Project Officer Sustainable Food Systems (m/f/d)

Eurogroup for Animals is the Brussels based European umbrella advocacy organisation, representing 84 national and international members across Europe and beyond. Together we provide a voice for the billions of animals kept in laboratories, farms and homes or living in the wild. Our vision is to build a Europe that truly cares for animals where the well-being of animals is assured and where they experience a good life.

The purpose of Eurogroup for Animals is to drive positive change for animals by convening its members around common goals, and coordinating EU wide action to jointly influence EU law and policy making. Our advocacy work consists of dedicated programmes and a growing portfolio of projects and campaigns.

Purpose of the role

Given the significant challenges of the climate crisis and the threats to biodiversity, the European Commission is rethinking its agricultural and food policies through the EU Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, in particular with the new Sustainable EU food system initiative.

Eurogroup for Animals’ farm animals programme aims at transformative food system change by significantly reducing animal production and consumption. We do this through working for policies that support a shift to more plant-based diets in tandem with driving systemic change in animal farming.

We are looking for a driven Project Officer to implement our new exciting project for a sustainable food system, working in close collaboration with our project partners from consumer and health organisations, and together with our member organisations. The project focuses on mobilising around our work for ‘less and better’ animal source products in the new EU Sustainable food system initiative and in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Key responsibilities

In close collaboration with our project partners, execute the sustainable food systems project and roll out activities to influence the EU Sustainable food system initiative and the upcoming EU elections, including:

• Boost our network of member organisations in their engagement with the ‘less and better’ message through strategy and planning, coordination, movement building and mobilisation;
• Empower our member organisations to work on the EU Sustainable food system initiative by developing messages, communication materials, shared narratives, calls to action, stakeholder engagement events and by identifying and coordinating opportunities for communication;
• Mobilise our member organisations around the European Parliament elections by developing a set of joint policy demands and communication material around healthy, sustainable diets with ‘less and better’ animal source food, as well as encouraging and providing support for national election events and coalition building;
• Work with institutional stakeholders in the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council and build alliances around the project’s advocacy objectives;
• Ensure a good working relationship, coordination and alignment with the project partners in all stages of the project.

Person specification

• Academic degree in a relevant subject such as sustainability, animal welfare, communication or political science and/or relevant experience from working with NGOs focused on food policy or animal welfare;
• Well-organised and focused on concrete results and project deliverables;
• Demonstrable advocacy skills and knowledge, ideally in the area of food policy;
• Excellent cooperation, coordination and conflict management skills seeking common solutions;
• Team player;
• Good knowledge of EU policy making and influencing processes;
• Commitment to advancing the transition towards more plant-based production and consumption;
• Service-oriented towards members and other stakeholders;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Fluency in English.

Position in the organisation

The Project Officer is placed in our farmed animals team and reports to the Political Adviser Food Policy who is in charge of the Food Policy advocacy portfolio. The project has administrative support from the Project Manager. You will work closely with our member organisations and our external project partners as well as liaise with other colleagues in the communications team and political affairs team.

Employment Contract

38 hours per week, contract under Belgian law. The project is subject to funding that ends in June 2024. Competitive remuneration and benefits package offered.

How to apply

To apply for the post, please send a letter of application stating the skills and approach that you would bring to this post along with your CV in English (Word format) by email to Louise Hilditch hr@eurogroupforanimals.org. Please include your salary expectations in your cover email and not in your motivation letter or CV.

Apply by 15 August