Leading Specialist and Outreach Specialist for the global circular economy

Do you want to be part of driving the circular economy globally? 

Sitra is a future-oriented organisation that helps Finland to renew itself. We anticipate the future and, together with our partners, seek solutions to tomorrow's challenges. We promote the well-being of Finland and accelerate sustainable economic growth. A better future requires action today, both in Finland and internationally.  

Sitra employs experts from various fields. We work with great passion and are united by our interest in developing Finnish society. Our new international unit tackles world-shaping societal challenges together with global partners.  

We are now looking for two experienced specialists to join our international projects team for a two-year period:
a circular economy and project management expert, and a circular economy stakeholder and advocacy expert. 

The positions are part of Sitra's new international unit’s Global Circular Economy Programme, which promotes the development of international circular economy solutions and accelerates the growth of the circular economy. Sitra has a long history of working on sustainable development and circular economy issues, and we are strongly committed to promoting the circular economy internationally. 

The key project at the start of the assignments is the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC), part of the EU's Global Gateway strategy. The centre aims to promote the adoption of sustainable circular economy policies and business models worldwide. EU CERC promotes circular economy practices through three main initiatives: 

1. The Knowledge Lab focuses on documenting and consolidating EU expertise on the transition to a circular economy from the perspective of partner countries and making this knowledge more accessible. 

2. The Policy Lab inspires and facilitates the development and implementation of effective circular economy policies and regulations.  

3. The Business Lab supports the transition to a circular economy and helps businesses and sectors both in partner countries and within the EU to enter the market. (The main responsibility for implementing the Business Lab lies with the project partner).  

The EU CERC is connected with the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF), established by Sitra and implemented with international partners. We are also looking for synergies with the PSLifestyle project on sustainable everyday life. Hence, both assignments will also contain tasks related to these. Together, these projects promote sustainable economic activity through international collaboration. 

The tasks of the Leading Specialist include: 

• Coordination, implementation and project management of international projects 

• Preparing and participating in the work of project steering groups  

• Planning new projects and seeking external funding together with the team  

• Presenting project content and results at international and national events and workshops, virtually and on-site  

• Developing Sitra's new international unit together with other specialists 

We expect you to have: 

• Several years’ experience in international project management related to the circular economy  

• Excellent English language skills (both spoken and written) 

• Presentation skills and confidence 

• Excellent interaction skills and the ability to work in long-term collaboration with various stakeholder groups  

• An appropriate university degree  

• Knowledge of multilateral financing mechanisms; European development aid programmes; the circular economy, business and politics in the EU; and sustainable development, in particular the characteristics and challenges of the Global South and related language skills would be an asset

The tasks of the Outreach Specialist include: 

• Building, coordinating and maintaining international circular economy networks  

• Contributing to content and project work on the circular economy  

• Strategic planning and implementation of stakeholder engagement and communications, together with the team  

• Designing and producing content for various channels  

• Presenting the results and achievements of circular economy projects at international and national events and workshops  

• Developing Sitra's new international unit together with other experts 

We expect you to have: 

• Several years of experience in demanding tasks related to the management of circular economy networks in international projects  

• Proven experience in strategic planning and implementation of networks and communications, branding and service design  

• Excellent English language skills (both spoken and written) 

• Good presentation and interaction skills in a demanding international environment 

• The ability to build long-term collaboration with various stakeholder groups  

• An appropriate university degree  

• Knowledge of the circular economy and sustainable development content is considered an advantage 

We offer: 

• An engaged community of leading experts in their field 

• Ambitious and high-impact work assignments  

• An opportunity to work with a wide network of international partners 

• An opportunity to build the future of the circular economy globally 

• Flexible working opportunities, a functional working environment and benefits that support well-being

Interested? If you recognise yourself in the announcement and are interested, please apply by no later than 18 November 2024 at 23:59 (EET). Please indicate which position you are applying for and your salary request. The start date of the position will be agreed upon.  

For more information, please contact Kari Herlevi, Programme Director, +358 50 4639 397 / kari.herlevi@sitra.fi on 11 or 12 November between 9–16 (EET). 

As a future-oriented organisation, our mission is to promote the well-being of Finland and accelerate economic growth within the limits of nature's carrying capacity. We anticipate the future, innovate and renew society.