Principal consultant for the digital and space policy – Valdani Vicari & Associati Brussels, Belgium

Our digital and space team is widely recognised in the market and offers a range of services including evaluations, impact assessments, economic and policy analysis as well as market assessments to clients such as. DG CNCT, DEFIS, MOVE, as well as key EU agencies. Our success relies on the excellence of our team, which we are now looking to strengthen with a principal consultant focusing on qualitative and quantitative policy research and analysis.

Role description

In VVA, you will:

• Contribute to the management and delivery of projects, leading the day-to-day activities and teams,
• Develop and Implement methodologies and deliver evidence-based outputs on time and to the satisfaction of our public policy clients
• Identify opportunities and contribute to the development of winning proposals
• Contribute to the development of the team by bringing fresh and innovative ideas
• Encourage collaboration and mutual learning across team members
• Contribute to the internal training programme and help to develop junior team members
• Contribute to the design and implementation of the team strategy

What we are looking for

All of the above implies that the candidate has a strong background and experience in (must requirements):

• Policy consultancy, preferably connected to the digital policy, with minimum 5 years of relevant experience (a must)
• Demonstrative good knowledge of the EU Better Regulation Guidelines for evaluations and impact assessments and their application in actual projects
• Experience in implementing and ideally supporting the design of evaluations and impact assessments, for European clients, ideally including the European Commission
• Management of project tasks and coaching of more junior staff
• Ability to support the coordination of project teams, including partners, experts, and internal teams
• Coordination of desk research campaigns and stakeholder consultations
• Ability to autonomously coordinate data analysis activities
• Problem-solving and proactive attitude
• A relevant master’s degree;

The following requirements represent a plus:

• Experience in project management;
• Possibility to cover the position from our office in Brussels;
• Experience in writing and winning competitive bids for public-sector clients
• Sectoral expertise in digital and/or space policy, in particular connected to one or more of the following areas:
• Digital policy: artificial intelligence & digital industry, connectivity and telco, digital policy strategy and outreach, future networks, cloud and internet;
• Space policy: interest in the components of the EU Space programme, namely Galileo/EGNOS, Copernicus, and the new security components.

Example of projects

• Study on Synergies between Data Centres and Energy System, for DG CNCT;
• Evaluation study on the European Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation for addressing Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness – Focus on activities for the Digital and Industrial Transition, for DG RTD;
• Study assessing the challenges and opportunities for market surveillance activities in relation to new technologies and digital supply chain, for DG GROW;
• Study on Union of equality: EU defence, aeronautics and space sectors, for DG DEFIS;
• European 5G Observatory, Phase III, for DG CNCT
• Study on the current and prospective use of the 900 MHz band by GSM as a technology of reference, considering present and future Union policies, for DG CNCT
• Socio-economic Impact Assessment of ESA’s Technology Programmes: General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and Technology Research Programme (TRP), for the European Space Agency

What we offer

• Diverse and high-profile projects on subjects from the top priority of the European Union’s political agenda in the area of space and digital policy;
• A very dynamic international work environment;
• Excellent opportunities for professional development with high levels of autonomy and room for growth;
• Competitive salary, annual company performance-related bonus scheme, private healthcare, meal vouchers.;
• Prospects for training, mentorship, and career progression

The position will be based our office in Brussels or, as an alternative be remote with occasional trips to Brussels. Only pre-selected participants will be contacted and invited for interviews, which depending on the location, will be held in person or via teleconference.

If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a 1-page cover letter to Marco Bolchi, m.bolchi@vva.it outlining why you are suited for the job.