Head of Advocacy, EVU

工作内容

About The EVU

The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) is the umbrella organisation of vegan and vegetarian associations and societies throughout Europe. Its main areas of focus are health, nutrition, consumer protection, sustainability and environmental issues.

EVU is the voice of the growing number of Europeans choosing plant-based products over animal-based nutrition. The EVU puts vegetarian issues on the European political agenda. EVU is also connected to the V-Label, a standardised voluntary European certification scheme with the aim of easy identification of vegetarian and vegan products and services.

The EVU is active in European policy networks and campaigns advocating to increase the production and consumption of plant-based foods and other alternatives to animal products. This is done through improving the level playing field for plant-based and alternative foods, increasing policy incentives and EU research budgets for these sectors, improving consumer information related to plant-based and alternative proteins, supporting sustainability initiatives, as well as removing barriers that impede the availability and affordability of plant-based and alternative products to animal foods.

We work closely with the European Alliance for Plant-based Food (EAPF), and with ProVeg International (a founding member of the EAPF and one of EVU’s members), which has offices in nine countries on four continents, including in Germany, the Netherlands, Czechia and Poland, as well as a programme in Spain, and an entity in the UK.

About The Role

The Head of Advocacy, EVU is a new position responsible for building on and expanding the policy and public affairs environment to ensure that the strategic and operational plans support the EVU’s objectives.

The Head of Advocacy will develop and promote policies and outreach plans that enable the growth of the plant-based and cultured food industry and reduce animal consumption, and influence relevant agriculture, consumer, environmental and health agendas primarily at EU level. The position works with plant-based alliances, such as the EAPF, and other relevant partners, to:

• Lead public-facing policy campaigns to promote food system change and enhance the position of plant-based foods and other alternatives to animal products
• Develop policy briefs and recommendations, provide evidence to guide policymakers’ decisions and arrange meetings with relevant stakeholders
• Advocate for the strongest (regulatory) environment possible for plant-based and cultured food research and development
• Ensure sustainable food production and consumption feature prominently in public health and environmental policy
• Collaborate with and support EVU member advocacy efforts at a national level
• Influence/contribute to better food policy on a global scale, e.g. UN fora.
  

Job Details

Job Title: Head of Advocacy, EVU

Reporting to: Directly: EVU President (Felix Hnat), and indirectly: ProVeg Vice-President (Jasmijn de Boo)

Direct reports: Public Affairs Specialist

Key Relationships: Internal: EVU member organisations, External: EAPF, food industry representatives, decision-makers

Location: Ideally Brussels (or remote, ideally within 1-day travel distance from Brussels)

Hours: Full-time (40h); part-time options will be considered

Salary: In the range between 40 - 46k € annual brutto (dependent on skill set and experience)

Tasks

Strategy and planning

• Develop and implement the EVU strategic direction and operational advocacy aims
• Oversee EU policy developments and research, review European institutions (Commission, Parliament and the Council) priorities, and identify and communicate emerging issues and propose solutions.
• Lead the review and development of robust policy positions across a broad range of issues, working with key stakeholders across EVU members. Identify policy areas in which the EVU is seeking greatest action, and develop strategies, policy briefings and action plans which are aligned to external priorities, and influence and affect positive change.
• Keep abreast of political developments and parliamentary activities, changing environmental, health, scientific and other relevant areas. Undertake relevant analysis on threats and opportunities and communicate any developments/insights to the relevant stakeholders, to help inform future strategy development.
• Contribute to stakeholder consultations and develop advocacy plans
• Review effectiveness of EVU advocacy
• Oversee external contracts relating to EVU’s advocacy work, including with service providers such as political consultancies, and partnerships.
  

Integration, collaboration and alignment

• Ensure there is robust coordination of campaign plans and communication between the EVU and its members, and the EAPF.
• Together with members, including ProVeg, ensure advocacy campaigns are highly visible, attractive and engaging, through online outreach, media/PR and social media.
• Ensure research and scientific developments that have a bearing on policy are considered with relevant colleagues and partners.
  

External collaboration and representation

• Establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with external stakeholders and identify opportunities and strategies to improve engagement with policy-makers, environmental and other aligned organisations, healthcare officials, corporate leaders, scientific bodies, and grant-making organisations.
• Represent the EVU within the media, and at internal and external events.
• Deliver expert briefings and targeted lobbying campaigns to achieve regulatory and private sector action and public policy change.
• Oversee policy informed responses to consultations and the submission of evidence to enquiries and manage/coordinate those responses.
• Lead the coordination of relations with external bodies such as government departments and agencies, relevant private sector organisations and other organisations, including representing the EVU on external committees and working groups.
  

Management

• Ensure that all activity is conducted to the highest standards and in line with the strategic priorities, developing consistent and rigorous methods for measuring success and sharing knowledge/outcomes with the wider team.
• Provide strong leadership and support to colleagues, through coaching, mentoring and developing individuals to deliver an effective and efficient service. Promote team-building and collaborative working to deliver strategic and operational plans.
• Contribute to the annual and quarterly planning and budgeting process.
• Continuously develop professional knowledge and expertise, attending relevant meetings and conferences to ensure up to date knowledge is relevant to the role.
• Provide progress reports and monitoring updates, and log any challenges and risks that may be encountered.
• Undertake any other relevant duties and projects, in line with the responsibilities of the post.
  

Requirements

Essential criteria:

• Degree or relevant experience in International Studies, Politics, Law, Public Affairs or similar.
• Demonstrable experience of developing policy outputs and track record of advocacy plans that effect change.
• Experience of providing high-level strategic advice to senior colleagues and decision-makers on complex policy issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and diplomacy skills
• In-depth understanding of EU policy institutions, processes and agendas.
• Strong experience of interacting with government officials, policy-makers and agencies. Experience of interacting with external stakeholder groups to advance policy goals.
• Fluent verbal and written English language skills.
  

Desirable:

• Experience of the NGO sector
• Experience in planning and implementing campaigns, and/or media/PR experience
• Experience of leading and managing a diverse/remote team.
• Understanding of performance metrics and KPIs to track policy and public engagement progress
• Understanding of the current environmental and or food industry (production, consumption, marketing, retail etc.) agenda in the EU.
• Proficiency/fluency in additional languages, such as French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Polish.
  

Benefits

• Salary: dependent on experience and qualification.
• Flexible, trust-based working arrangements and home office arrangements.
• Provision of a work laptop.
• We are a workplace that encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We are an inclusive workplace for our diverse employees around the world.
• And last but not least: become part of a great team and represent with us plant-based interests in the EU
  

When?

Application deadline: open until filled

Start: As soon as possible

Further information

By applying for this position, you agree that your application data is processed by ProVeg e.V. ProVeg e.V. executes all recruitment services. The successful candidate will be hired by EVU. Due to this cooperation, our Privacy Notes for applicants are applicable for the recruitment process plus the following adaptations:

• Who gets my data?
  

By applying for this position, you agree that your data will be shared with ProVeg and EVU employees and the board of the EVU.

• How long will my data be stored?
  

If an employment contract is concluded between you and EVU, your application documents will be included in the personnel file at EVU’s system and stored for at least the duration of the employment relationship and any subsequent storage obligations.

Application instruction:

Please send your CV and expression of interest (cover letter) to the recruitment team. Your expression of interest (cover letter) should detail the following:

• Why you are interested in applying for this post
• How your skills/knowledge/experience meet the requirements of the person specification
  

To view further details about this role please visit the ProVeg International or EVU website.