Application Guide

How to Apply for People & Culture Lead (Orchestrator)

at EIT Climate-KIC

🏢 About EIT Climate-KIC

EIT Climate-KIC is Europe's largest climate innovation initiative, uniquely positioned at the intersection of public policy, private sector innovation, and systemic change. Unlike traditional environmental organizations, they focus on transforming entire systems through innovation partnerships across 28 countries, making them a powerful catalyst for climate action. Someone would want to work here to drive tangible, large-scale impact on climate resilience while being part of a purpose-driven, distributed community of change-makers.

About This Role

As People & Culture Lead (Orchestrator), you'll architect the human strategy for EIT Climate-KIC's 'Next Season' transformation, directly shaping how a remote-first, international organization develops climate innovation talent. This role is impactful because you'll design the people systems that enable world-class talent across multiple jurisdictions to collaborate effectively on urgent climate challenges, making their Employee Value Proposition (EVP) globally compelling for purpose-driven professionals.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning check-ins with your small People team across European time zones, followed by strategy sessions with leadership on capability development for climate innovation projects. You'd spend afternoons designing remote-first practices for teams across multiple jurisdictions, while coaching managers on maintaining psychological safety during organizational transformation. The day would balance strategic planning for the EVP with practical problem-solving for distributed team challenges.

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🎯 Who EIT Climate-KIC Is Looking For

  • Has 8+ years in HR/People/OD with proven experience in organizational transformation where operating models, leadership, and culture evolved simultaneously
  • Demonstrates specific experience designing people strategies for remote-first, distributed teams across multiple European jurisdictions
  • Shows evidence of coaching senior leaders through complex power dynamics in purpose-driven organizations
  • Has worked in consulting or scaling environments where they've translated climate/sustainability missions into practical people practices

📝 Tips for Applying to EIT Climate-KIC

1

Quantify your impact in previous transformation contexts - specifically how you evolved operating models, leadership capability, and culture simultaneously

2

Demonstrate your understanding of 'Next Season' transformation by researching EIT Climate-KIC's current strategic priorities and suggesting how people strategy enables them

3

Showcase your multi-jurisdictional remote work expertise with concrete examples of policies or practices you've implemented across EU countries

4

Frame your experience through climate/sustainability lenses - even if from other sectors, show how it applies to mobilizing purpose-driven talent

5

Highlight your 'orchestrator' mindset by describing how you've coordinated small teams to deliver outsized impact in dynamic environments

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific approach to designing people strategies that support organizational transformation while maintaining psychological safety', "Examples of how you've developed compelling EVPs for purpose-driven organizations, particularly around collaboration and impact", 'Experience optimizing people practices for remote-first, distributed teams across multiple jurisdictions', 'Your philosophy on building high-performance cultures that balance purpose-led work with sustainable human-centered practices']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Deep dive into EIT Climate-KIC's 'Next Season' strategy documents and annual reports to understand their transformation priorities
  • → Study their current distributed team model and remote-first policies mentioned in their public communications
  • → Research their existing partnerships and innovation portfolios to understand the types of talent they mobilize
  • → Review their public-facing culture materials and leadership communications to understand their current cultural narrative

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a people strategy that supports both 'Next Season' transformation and day-to-day remote-first operations across 28 countries?
2 Describe a time you coached leaders through significant operating model changes while maintaining team psychological safety
3 What specific metrics would you use to measure the success of Climate-KIC's EVP in attracting purpose-driven talent?
4 How have you handled the complexities of multi-jurisdictional employment law while maintaining consistent people practices?
5 What innovative approaches would you take to develop climate innovation capabilities across a distributed, remote-first workforce?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with generic HR experience without demonstrating specific transformation context expertise
  • Focusing only on traditional HR functions without addressing the 'orchestrator' and strategic business partner aspects
  • Showing limited understanding of remote-first, multi-jurisdictional complexities specific to the EU context
  • Failing to connect people practices to climate innovation or purpose-driven organizational contexts

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to EIT Climate-KIC!

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