Project Director, Europe

Project Director, Europe

Closing date: 21st November 2025
Salary: London £100,000 to £130,000 / Brussels TBC
Type of employment: Fixed term until end of December 2027

We will be reviewing applications, and the role might close before the stated deadline depending on application volume. Early applications are encouraged.

The Clean Air Fund is looking to recruit a Project Director to lead a major new initiative supporting the implementation of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) across nine EU Member States. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a multi-country programme focused on reducing air pollution and climate emissions in Europe.

As Project Director, you will be responsible for establishing and overseeing the Europe Clean Air Quality project, ensuring it is well set up with strong governance, strategy, and stakeholder engagement. You will lead a dedicated project team, manage relationships with funders and partners, and supervise grant-making and technical assistance efforts across targeted Member States.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and implementing strategy across nine EU Member States and pan-EU initiatives.
• Leading technical assistance, policy advocacy, and strategic communications projects.
• Building partnerships with stakeholders in the most polluted regions to support AAQD transposition and implementation.
• Managing a team of project managers, analysts, consultants, and grantee partners.
• Overseeing operational planning, budgeting, and reporting to senior leadership and funders.
• Representing the project externally and ensuring alignment with Clean Air Fund’s broader Europe portfolio

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Extensive experience managing high-value, multi-country projects in the EU or internationally.
• Deep knowledge of energy transition or climate policy in the EU; air pollution expertise is a plus.
• Strong strategic, leadership, and project management skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, grants, and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Familiarity with EU institutions and political economy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English; additional European languages (e.g. German, French) are highly desirable.

Our Culture

At Clean Air Fund, we’re guided by purpose and grounded in evidence. Our culture combines clear structures and rigorous frameworks with space for fresh thinking and collaboration across diverse perspectives. We value curiosity, openness and a shared commitment to making a measurable difference.

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, returning parents, carers or any other aspect which makes them unique. We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups  to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to ensure that the recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable. We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of our employees from all forms of harm. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback at the shortlisting stage.