Chief Food Chain Adviser
NFU (National Farmers' Union)
Job Title: Chief Food Chain Adviser
Salary: c. £65,000 (Dependant on Skills and Experience)
Location: Stoneleigh, Warwickshire with agile working
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is the biggest farming organisation in the UK. We're proud to make a difference for all our members, by shaping attitudes towards British farming and leading the charge on a range of major issues, from climate change and food standards to rural crime and broadband rollout.
Purpose of the role & how you will contribute:
You will play a leading role in strengthening relationships between British farmers, growers and the food supply chain. You'll lead your team to work with retailers, foodservice providers, public sector organisations and industry stakeholders to support sustainable sourcing, champion fairness in the supply chain and help shape policies that benefit farming businesses. Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, you'll help ensure British agriculture is well positioned to meet sustainability challenges while creating resilient, profitable and mutually beneficial supply chain partnerships.
What you’ll bring
We're looking for an experienced and influential professional with strong knowledge of UK food supply chains, sustainability and policy development. You'll have a track record of building trusted relationships, representing organisations at a senior level and delivering positive outcomes through collaboration and advocacy. With excellent communication and leadership skills, you'll be confident explaining complex issues to a wide range of audiences, managing projects and developing people. An understanding of farming, the wider political landscape and supply chain dynamics will help you succeed in this high-profile role.
Why choose us?
Join us and you’ll find an organisation that encourages and enables you to achieve your full potential. In return you will be rewarded with a full range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday allowance (30 days a year + Bank Holidays), plus 1 annual company day
- Option to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave
- Company funded health Cashplan to help with everyday costs; dental, optical, physiotherapy etc.
- Private Health insurance
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
- Performance-related pay
- Competitive Pension and Life assurance (4 x Salary)
- Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets and driving lessons
- Employee Assistance program to help you deal with life’s challenges
- Discounts on a range of new vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle and many more
- Attractive, modern office, with on-site restaurant and free parking
Who we are
Every day, we're the voice of around 43,000 British farmers and growers who produce food, making sure their concerns are heard at the heart of government both online and locally. This means developing strong relationships with everyone from NFU colleagues to government ministers. So, as well as having a high profile in both the media and Westminster, we work with and support local members through a network of regional and county offices across England and Wales.
Policy and Trade & Business Strategy
This team takes an active role in developing and influencing the policies that benefit farming businesses across the UK. This means keeping up to date with and responding to national and international developments, engaging with and advising NFU members, and putting their decisions into action.
It’s exciting, complex work, covering every area of farming and dealing with a range of stakeholders, from government ministers, civil servants and the media, to local NFU branches. The sheer variety of our work means you can be involved in a wide range of projects from initial research to policy delivery. Our collaborative approach means you’ll find plenty of opportunities to build your knowledge – it’s up to you to take them.
Join us
We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce. We’ll support you by providing you with extensive learning and development opportunities and build a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments including discussions around agile and flexible work options.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If we decide we've found the right person for the role, we reserve the right to withdraw this advert and close applications before the closing date.