Senior Policy Expert on Rural and Territorial Development

AEIDL, the European Association for Innovation in Local Development, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Policy Expert on Rural and Territorial Development to participate in Service Contracts for EU institutions, providing policy expertise in rural and territorial development.

We welcome applications from candidates looking for either a freelance or an employee post.

Role and responsibilities

The Senior Policy Expert will work under the supervision of the Team Leader(s). Indicatively, some of the tasks may include:

· Conducting analytical work on rural and territorial development policies or stakeholders (e.g., stakeholder mapping) and writing policy papers and articles.

· Designing, coordinating, implementing and reporting on EU-level online and in-person events focused on territorial and rural development issues.

· Participating in third-party events to promote projects’ and networks’ key results, messages, and outcomes.

· Coordinating the work of experts mobilised for specific analytical tasks within the framework of projects under their responsibility.

· Coordinating and review the writing of publications from design to finalisation.

· Liaising with clients, stakeholders, experts on a regular basis.

Skills and experience

· University master’s degree in territorial, rural development or related area.

· 10 years of relevant experience in the rural and regional policy field.

· Relevant knowledge and experience in rural and regional development policy topics (e.g. long-term vision for rural areas, rural revitalization and depopulation, rural pact, rural proofing, LEADER/CLLD, smart villages, socio-economic development, environment, basic services etc.).

· Strong analytical skills, with experience in data collection, analysis using both qualitative and quantitative methods, and reporting on relevant policies for rural and regional development (e.g., CAP, Cohesion Policy).

· Experience in animating and facilitating online and in person events and working groups’ applying participatory approaches.

· Relevant experience in the implementation of EU service contracts for EU institutions and in EU networking within the rural and regional development field.

· Ability and experience in communications, advocacy and networking.

· Deep understanding of the EU policy cycle and actors related to rural, regional and local development spheres.

· Excellent (C1/C2) English academic writing skill;

· Fluency in at least one other EU official language;

· Knowledge of other languages an advantage.

· Willingness and enthusiasm to work on a wide range of issues.

Application process

Send your CV in English in the Europass format with a short cover letter to jobs@aeidl.eu with the subject line Senior RTD Policy Expert by Monday 2 June 2025. Your cover letter should include a description of how you meet the essential requirements of the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and that interviews may begin before the closing date. Early applications are encouraged.

Working at AEIDL

People are the most important asset of AEIDL, and we practice internally what we advocate externally – providing a working environment where we care for our staff in a culture of cooperation and collaboration.

At AEIDL we seek to provide a healthy work-life balance, with a strong emphasis on cooperative teamwork. We have a human-centred approach to work, including flexible working hours, options for home working and regular social gatherings.

We empower our staff to lead, decide and show initiative, embracing our “culture of co”. Our culture of cooperation, co-creation, community-leadership, and caring for the common good is an inherent part of the AEIDL brand.

At AEIDL you will benefit from our staff development programme, in which our team members contribute to designing and planning cooperative approaches to learning, mentoring and individual development. We value the development and sharing of skills, knowledge, and experience.

We welcome ideas for our working and associative activities. Such staff-led initiatives include team building days, outreach activities, the European Local Innovation Forum(ELIF), and our eco-team, which ensures we practice what we preach.

For employees we offer competitive remuneration packages, indexed on an annual basis, including a thirteenth month, double holiday pay (as per Belgian regulation), a home-working allowance, meal vouchers and a contribution to local transportation costs. We also offer affiliation to a private pension plan and a high-coverage hospitalisation insurance.

In a standard year, employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave, 12 days of compensatory rest, 10 Belgian bank holidays as well as Schuman day, equivalent to up to 43 days of annual paid leave.

Who we are

AEIDL is an association that learns from and fosters community-led innovation in areas such as territorial development, employment, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, environment, climate action and green growth.

We add value by supporting and facilitating peer learning among local and national actors across Europe, analysing and evaluating relevant EU policies and advocating for enhanced support to community local action to help build a Europe for citizens.

The personal data contained in applications sent in response to job offers are collected and recorded by AEIDL’s HR/KM departments in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations concerning the protection of personal data. These data will be processed by authorised persons only to be able to assess your application for potential recruitment and will be kept for the time necessary to achieve this purpose. You may request access to your personal data and, if necessary, have them corrected. You also have the right to have them deleted, transferred, request a limitation of their processing or to object to it.

These various rights can be exercised by contacting the following address: privacy@aeidl.eu.