban practitioners community on the progress of SR-Cities.
• Provide support for project acquisition activities and development of proposals to expand ICLEI’s Research and Innovation portfolio, chief among them the proposals linked to IPCC SR-Cities.
• Supporting the provision of research services to other teams at ICLEI:
  • Conducting desk research, data analysis, best practice research, benchmarking, designing science-informed methodologies, disseminating scientific results, and developing research-informed training and capacity development modules.
• Maintain the Urban Research, Innovation, and Development website

Additional tasks:

• Assist the team with Ad Hoc tasks linked to research and innovation.
• Support the preparation of PPTs on various sustainability and climate topics as needed.
• Assist the Head of the Team in providing research, analysis, and recommendations to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Help in the preparation of reports and other materials as needed to facilitate decision-making and smooth operational flow.

Requirements:

Main requirements:

• 1-2 years of work experience in a related field. Experience working for research and innovation institutions, not-for-profit and/or membership organizations is highly desirable.
• University degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject such as Urban Studies, Sustainable Development, International Relations, Public Administration, Governance or a related field.
• Having knowledge or prior experience in topics such as digitalization, governance, economy and finance, etc. is a plus.
• Experience in academic writing and peer-reviewed publications is a plus.
• Experience with designing infographics or visual content is an asset.
• Creative and proactive attitude in teamwork;
• Confident user of Microsoft Office.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, with strong writing skills.

The successful candidate:

• Shows high interest and enthusiasm for research on climate change and sustainable urban development;
• Is self-motivated, with a positive and pro-active attitude, as well as excellent interpersonal skills;
• Is well organized, accurate, attentive to details, and takes ownership of tasks and quality delivery;
• Has a strong ability and willingness to work as part of a team, as well as independently;

Terms and conditions:

• The position will be available as of 1st of June/July 2025. The Junior Officer reports directly to the Head of Urban Research, Innovation, and Development
• The position is offered as a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension.
• ICLEI World Secretariat has a flexible work-from-home policy within Germany (ideally based in the Cologne/Bonn region).
• The employment contract will be based on German law and is subject to visa/work permit regulations.
• Annual salary starting at 34,306.92 EUR (full-time) before taxes and social insurance contributions. The final salary will be determined based on the selected applicant’s qualifications and relevant experience..
• Working hours: 40 per week (full-time), with 30 days of paid leave annually.
• Probation period: 3 months.
• Working language: English

Application instructions

Please send your application by email, with the subject line: “Junior Officer, Urban Research, Innovation, and Development.”

Your application should include:

• A letter of motivation, your most recent CV, and any relevant certificates or supporting documents — all combined into a single PDF file (maximum size: 5 MB).
• Your earliest possible start date.
• An indication of your citizenship and whether you hold a valid work permit for Germany.

For information on data protection, please refer to our [disclaimer and privacy policy] on the ICLEI website.

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