Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

ECF - European Cyclists' Federation

Brussels, Belgium

A message from the ECF Board

Thank you for your interest in becoming a candidate for the European Cyclists’ Federation’s new CEO. This application pack contains information about our organisation and how this role contributes to our vision for more and better cycling for all, in Europe and beyond.

It has been a privilege and a great pleasure to work with our current CEO Jill Warren since early 2020. Over the past five years, Jill has become a widely respected leader in the European and global cycling community. Leading the highly competent ECF team, she has built our association into the professional, respected and resilient organisation that it is today.

As Jill has announced that she will step down from her role in July 2025, we are now seeking a new CEO who will lead the team, drive the implementation of our ambitious strategy and build further on our strengths and achievements.

In the face of challenges such as the climate crisis and geopolitical developments, but also in light of opportunities such as the European Declaration on Cycling that ECF’s advocacy helped to bring about, our mission to achieve more and better cycling for all is more important and relevant than ever.

Could you be the experienced, empathetic leader we are looking for to continue our important work and lead the team and the organisation through the next chapter of our development?

If you are motivated and passionate about our cause, ready to support our vision, and to work closely with us to take our organisation and our impact to the next level, we encourage you to apply for this role.

We look forward to receiving your application.

With best wishes,
Henk Swarttouw, President, on behalf of the entire ECF Board

About ECF

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.

What we do

• We apply an evidence-based advocacy approach to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport and leisure;
• We do innovative research and thought leadership projects and initiatives;
• We provide tools, resources and training to our members and stakeholders;
• We coordinate the development of the EuroVelo Cycle Route network;
• We organise Velo-city, the annual global cycling summit.

You can read more about our recent work and achievements in this article and in our latest Annual Report.

How we contribute to lasting positive change

At ECF we know that achieving the significant and lasting change that enables more and better cycling, and which delivers the corresponding positive societal impacts, is a complex process. Greatly increased levels of cycling require public investment in more, better and safer cycling infrastructure. They require policies and laws that enable and boost active mobility. Equally important is a strong civil society movement that advocates for change and a shift in culture and behaviour in favour of more cycling.

The change we want to see involves various actors and will occur in different ways and at different speeds in different countries. While in a small number of places cycling is already a dominant way of life, most places have a much longer way to go and much to learn to become true cycling countries, regions and cities.

ECF plays a key role in driving, influencing and facilitating this change. To do this, we bring together all the stakeholders of the cycling world to make the case for cycling. We work to change attitudes, policies and budget allocations in favour of more and better cycling. We stimulate and organise the work of the cyclists’ movement, and we encourage and coordinate the exchange of knowledge on bicycle-related policies and strategies.

Our key advocacy areas

Our advocacy programme is geared towards achieving progress on our ambitious 2020-2030 strategy and is grouped into the following workstreams:

• Cycling policies;
• Infrastructure;
• Road safety;
• Multimodality and cycling tourism;
• Data collection; and
• Inclusive, affordable, healthy & climate friendly mobility.

Our high-level goals (as defined in the ECF 2020-2030 strategy)

• More cycling: Double the number of km cycled in Europe by 2030;
• Safer cycling: Reduce the rate of cyclists killed or seriously injured in road collisions by at least 50% - towards Vision Zero;
• Stronger political support: Cycling to be treated as a fully fledged mode of transport and prioritised in the mobility mix;
• Higher investment: Cycling should get 10% of national transport spend; EU should invest at least €20bn in cycling by 2030;
• More and better infrastructure: At least 100,000 km of new cycling infrastructure to be built in Europe by 2030.

Responsibilities of the CEO

Working from our headquarters in Brussels, the CEO will work closely with our motivated and committed Board that has been elected by our members and lead a skilled and passionate team of around 30 staff and interns who work across the areas of:

• Advocacy;
• Public and private projects and partnerships;
• EuroVelo;
• Velo-city;
• Members and Networks;
• Communications;
• Operations.

An experienced, values-driven leader, the CEO will ensure the implementation of ECF’s strategy designed by the ECF board and approved by its members.

The CEO will coach and manage our team to fulfil their potential, develop the organisation’s goals and annual plans, actively engage with members and networks, represent the organisation publicly at the highest levels, lead fundraising activities and further shape and develop the organisation and its culture.

Specific responsibilities include:

Strategy

• Work closely with the Board to support the development of the organisation’s long-term strategy;
• Create and oversee an organisational architecture that allows the strategy to be achieved;
• 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

• 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;
• Foster the development of ECF staff in a collaborative and inclusive environment that enables staff to grow and reach their full potential;
• 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;
• Line-manage, coach and empower senior staff in the leadership of their areas of responsibility and support them to excel in their roles;
• Champion diversity, equality and inclusion across the team, in all areas of the organisation and in recruitment;
• 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;
• 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

• 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;
• Develop and implement strategies and plans to grow our membership and networks base;
• 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

• Lead the development and implementation of our fundraising strategy and constantly evaluate and develop this strategy;
• Work closely with the Board and senior management to cultivate and manage mutually beneficial funder relationships and partnerships;
• Foster a culture of proactive business development and good donor relations.

Advocacy and external representation

• Lead and act as a senior public face of our advocacy work and our organisation at high-level events and meetings;
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with policy and decision makers and with CEO counterparts and other leaders in the cycling and sustainable mobility movements;
• 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;
• Provide leadership on communications, making sure that staff and board are aligned on core messaging to the media and other key stakeholders.

Programme delivery

• Oversee programmes and workstreams to ensure timely and high-quality delivery;
• Ensure alignment of programmes and workstreams with organisational strategy and advocacy goals;
• Facilitate collaborative planning and prioritisation of resources to enable the successful delivery of programmes and commitments.

Operations

• Oversee the annual budgeting process, in close cooperation with the Treasurer and wider Board;
• Ensure sound financial management and compliance with all relevant legal and financial requirements of our funders;
• Foster efficient and cost-effective administration across all areas including facilities, accounting, recruitment, payroll, IT, etc. and in compliance with Belgian law;
• 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;
• Maintain, update and develop all necessary policies and procedures;
• Anticipate and proactively manage all forms of organisational risk.

Governance

• Work closely with the ECF President to support and facilitate the work of the Board, including preparing Board meetings;
• Work closely with the President, Treasurer, Board and staff to prepare and deliver the Annual General Meeting in line with legal and organisational requirements;
• Ensure alignment and compliance with our governance structure and principles across all relevant workstreams, programmes and ways of working.

Who are we looking for?

Academic background

• Essential: You have at least a Master’s degree in a relevant field.

Professional background

• Essential: You have at least one of the following:
  • At least 10 years of management experience, with strong operational and financial management skills demonstrated in a senior role;
  • At least 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;
  • At least 10 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in transnational agencies, national or local government administrations, government ministries, agencies, or similar;
  • At least 10 years’ experience working in a senior role in the mobility, cycling or climate policy field at global, European, national or local level.
• Desirable:
  • Experience in advocacy and campaigning in EU and/or other transnational and global policymaking environments (e.g. UNECE, UNFCCC, etc.);
  • Experience of working in different countries / multinational and multicultural organisations.

Competencies, skills and attributes

• A highly motivated individual with strong ethical standards and an openminded, proactive, results-oriented personality;
• Strong commitment to ECF’s mission to promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy form of transport and leisure;
• An effective, inspiring and empowering people manager and leader;
• Excellent communications, interpersonal and networking skills;
• Effective business developer with a successful fundraising track record;
• Proven financial, resource management and risk management skills;
• Experience with recruitment and people development;
• A resilient person who can multitask and set priorities;
• Political and cultural sensitivity and awareness;
• An accomplished and engaging public speaker;
• Willingness and ability to travel, and flexibility in terms of travel and working hours as required.

Languages

• Essential: High degree of proficiency in English (spoken and written);
• Desirable: Additional languages are an asset.

What do we offer?

You will lead the world’s largest and best-known cyclists’ federation and promote cycling as one of the most healthy, most climate-friendly and efficient means of transport and leisure.

Your position will be based in a nice office located in the heart of Brussels full of friendly, passionate and international colleagues.

ECF offers an employment package in line with similar non-governmental organisations based in Brussels. Our package includes 20 legal vacation days and 10 extra-legal vacation days, cycling-to-work allowance, lunch vouchers and an extra-legal pension scheme.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the EU and able and willing to live and work in Belgium.

For this role we are also willing to consider an independent contractor arrangement, provided all relevant legal requirements are met.

The successful candidate should ideally be able to start by 1 September 2025 at the latest.

How to apply

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 4 May 2025.

Early applications are encouraged, as we will evaluate applications on a rolling basis.

A first round of in-person interviews in Brussels is scheduled for Sunday 18 and Monday 19 May 2025, please confirm your availability on one or both of these dates. A second round may be scheduled at a later date.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

We would like to thank all interested candidates in advance. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information, contact Jill Warren - CEO (j.warren@ecf.com) or Henk Swarttouw - President (h.swarttouw@ecf.com).

Equal opportunity

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.