Country Representative - Strategic Campaigns & Policy

Job description

Location: Remote (based in Estonia) Contract: 12 months, full-time, service agreement. Nidus Balticus is looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive Country Representative to lead and grow our work in Estonia. This is a highly autonomous role with significant ownership of Nidus Balticus’ strategic delivery in Estonia. You will implement Nidus Balticus’ country strategy, developing programmes, partnerships and policy initiatives that advance our strategic objectives. One priority will be leading the next phase of our work in Ida-Virumaa – strengthening its political and policy impact, developing partnerships around regional priorities, and connecting local priorities with national political and investment decisions. Beyond Ida-Virumaa, you will be expected to identify and develop new programme and partnership opportunities, expand our ecosystem of collaborators, and contribute to shaping Nidus Balticus’ broader policy and campaign agenda in Estonia. As our presence grows, you will build a local team. You will report directly to the Executive Director and collaborate closely with the Chief Operations Officer, PR Manager, and other Country Leads. About Nidus Balticus Nidus Balticus is a non-profit organization working to strengthen energy independence, environmental stewardship, and national security across the Baltics. We bring underrepresented voices into energy and environmental policy conversations, building broad coalitions that connect local communities, civil society, businesses, and policymakers. By turning community engagement into public support, we help create the political momentum needed to deliver lasting policy change. Nidus Balticus is part of Our Common Home (OCH) – a global network that brings those excluded from the climate movement into the conversation about protecting their environment, on their own terms. Our 10+ network organizations are active across four continents, supported by a global team providing world-class expertise in campaigns, impact measurement, research, and operations. Key Responsibilities Country strategy & strategic delivery: Lead the implementation of Nidus Balticus’ Estonia strategy, translating strategic priorities into programmes, campaigns, partnerships and policy initiatives. Identify opportunities to expand our impact and strengthen our presence in Estonia, and take ownership of new initiatives. Programme development & delivery: Design, launch and deliver strategic campaigns and programmes, including the continued development of our flagship work in Ida-Virumaa. Oversee implementation, coordinate local partners and vendors, manage budgets and timelines, and ensure programmes achieve societal and policy impact. Partnerships & ecosystem development: Build and nurture an ecosystem of partners across civil society, business, academia, municipalities, and government. Establish strategic partnerships and alliances that strengthen impact, policy influence, and programme delivery. New opportunities & partnerships: Continuously identify and develop new programme, campaign and partnership opportunities aligned with the mission and country strategy. Identify emerging political and societal needs, assess opportunities for Nidus Balticus to create impact, and turn relevant opportunities into concrete initiatives. Policy engagement: Build relationships with policymakers and public institutions, contribute to policy discussions, and support our advocacy work in Estonia. Leadership & team development: Help establish and grow Nidus Balticus' presence in Estonia by identifying future talent, supporting recruitment, and gradually building and leading a high-performing local team. Public representation: Represent Nidus Balticus at conferences, public events, stakeholder meetings, and in regional media. Impact & reporting: Monitor programme impact, gather community insights, and contribute to reports, case studies, and learning processes. Requirements Experience: 5–8+ years of relevant professional experience in public affairs, advocacy, strategic partnerships, regional development, programme development, community engagement, or ecosystem building, ideally with ownership of complex initiatives or organisational growth. Stakeholder engagement: Demonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships across different sectors and work effectively with diverse communities. Ecosystem building: Proven ability to develop multi-stakeholder partnerships and build collaborative ecosystems involving civil society, businesses, public institutions, and local communities. Regional expertise: Good understanding of Estonia's political, social, and economic landscape. Familiarity with Ida-Virumaa and existing networks in the region would be a strong advantage. Languages: Fluency in Estonian and English is essential. Russian language skills are highly desirable for engaging diverse communities and stakeholders. Organization: Strong project management skills with the ability to independently coordinate multiple workstreams. Communication: Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills, with the ability to build trust across diverse audiences. Entrepreneurial mindset: High degree of ownership, autonomy and initiative. Proactively identifies opportunities, is comfortable operating with ambiguity, and can take an initiative from an early opportunity through relationship-building, programme development and implementation. Who is the Ideal Candidate? Relevant backgrounds may include: Community development & NGOs: Experience leading outreach, mobilization, or partnership-building within civil society or community projects. Public affairs & advocacy: Experience engaging policymakers, public institutions, or industry stakeholders on policy or advocacy initiatives. Business & industry associations: Experience working within chambers of commerce, business associations, sector organizations, employers' associations, or regional development bodies, bringing stakeholders together around shared policy objectives. Ecosystem building & strategic partnerships: A proven track record of building cross-sector partnerships between NGOs, businesses, public institutions, research organisations, foundations, or community groups. Regional development: Experience working with municipalities, local development organizations, regional initiatives, or place-based economic development. Project management: Experience coordinating initiatives involving multiple partners, timelines, and deliverables. What We Offer Autonomy: High degree of freedom in planning and executing your work. Leadership Opportunity: Shape Nidus Balticus' long-term presence in Estonia, implement the country's strategic vision, and build and lead an agile and ambitiouslocal team. Meaningful Impact: The opportunity to play a leading role in strengthening communities, building broad societal coalitions, and advancing Estonia's long-term energy security and regional resilience. Competitive Compensation: Flexibility: Remote working conditions within an agile, modern organizational culture. International Network: Learning and networking opportunities within Our Common Home's global network. Contract: An initial 12-month fixed-term contract, with a strong potential for extension as the organization expands. Travel: Regular travel within Estonia, particularly to regional communities, and occasional travel across the Baltics for meetings and collaboration.