EMAS and Sustainability Unit - Post B

The EMAS and Sustainability Unit is a central service in the Directorate for Innovation and Central Services attached to the Secretary General. Our Unit is in charge of coordinating and implementing the European Parliament’s environmental management system with the aim to improve continuously the institution’s environmental performance. We work closely with different services of the house to implement activities aiming at reducing Parliament's environmental impacts and to carry out stringent internal control standards, reviews, verifications and validations as well as communication and awareness-raising activities in accordance with the EMAS Regulation 1221/2009. 

A governance structure, consisting of a Steering Committee for Environmental Management with representatives of Parliament's top-management, an Inter DG Steering Group on Environmental Management with representatives from all Directorates-General and the EMAS and Sustainability Unit, has been set up to organize and ensure a smooth running of the environmental management. The EMAS and Sustainability Unit organises, prepares and coordinates appropriate follow-up to these meetings as well as EMAS audits.

Our objective is to maintain the Parliament’s Eco-Management Audit Scheme (EMAS) registration, so that Members can rely on and be proud of Parliament’s outstanding environmental management system, certified under the highest EU standard. 

Furthermore, our Unit is responsible for the coordination of sustainability-related activities for the European Parliament and for developing a sustainability reporting system.

Depending on the agenda and priorities, you will be assisting the colleagues of the EMAS and Sustainability Unit in their work. You will also regularly engage with colleagues from across all of Parliament's Directorate-Generals while working in our team.

The main task will be to support the Communication Team of the EMAS and Sustainability Unit in preparing and organising internal communication and awareness-raising activities linked to improving Parliament’s environmental performance. This may include designing communication campaigns with colleagues within and outside the unit (including inter-institutionally), doing research and preparing communication materials (videos, posters, articles, data factsheets, and announcement emails for staff and Members at Parliament). 

Furthermore, other tasks could include, inter alia, supporting the EMAS and Sustainability Unit with:

• Preparing meeting minutes, policy research, internal reporting on events attended, survey data analysis and reporting;
• Preparing working group meetings linked to Parliament’s environmental management system;
• Cooperating with relevant services in-house, other EU-Institutions and -bodies as well as environmental organisations;
• Identifying and examining best environmental practice in public and private organisations;
• Developing and taking over the responsibility for implementing projects;
• Promoting activities by the EMAS and Sustainability Unit and Parliament's sustainability actions at internal and external events;
• Drafting and implementing the annual EMAS Action Plan;
• Participating in EMAS audits.

The selected candidate will have a university education attested by a diploma, preferably, but not necessarily, linked to environmental management. Practical experience in the field of sustainability could be an asset.

A high level of proficiency in English and a very good knowledge of at least one other EU language are essential.

The ideal candidate should be creative and motivated to contribute to the improvement of the European Parliament's environmental performance and the day-to-day work of the EMAS and Sustainability Unit. Experience with data management or the use of a content management system of websites would be an asset.

The candidate should have the following skills and competencies:

• Ability to manage and organise information;
• Problem-solving skills;
• Good analytical skills;
• Good writing skills;
• Ability to work as part of a team;
• Good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Adaptability;
• Computer skills and knowledge of computer applications used in Parliament's IT environment, as e.g. MS Teams, MS Office (Power Point, Excel etc.);
• Added value: experience in the work with the online design tool Canva;
• Added value: Good knowledge of French.