Associate Economic Development & Climate Innovation Advisor - Northern Europe

About BABLE Smart Cities

BABLE Smart Cities serves as the premier facilitator of Smart City initiatives across Europe, originating as a spin-off from the Fraunhofer Research Society. With over ten years of field experience, our mission centers on accelerating transformative change within public and private sectors by delivering practical insights and market access. To date, we have driven Smart City projects worth €2 billion, connecting innovators and public entities through a rich knowledge hub featuring extensive European datasets and insights. Expanding across Europe, we fuse local expertise with global best practices to scale project implementation swiftly for better urban living.

Role Overview

This position offers an opportunity to contribute actively as a trainee to consultancy and platform projects related to climate action, regional economic development, EU policy, and innovation ecosystems specifically within Northern Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in consultancy projects involving climate action, economic development, and smart city efforts in Northern Europe, including EU co-funded Smart Cities and Communities initiatives.
• Conduct comprehensive research and analyses on policy frameworks, EU funding mechanisms, networking events, and innovative solutions concerning climate, economy, and urban innovation sectors.
• Support identification and mapping of pertinent EU funding opportunities and assist in concept development to aid European cities and regions in funding applications.
• Help prepare and co-lead the creation of presentations, reports, policy briefs, data evaluations, and strategic documentation for clients such as municipalities and regional authorities.
• Engage in stakeholder communication involving public sector bodies, innovation ecosystem participants, startups, accelerators, and digital hubs to gather and integrate complex insights into project advancement.
• Monitor policy developments at EU and national levels that impact climate transition, regional competitiveness, and economic growth across Northern Europe.
• Contribute to project deliverables, including report writing, funding requests, and strategic advice formulation.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrate a proactive approach and the ability to communicate confidently and work autonomously within international, multidisciplinary teams.
• Exhibit strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, connecting multifaceted topics in climate, economy, and innovation logically.
• Skills in extensive research related to policy, funding, technologies, and urban development.
• Proficiency with MS Office tools, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• The capability to independently represent the organization in project and stakeholder meetings.

Qualifications

• Possess 1 to 2 years of relevant work experience along with a Master's degree in fields such as Economic Development, Public Policy or Administration, Urban/Regional Planning, Sustainability or Climate Change (policy/economic focus), Energy, Business, or Management (with emphasis on sustainability, innovation, or public sector).
• Have native or professional-level English language skills, both written and verbal; knowledge of German or any Northern European language is a plus but not essential.
• Basic familiarity with climate action concepts like net-zero targets, renewable energy, and emissions reduction without requiring deep technical expertise.
• Awareness of the EU funding and policy landscape (e.g., Horizon Europe, ERDF, LIFE, EUCF, EUI) is highly advantageous.
• Foundational understanding of economic development elements including regional growth, clusters, skill-building, and SME assistance.
• General knowledge of urban challenges and smart city themes, covering mobility, energy, digitalization, and sustainability.
• Interest in innovation ecosystems including startups, artificial intelligence, accelerators, and digital hubs.
• Understanding of the operations of public sector organizations such as municipalities, regional governments, and multi-stakeholder contexts.

Why Join Us?

• Collaborate globally within a diverse team of over 60 professionals communicating in English.
• Benefit from personal and professional growth opportunities through training, coaching, and continuous support.
• Contribute to pioneering initiatives turning innovative concepts into tangible impact.
• Enjoy flexible working hours and hybrid work possibilities.
• Maintain a healthy work-life balance with generous leave policies under a full-time contract.
• Receive necessary technology including laptops for effective work.
• Experience a welcoming onboarding process with mentorship support.
• Work autonomously within a flat organizational structure encouraging impact-driven contributions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are proud champions of equal employment opportunities, fostering an inclusive workplace regardless of race, religion, gender, orientation, citizenship, age, disability, or identity. Your unique perspective is valued here.