Thematic Manager

The job – tasks and responsibilities of the Thematic Manager?

The team of the Policy Learning Platform is driven by the motivation to boost interregional learning through innovative, attractive and quality-driven services which meet the needs of local and regional policymakers across Europe.

Based in Lille, the coordination team is composed of a Lead manager, a Senior Thematic Manager, a Thematic Manager, as well as our colleagues responsible for communication, administration and assistance (9 staff members in total).

At operational level, 11 policy experts are in the driving seat for preparing and delivering the platform services for the benefit of European regions and cities.

The Thematic Managers play a key role in coordinating, harmonising and supporting the content work of the policy experts’ team. In close cooperation with the Lead manager, the Thematic Managers thus monitor the timely delivery of services, perform quality control and build the capacity of the expert team.

Moreover, the Thematic Managers contribute to the further evolution of the platform services and strive for synergies with other relevant European programmes, networks and initiatives.

The current position is being created with the start of the new framework contract. We are looking for an additional thematic manager, that will join and support the work of the platform’s Senior Thematic Manager. She/he will work closely with the entire platform team, as well as her/his partners at the Joint Secretariat of Interreg Europe. Altogether, building on her/his genuine commitment to the platform project, the values of teamwork, pro-activeness, result-orientation, creativity and accuracy are key for her/his successful performance in office.

Thus, in practical terms, the Thematic Manager of the Policy Learning Platform:

• works in close cooperation with the current thematic manager to oversee the overall knowledge management of the platform

• supports the current thematic manager for the preparation, coordination and management of the content/knowledge related to the platform’s online and onsite services

• supports the thematic manager for monitoring the Platform indicators and contributes to the development of a sound intervention logic for measuring capacity building of the Platform beneficiaries

• monitors and supports the timely delivery of the platform services

• supports the thematic manager in the internal process of quality control

• works closely with her/his hierarchy to coordinate, harmonise and support the tasks of the policy and ad-hoc/support experts involved in the project priorities:

  • “Access to knowledge”

  • “Access to people”

  •   “Access to expert support”

• supports the delivery of policy learning services for the benefit of the programme’s target groups

• is in charge of regular capacity and knowledge building trainings of the team members involved in the knowledge management

• takes an active role in the further development and evolution of the platform services

• strives for synergies with other relevant programmes, platforms and initiatives

• works closely with the entire platform team (Lead Manager, Senior Thematic manager, Policy Experts, communication team, support staff) as well as her/his partners at the Joint Secretariat of Interreg Europe (programme management, platform coordinator, team of policy officers);

• reports to the Senior Thematic manager and the Lead Manager of the platform.

The profile – who are we looking for?

Essential qualifications (must-haves):

• University degree in a relevant field

• Highly qualified professional with at least 6 years professional experience of which at least 3 must be relevant to the type of tasks to be performed, having assumed responsibilities in her/his profession, particularly on the basis of her/his management, coordination, intellectual and creativity skills

• Practice-proven experience of at least four years in the design and implementation of local/regional development policies and/or the implementation of European programmes, platforms or projects

• Ability to take the perspective of local/regional policymakers and the managers of European funds

• Practice-proven experience in drafting and reviewing thematic publications, preferably in the field of policymaking

• User and client orientation, putting their satisfaction at the heart of your daily work

• Proficiency and fluency in English (written and oral) and basic French language skills or readiness to learn French

• Independent worker, but equally team player; ability to work in an international environment with colleagues located remotely

• Practice-proven team/stakeholder coordination, presentation and moderation skills

• Outstanding organisational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail

• Excellent analytical skills

• Sense of initiative

• Ability to anticipate, combined with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the assets of teamwork, creativity, accuracy and reliability

• Strong intrinsic motivation, accompanied by a positive attitude towards innovative approaches, change and new challenges

• Command of MS Office software

• Readiness for regular business trips in all parts of Interreg Europe’s geographical area (EU27 and beyond).

 Assets (desirable)

• Thematic know-how in one or more of the six Policy Objectives of the Cohesion policy and the cross-cutting field of “capacity building” addressed by Interreg Europe:

• Smarter Europe

• Greener Europe

• More connected Europe

• More social Europe

• Europe closer to Citizens

• Governance

• Practice-proven experience in knowledge dissemination and capitalisation activities at cross-border, transnational, macro-regional or European level

• Experience in conceiving, delivering and monitoring the impact of capacity building activities for the public sector

• Journalistic/creative writing skills

• Knowledge of other EU languages

The selection process – what to expect?

Based on the submitted applications, candidates will be short-listed for phone interviews. In a second step, interviews will be held with the most convincing candidates, online or at the premises of the Policy Learning Platform in Lille (to be confirmed to the shortlisted candidates in due time).

As an indicative timeline process, the following dates have been set:

• Submission of applications until Monday, 4 September 2023 (final deadline)

• Phone interviews with short-listed candidates on Friday,15 September 2023.

• Face-to-face interviews in Lille with the most promising candidates on Thursday, 5 October 2023 (date to be reconfirmed). During the interviews, the candidates may be asked to perform a short practical exercise – to be confirmed and detailed.