Senior Energy and Climate Coordinator
Based in the epicentre of Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, you will work to strengthen Denmark’s relations to the U.S. energy sector within both government, research and innovation as well the business communities. You will work together with our US government-to-government team, promoting energy cooperation between Denmark and California and other US states.
Almost 40 years of ambitious energy policies have paved the way for Denmark to be a global leader within energy and climate policy, technology development, and research with a number of technologies (wind power, energy efficiency, smart energy and more). Together with the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities and the Danish Energy Agency, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is offering exciting challenges and an opportunity to make a difference in accelerating the green energy transition and pave the way to increased export of green Danish technologies.
Job description:
We are seeking a Coordinator with a broad understanding of the energy sector and its challenges to join our team at the Consulate General and our Energy team in North America. You will be working on strengthening the government-to-government cooperation between US and Denmark within energy and climate while bridging energy innovation and green businesses in Denmark and the US. There is an existing strong cooperation between California authorities (e.g., California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission) and Danish authorities.
You will be responsible for initiating and executing on a range of tasks and projects in the cross-field between energy policy, technology, innovation, and business. You will be in charge of identifying and pursuing opportunities for new green solutions and technologies that reduce GHG emissions as well as informing and engaging key stakeholders in Denmark and the US. It is important that you are able to create and maintain a strong network and relationships with national and regional stakeholders and a key task will be to make sure the cooperation with the US authorities translates into value for the Danish energy and climate ecosystem of technology providers, companies, start-ups and R&D institutions.
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Assist the Danish Energy Agency in the government-to-government energy cooperation between Denmark and California on exchanging experiences on energy policies and providing regulatory framework conditions to reach climate targets.
- Project management and executing role for follow-up projects from the energy cooperation (engage relevant stakeholders, arrange workshops/seminar and delegation visits etc.)
- Work as a link between U.S. stakeholders and Danish partners to strengthen US-Danish relations on energy and climate.
- Expand the local network in California and other western states and engage in collaborative discussions with relevant authorities, associations and other key stakeholders.
Required qualifications:
- A minimum of +8 years of relevant work experience within government, the energy sector, project development, private sector consulting, etc.
- Relevant academic education, e.g. in science, engineering, social science or business.
- Ambitious, efficient, outgoing, independent, and able to handle multiple tasks, relations and projects simultaneously and work under time pressure.
- Ability to forge close relations to local U.S. authorities as well as Danish companies and authorities.
- Excellent command of English (written and spoken).
Other preferred qualifications:
- Knowledge of Danish energy policy and/or, personal experience with cooperation between the private and public sectors.
- Good understanding of green energy solutions and Danish commercial strongholds within energy technologies as well as some familiarity with the internationalization of Danish companies.
- Some knowledge of, or experience with, US society and/or business culture.
While these qualifications are not a requirement, candidates with one or more of these experiences will be preferred.
We offer:
- An exciting, intercultural, and dynamic work environment with a wide range of diverse tasks.
- The opportunity to live and work in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- Great opportunities for further development of your professional and personal competences.
- A high degree of flexibility in planning your day-to-day work.
Employment conditions:
- You will be hired as a “Senior Energy and Climate Coordinator” at the Consulate General of Denmark in Silicon Valley, 299 Californian Av., Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Starting date as soon as possible in 2025.
- You will be offered full time employment for 3 years with the possibility of extension on a local contract. This is a full-time salary position - the Consulate General’s standard work week is 37 hours; but you are employed without an upper working hours’ limit. You will have a large degree of flexibility in organizing your own daily working hours.
- You will be entitled to 5 weeks (25 working days) of paid vacation days per year.
- Your salary will reflect your qualifications, relevant work experience and proven work-related results. The gross yearly salary for the position – for an employee subject to US income taxation – is 85.500$ - 102.600$. For a tax-exempt employee (non-US citizen) the yearly net salary is 75.000$ - 90.000$. Depending on the candidate’s qualifications, an additional individual allowance may be added.
- As part of your salary, you will be covered by a workplace pension scheme. You will be offered reasonable coverage of sickness expenses (80% employer contribution) so will your spouse/partner and children under the age of 26 if you provide for him/her/them.
- Your contract is regulated according to the “Staff Rules” of the Danish representations in North America.
- Traveling in the US and to Denmark should be expected.
About the Energy Governance Partnership (EGP):
EGP is a government-to-government cooperation programme between the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, the Danish Energy Agency and select energy authorities in partner countries to share experiences with energy policy, framework conditions and regulation. The goal of exchanging energy experiences is to decrease GHG emission reductions by expanding energy markets and accelerating the uptake of green energy solutions and technologies. The EGP programme is implemented through a close cooperation between the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, the Danish Energy Agency, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Danish Trade Council.
The Consulate General of Denmark in Silicon Valley:
The Consulate General is part of the Danish Foreign Service and Denmark's official representation in Silicon Valley and across the West Coast. We advise and assist in a number of areas – consular, commercial, investment and cultural – and we communicate to the US public on important topics of relevance to Denmark. The Consulate General consists of approx. 35 employees.
Application and recruitment process:
To apply for the position, please send your application (cover letter, CV and 2-3 references) in English to [email protected] marked “[Your name] – [Senior Energy and Climate Coordinator]” no later than Friday, March 28 at 12:00 pm (noon) PT.
We attach great importance to equal opportunities and therefore welcome applications from all qualified persons regardless of race, sex, religion, age or disability.
Selected candidates will be invited for interviews that are expected to be conducted in the weeks following the deadline. The chosen candidate must present a “No Criminal Record” and pass security clearance by the Danish authorities prior to appointment.
Questions:
For any questions regarding the position, please contact Consul General, Jesper Kamp, at [email protected]. For questions regarding terms of employment, please contact Academic Officer for Human Resources & Management, Naja Meier Olsen, at [email protected].
About the Danish Foreign Service:
The Danish Foreign Service is a globally operating organization comprising the Ministry in Copenhagen and a global network abroad of embassies, consulates and trade commissions. The network of diplomatic missions abroad is the hallmark of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also provides the basis for enabling the Ministry to safeguard and promote Denmark’s international interests in the most optimal way.
Denmark in Silicon Valley (um.dk)