Senior Economist – Climate Transition and European Industrial Policy and Development Partnerships

Organization

IDDRI

Department

Climate

Organization URL

Job Location Type

IN_OFFICE

Job Location

Paris, France    

Applicant Location Requirements

No Applicant Location Requirements Specified.

Application Deadline

May 3, 2026

The Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations is offering a 3-year position based in its Paris office. The role focuses on analyzing how EU and international climate policy levers interact, and on identifying diplomatic pathways for the EU to build effective alliances with strategic partners in support of climate action.

About IDDRI
IDDRI is an independent think tank working on major sustainable development challenges at the international level.
Our ambition is to foster a society that ensures good living conditions for all, through an equitable process, within planetary boundaries. We strive to build a sustainable Europe, enable an inclusive ecological transition, and strengthen cooperation between countries.
To achieve this, IDDRI produces rigorous analyses that connect key issues and offer innovative frameworks. As a trusted broker, we convene dialogue platforms between countries with a diversity of stakeholders (governments, businesses, civil society, and the research community).
With a team of 50+ staff members, Iddri places a strong emphasis on engaging with a broad network of partners around the world.

Key Objectives and Mission
Under the supervision of the director of the Climate Programme, and in close collaboration with the directors of three other programmes, the Senior Research Fellow will be responsible for research and policy analysis of EU external agenda priorities and climate-relevant policies and frameworks to nourish the programme’s impact strategies in view of COP33, a major milestone in the ambition cycle of the Paris Agreement namely in relation to the second Global stocktake.

The Senior Research Fellow will:
– Contribute to the development of the programme’s and IDDRI’s impact strategies, mainly by building a broad network and feeding intel and information, conducting strategic analysis, and assessing opportunities and constraints for IDDRI.
– Take responsibility for the production of analytical or research-based outputs (reports, briefs, datasets, conceptual frameworks), translation of the research into policy-relevant insights (policy briefs, recommendations, framing) and facilitating scientific exchanges within IDDRI—within the team or across teams—by proposing topics and formats for discussion or collective learning.
– Develop, scope and facilitate dialogues, workshops and other engagement activities with policy processes and stakeholders (ministries, EU institutions, UN processes, NGOs), particularly the development of the Programme’s climate dialogues.
– Contribute to the design and implementation of activities to disseminate the programme’s work: draft blogs and talking points to communicate positions and research findings to stakeholders, including policymakers, the public, and the media, and directly represent IDDRI at public conferences, in the media and in public debates, with support from the supervisor and the communications team.
– Contribute to management and administration of projects and programme’s activities, including leading the coordination of projects in collaboration with research, communications, administrative teams, and external partners, contributing to fundraising efforts through proposal writing, reporting, and maintaining relationships with funders.

The focus areas for the Senior Research Fellow include:
– EU climate diplomacy and external policy priorities: Analysis of EU economic, trade, investment and industrial policies (e.g. bilateral partnerships, plurilateral initiatives, trade discussions) as tools of climate diplomacy and on how these can support convergence towards the Paris Agreement goals, including in relation to fossil fuel phase-out. Particular attention will be given to strategic partnerships with key partners, especially BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India, China).
– Green industrial transitions at the sector level, with a focus on hard-to-abate sectors: Contribution to the economic, financial and political economy analysis of cooperation frameworks that enable acceleration of green industrialisation across value chains, including just transition considerations.

Special Requirements
The successful candidate should have: – Master’s or PhD in economics, or another filed with a strong economics background, i.e. political science, development studies, international law. Strong expertise in EU policymaking and its institutional framework; experience within EU institutions is an asset. – Solid knowledge of, and interest in, industrial and/or trade policies. – At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, industry experience is an asset. – Experience in a large emerging economy is an asset. – Knowledge of, and interest in, environmental issues, particularly climate change. – Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, policy debates in developing countries. Excellent ability to review, analyze, and synthesize complex information. Strong analytical and research skills, combining intellectual curiosity with scientific rigour. – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain effective partnerships – Fluency in English and French; knowledge of another EU language is an asset.

Apply online or via email

lisa.dacosta@iddri.org