Environment Director

FoodDrinkEurope is looking for an exceptional candidate to lead its Environment Department.

This exciting and high-profile opportunity is open to well-connected candidates with a track record in developing impactful advocacy strategies and leading successful teams to shape positive environmental policy in Europe. The candidate will have excellent technical knowledge on environmental topics (from within the food or other industry sectors) will be energetic, and have a passion to work towards delivering more sustainable food systems.

FoodDrinkEurope represents the European food and drink manufacturing industry, which is one of the largest manufacturing industries in the EU, made up of 294,000 businesses and 4.6 million employees. The successful candidate will proactively lead the industry to meet its ambitious environmental goals, while remaining globally competitive.

Responsibilities

The successful applicant will:

• Lead FoodDrinkEurope’s Environment Department, developing an ambitious strategy and managing the departmental team in its core goal to support EU environment policy allows businesses to be competitive and sustainable.
• Go beyond advocacy to work on concrete actions FoodDrinkEurope can take to help food and drink businesses meet EU environmental goals.
• Join the FoodDrinkEurope leadership team, with fellow directors, to shape the overarching industry approach to deliver sustainable and resilient food systems.
• Work closely with other FoodDrinkEurope departments to ensure alignment on cross cutting topics.
• Prepare and lead the FoodDrinkEurope Environment and Sustainability Committee and relevant working groups.
• Ensure the department delivers regular updates, briefings, and publications for FoodDrinkEurope members and other target audiences.
• Engage, collaborate and build positive relationships with the EU institutions and other key stakeholders.
• Represent FoodDrinkEurope at events and official meetings.
• Support the Director General in achieving the goals of the organisation.

Qualifications

• University degree related to the environment, climate change and sustainable food systems and/or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of work experience in EU or member state public affairs related to the environment, climate change and sustainable industry.
• Ideally the candidate will also have experience and knowledge around the development and implementation of corporate sustainability reporting requirements.

Skills and competencies

• Excellent writing, communication, networking and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to align different interests and influence the political process.
• Affinity with the food and drink sector.
• Fluent English, other EU languages an asset.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• An EU work permit is required.

Our offer

• An open-ended Belgian contract with a competitive salary package that includes benefits such as health insurance, meal vouchers, pension scheme and more.
• Unique visibility of the European food and drink industry.
• A dynamic and exciting international working environment.

Diversity and inclusion

FoodDrinkEurope is an inclusive organisation. We are looking for the best talent, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, colour, age, national origin, religion, disability, marital or parental status, or any other parts of one’s identity.

We also value diversity in backgrounds and in experiences, and aim for a work environment where everyone can perform at their best.

Application

Please send your CV and a short motivational letter by email to cvfoodeu@fooddrinkeurope.eu no later than 3 July 2024, with the subject line “Environment Director: your name”. The first round of interviews will take place first half of July. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Candidate data will only be used for recruitment purposes and until the position is filled. Your data will not be transferred to third parties. Privacy policy can be found on our website.