Senior Industrial & Innovation Policy Analyst

Job description

The challenge Europe is entering a period of structural economic stress that demands a serious policy response. A second China shock — this time concentrated in advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, and clean technology — is hollowing out the industrial base of Europe’s export-led economies and compressing the wage and employment gains on which social cohesion depends. Meanwhile, Europe’s technological dependence in digital infrastructure, energy systems, and defence — exposed sharply by a decade of geopolitical shocks — is no longer a strategic inconvenience but an economic liability. The answer strategic autonomy and innovation-led growth: building the industrial and technological ecosystems that generate productive, well-paid jobs at scale; reducing strategic vulnerabilities through sovereign capacity in digital, energy, and defence; and designing public investment frameworks smart enough to crowd in private capital rather than substitute for it. Growth is the fertile ground on which every other European challenge — energy transition, social cohesion, fiscal sustainability, geopolitical credibility — will ultimately be resolved or frustrated. EMPN’s industrial and innovation policy work sits at the heart of this challenge. We analyse the structural sources of European competitiveness, design efficient allocation mechanisms for strategic public investment, and develop proposals — legally grounded, fiscally credible, and politically feasible — to help Europe move from subsidy reflex to genuine industrial strategy. Your role As Senior Industrial & Innovation Policy Analyst , you will be a central member of EMPN’s Brussels team, working closely with the Managing Director and EMPN’s network of partner institutes. You are expected to think hard about the structural forces reshaping European industry and innovation ecosystem, produce rigorous and accessible policy analysis, and translate research into proposals that can land with policymakers. Key responsibilities include: Research: Lead and contribute to EMPN’s work on industrial transformation, innovation ecosystems, strategic autonomy, AI and labour markets, skills policy, and the design of public investment instruments. Engage seriously with the economic literature while keeping one eye firmly on policy applicability. Content production: Write policy briefs, working papers, and shorter analytical pieces tailored to a senior policymaker audience. You are not a summariser of existing debates — you are expected to have a view, defend it, and explain what is wrong with the alternatives. Network coordination: Work with EMPN partner institutes across the network to develop joint research and policy proposals on industrial and innovation policy. This includes shaping research priorities, organising workshops, and turning collective expertise into coherent output. Advocacy: Engage with Commission officials, MEPs, national ministries, and industry stakeholders to increase the impact of EMPN’s work. Build relationships that turn good analysis into policy traction. Your profile We are looking for senior talent (5+ years of experience). You might be an economist with deep grounding in industrial or innovation policy; a policy practitioner who knows how the relevant legislative files move in practice; or someone from a development bank, financial institution, or industrial group who understands how strategic investment actually gets done. What matters is deep knowledge of the field, analytical rigour, policy judgement, and the standing to be taken seriously by senior policymakers. An advanced degree is expected and a PhD is an asset, but equivalent hands-on experience is valued just as highly. You can write policy briefs that actually move people. You write with precision and confidence, producing texts that are analytically rigorous and immediately accessible to a non-specialist policymaker. You understand that your work is public and subject to scrutiny, and you hold yourself to that standard. You think about feasibility, not just optimality. You are not content with technically correct proposals that no institution can adopt. You understand the legal, fiscal, and political constraints that shape what is achievable — and you design your proposals accordingly. You are willing to advocate for your conclusions. You are prepared to defend your analysis in meetings with senior officials, at public events, and in the media, or you are actively building these skills. Intellectual confidence and intellectual honesty are equally non-negotiable. You take ownership of your work. You work independently, follow questions to their end, and do not wait to be managed. The EMPN team and expert network are there to think with you, not to drive you. You bring strong organisational skills and a solutions-focused mindset. You are flexible and constructive, with attention to detail and a genuine interest in building an institution as well as producing research. You speak fluent English; French or German is a strong asset, and other European languages are welcome. Why us? This is what we offer: Contract: A permanent contract under Belgian law. 100%, or part-time negotiable. Meaningful work: A chance to work on some of the defining economic questions of the decade – European industrial sovereignty, innovation-led growth, and the transition to a competitive, decarbonised economy – from the institution best placed to shape the policy response. A growth opportunity: As EMPN’s Brussels headquarters expands, this role will offer increasing leadership potential. You will have access to personal and professional development opportunities, including skill-building, networking, and the chance to shape your role. It is an environment where your ideas can flourish, allowing you to grow into the best version of yourself. Competitive salary: €65,000–€85,000 annual gross, depending on experience and skills, plus a benefits package. Flexible work environment: Primarily based in Brussels with options for remote work. Inspiring colleagues: Last but not least, you will join a fantastic team at our Brussels headquarters and Berlin team and work alongside inspiring partners across Europe’s capitals – Paris, The Hague, Rome, Helsinki, Stockholm, Vienna and soon Madrid and Warsaw. Expect meaningful work, exciting challenges, and plenty of fun along the way.