ECF is the single European umbrella federation of member-based civil society organisations advocating and working for more and better cycling. With around 70 members from over 40 countries, we harness the power of the cycling movements in Europe and - increasingly – globally.
About the role
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the European Cyclists’ Federation plays a strategic leadership role in promoting cycling as a sustainable and accessible mode of transport across Europe. Reporting directly to the ECF Board, the CEO is responsible for driving the organization’s vision, expanding its impact, and ensuring operational and financial sustainability.
Responsibilities
1. Work closely with the Board to support the development of the organisation’s long-term strategy.
2. Create and oversee an organisational architecture that allows the strategy to be achieved.
3. Work closely with the senior management and wider staff teams to facilitate a collaborative and joined-up delivery of the strategy.
People, Values and Culture:
1. Ensure that our core values are being respected, both internally and outward. ECF is a human-friendly organisation, with our leading values being sustainability, health, safety, well-being, diversity, inclusiveness and equity.
2. Foster the development of ECF staff in a collaborative and inclusive environment that enables staff to grow and reach their full potential.
3. Oversee the annual objectives-based performance appraisal process, ensuring its use as a tool to foster programme and strategy delivery and to shape our learning and development programme.
4. Line-manage, coach and empower senior staff in the leadership of their areas of responsibility and support them to excel in their roles.
5. Champion diversity, equality and inclusion across the team, in all areas of the organisation and in recruitment.
6. Work with senior managers and staff, including through initiatives such as our Sustainability and Well-being Focus Groups, to help shape, model and define the organisational culture.
7. Drive the alignment of our ways of working with our leading values, both internally and externally, and across all of our operational programmes.
Members and Networks:
1. Build and maintain productive working relationships with our members and networks and ensure we deliver the added value they expect from their association with ECF.
2. Develop and implement strategies and plans to grow our membership and network base.
3. Foster active engagement with our members and networks and ensure the effective contribution and involvement of our members and networks in key advocacy and campaigning initiatives.
Fundraising and Business Development:
1. Lead the development and implementation of our fundraising strategy and constantly evaluate and develop this strategy.
2. Work closely with the Board and senior management to cultivate and manage mutually beneficial funder relationships and partnerships.
3. Foster a culture of proactive business development and good donor relations.
Advocacy and External Representation:
1. Lead and act as a senior public face of our advocacy work and our organisation at high-level events and meetings.
2. Develop and maintain strategic relationships with policy and decision makers and with CEO counterparts and other leaders in the cycling and sustainable mobility movements.
3. Make sure that ECF takes full advantage of public speaking opportunities at relevant events to support and promote our aims and to network with stakeholders.
4. Provide leadership on communications, making sure that staff and board are aligned on core messaging to the media and other key stakeholders.
5. Oversee programmes and workstreams to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.
6. Ensure alignment of programmes and workstreams with organisational strategy and advocacy goals.
7. Facilitate collaborative planning and prioritisation of resources to enable the successful delivery of programmes and commitments.
Operations:
1. Oversee the annual budgeting process, in close cooperation with the Treasurer and wider Board.
2. Ensure sound financial management and compliance with all relevant legal and financial requirements of our funders.
3. Foster efficient and cost-effective administration across all areas, including facilities, accounting, recruitment, payroll, IT, etc. and in compliance with Belgian law.
4. Work with and oversee our relationships with external service providers as required such as accountants, auditors, lawyers, etc., and review these relationships at regular intervals.
5. Maintain, update and develop all necessary policies and procedures.
6. Anticipate and proactively manage all forms of organisational risk.
Governance:
1. Work closely with the ECF President to support and facilitate the work of the Board, including preparing Board meetings.
2. Work closely with the President, Treasurer, Board and staff to prepare and deliver the Annual General Meeting in line with legal and organisational requirements.
3. Ensure alignment and compliance with our governance structure and principles across all relevant workstreams, programmes and ways of working.
Minimum Requirements:
1. 10 years of management experience, with strong operational and financial management skills demonstrated in a senior role.
2. 10 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in civil society advocacy NGOs or industry trade associations, ideally with a broad diversity of members/stakeholders and geographies.
3. 10 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in transnational agencies, national or local government administrations, government ministries, agencies, or similar.
4. 10 years’ experience working in a senior role in the mobility, cycling or climate policy field at the global, European, national or local level.
5. Experience in advocacy and campaigning in EU and/or other transnational and global policymaking environments (e.g. UNECE, UNFCCC, etc).
6. Experience working in different countries / multinational and multicultural organisations.
Competencies, Skills and Attributes:
1. A highly motivated individual with strong ethical standards and an open-minded, proactive, results-oriented personality.
2. Strong commitment to ECF’s mission to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of transport and leisure.
3. An effective, inspiring and empowering people manager and leader.
4. Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills.
5. Effective business developer with a successful fundraising track record.
6. Proven financial, resource management and risk management skills.
7. Experience with recruitment and people development.
8. Resilient person who can multitask and set priorities.
9. Political and cultural sensitivity and awareness.
10. An accomplished and engaging public speaker.
Languages:
1. High degree of proficiency in English (spoken and written).
2. Additional languages are an asset.
Conditions of employment
1. You must be eligible to work in the EU.
Working locations
1. Remotely working in Brussels, Belgium.
How to apply
1. Please submit your CV and a cover letter in English in one PDF document to hr@ecf.com with the subject line ”First Name Last Name - ECF CEO” no later than Sunday, 4th May 2025.
2. We would like to thank all interested candidates in advance. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A first round of in-person interviews in Brussels is scheduled for Sunday the 18th and Monday the 19th of May 2025, please confirm your availability on one or both of these dates. A second round may be scheduled at a later date.
3. ECF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates irrespective of racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.
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