Programme Consultant - Fish

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.

The farm animals programme focuses on two key pillars: a first pillar on better protection for farm animals, focusing on significantly raising the level of animal welfare of the EU legislation, and a second pillar on food systems transformation, focusing on reducing the number of animals farmed for food and replacing slaughtered animal products. Within the farm animal programme, the fish programme focuses especially on aquaculture and also on wild capture fisheries.

Purpose of the role

Fish welfare is increasingly being recognised and addressed in legal regimes as well as in private certification schemes. The role of the programme consultant will be to carry out desk research and interviews to collect and synthesise information on the sustainability impacts of different aquaculture systems, and to identify synergies between low-impact systems, high welfare systems, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The role will also involve managing external consultants for smaller and limited projects commissioned to complete the work regarding these workstreams. This role is also to support advocacy around welfare standards in aquaculture through mapping of existing and emergent standards in different European countries. 

Job title: Fish Programme Consultant

Reports to:  Fish Welfare Senior Programme Leader

Programme: Farm Animals

Objectives: 

• Desk research and direct outreach to map and analyse fish welfare requirements in private certification schemes, retailer buying policies, and in regulations across Europe.
• Collating knowledge and evidence of the environmental impacts and overall sustainability of different aquaculture systems in Europe and globally.
• Collating knowledge and evidence of the environmental impacts and overall sustainability of different wild capture fishing methods and sectors in Europe and globally.
• Carry out a literature review and expert interviews to map the low-trophic species that are produced in aquaculture, the feeds that are available, and the feeds that are used.
• Developing a report on how high welfare and low-impact aquaculture can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Synthesise the knowledge collected and develop position papers and other advocacy resources for a policymaker audience (professionals that aren’t topic experts) and civil society.

Position in the organisation: 

The project consultant will be a member of the Farm Animals Team, will have a Eurogroup for Animals email address and participate in team meetings, and reports to the Fish Welfare Senior Programme Leader.

Person specifications

Experience

• Advanced degree (MSc. or PhD) level in an area relevant to the position, or equivalent experience
• 5 years' work experience
• Proven knowledge of animal welfare in aquaculture or environmental impacts of aquaculture systems
• Experience with planning and carrying out structured interviews

Skills & Abilities

• Proven technical research and critical analysis skills;
• Proven written, verbal and presentation and communication skills for diverse audiences in English. Sensitivity to diverse global social and cultural issues.
• Able to work independently on own initiative and as part of a team;

Personal Qualities/Soft Skills

• Team player and being positive and respectful to people and animals;
• Receives and provides feedback in a constructive manner;
• Organised, flexible and pragmatic;
• Demonstrates initiative;
• Service oriented towards members and other stakeholders.

Must have

Sympathetic with Eurogroup for Animals’ vision and mission

Contract

We are looking for full-time support on an ongoing basis, starting as soon as possible. We are ready to negotiate according to your availability. In the case of a candidate with experience of managing multiple consultants, we can consider a position that includes managing work towards these objectives being done by other consultants. Competitive remuneration 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.

Application deadline: 5 August 2022