Public Affairs Director

European Plastics Converters | EuPC; Brussel; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Starting January 2027

Competitive remuneration

Job summary

European Plastics Converters (EuPC) is seeking a Public Affairs Director to lead EU outreach and policy advocacy at Brussels level, driving strategic engagement with the European Commission, Parliament and Council.

You will translate EuPC priorities into advocacy campaigns, manage stakeholder networks across member associations, and coordinate internal governance to support evidence-based policy positions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant EU public affairs experience.
• Proven track record designing advocacy strategies and delivering outcomes with EU officials.
• Strong political network and understanding of EU regulatory landscape affecting plastics sector.
• Understanding of the plastics industry across major end-use applications.
• Master's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• Excellent command of English (additional EU languages are an asset).

Responsibilities

• Drive EU institutional outreach and advocacy with the European Commission, European Parliament and Council.
• Position EuPC as a credible partner and build long-term relationships with policymakers and stakeholders.
• Represent EuPC in external meetings, roundtables and conferences to raise sector visibility.
• Translate EuPC priorities into advocacy strategies, stakeholder maps and engagement plans.
• Coordinate policy papers, briefings, presentations, newsletters and speeches.
• Ensure alignment between advocacy, member priorities, and EuPC divisions and governance.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Persuasive communication

Coalition building

Education

Master's degree in Political Science / European Studies / Law

Job description

European Plastics Converters (EuPC) is the EU-level trade association representing the interests of plastics converting companies in Europe. Based in Brussels, EuPC brings together national plastics associations and European sectoral organisations, representing more than fifty thousands converting companies that supply plastic products into key value chains such as packaging, building & construction, automotive & transport, and technical

parts.

EuPC’s mission is to provide a strong, united voice for plastics converters in EU policy debates, advance the transition towards a circular and climate-neutral economy, and ensure a competitive, innovation-friendly regulatory environment for the plastics converting industry.

Role Purpose

The Public Affairs Director reports to the Director General and drives EuPC's political outreach and institutional engagement at EU level, advancing the interests of the European plastics converting industry across core policy files affecting polymers and their key end-use applications. The role requires shaping public affairs strategies and executing advocacy campaigns to represent the European plastics converters industry across a network of EU institutions, Member State representations, other industry associations, and the broader stakeholder community.

Key Responsibilities

EU institutional outreach and advocacy

• Drive high-level engagement with the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council
• Position EuPC as a credible, trusted partner, build and maintain long-term relationships with policymakers, partners and opinion leaders;
• Represent EuPC in external meetings, roundtables, or conferences to enhance the sector’s visibility.

Policy positioning, stakeholder management and Communications

• Monitor political developments and anticipate impacts; provide actionable intelligence and recommendations to the Director General and internal governance.
• Translate EuPC priorities into clear advocacy strategies, stakeholder maps, and engagement plans.
• Shape cross-association alignment by building coalitions and joint positions with European and national associations, ensuring consistency and leverage.
• Coordinate and draft position papers, policy briefings, presentations, newsletters and speeches.

Internal coordination and governance support

• Ensure an effective two-way flow between advocacy efforts and member priorities, securing alignment across and among EuPC Divisions (Packaging, Building & Construction, and Mobility), internal committees, and team members.
• Support the Director General in preparing institutional engagements, strategic messaging, and executive-level meetings.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in EU public affairs, including working in associations, public affairs consultancy, corporate in-house teams or institutions.
• Proven track record in designing advocacy strategies, executing engagement with EU officials, including successful delivery of advocacy outcomes.
• A well-established political network and a solid understanding of the EU regulatory and policy landscape impacting the sector, including developments in competitiveness, trade, circularity, innovation, environmental, and product legislation.
• Understanding of the plastics industry, including policy drivers and market dynamics across major end-use applications.
• Master's degree (or equivalent) Political Science, European Studies, Law, or a related field.
• Excellent command of English (additional EU languages are an asset).

Core competencies

• High-impact stakeholder engagement and political judgement; confident at senior level.
• Strategic planning with strong execution discipline; able to prioritise in a fast-moving environment.
• Persuasive communication: clear, concise writing and strong verbal advocacy.
• Coalition-building and diplomacy; comfortable aligning diverse member interests into workable positions.

What We Offer

• Full-time contract (40h/week). Starting Date: January 2027
• The opportunity to contribute to shaping EU policies and to represent the interests of a large and innovative industrial sector at European level in a dynamic and collaborative working environment.
• A supportive and inclusive team culture that values initiative, self-starter spirit, and collaboration. A flexible working environment, including hybrid working arrangements where applicable.
• Competitive remuneration and benefits, in line with experience and qualifications.