Director Crops Working Group (100% FTE)

SAI Platform  is recruiting a Director to lead the Crops Working Group. This is a very exciting role and a unique opportunity for a high calibre individual with a proven track record to lead and shape the Crops Working Group’s agenda. The services and solutions that SAI Platform develops will ultimately influence sourcing protocols and standards of the food and beverage industry.

Given SAI Platform’s scope and breath, the Crops Working Group Director will have a very influential and impactful position with direct and strong connection to SAI Platform members and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership of SAI Platform’s Crop Working Group.
• Ensure effective collaboration between the Crops Working Group and other existing groups such as dairy, beef, and industry solutions (e.g., ERBS, FSA, RegenAg and SDP).
• Further develop the Crops Working Group strategy, growth, and resourcing plan.
• Build stakeholder engagement and commitment, share insights.
• Represent Crops Working Group vis-à-vis other industry associations, at conferences and third-party convenings.
• Work with members to initiate and develop climate-smart and regenerative agriculture projects and programmes delivering outcomes and impact at scale.
• Manage external consultants and service providers effectively and cost-consciously.
• Further establish and optimise evaluating and reporting mechanisms to monitor and share progress of projects.
• Ensure strong governance of process and budget with related tracking and reporting.
• Ensure excellent communications on plans and progress with both internal and external stakeholders.

Applications

With this position SAI Platform offers an influential role in the agricultural raw material sourcing sector. Employment will either be on a freelance or employee contract basis. The role involves some 10-30% of travel. SAI Platform invites candidates of all nationalities, especially those with working permit for North America and Europe.

Please send your application (a CV of no more than two A4 pages, and a one-page cover letter) to recruitment@saiplatform.org, indicating ‘SAI Platform Director Crops in the subject line. Use the same email address for questions. Send your application no later than 15 September, 2023.

Candidate requirements

• Advanced degree in agronomy or equivalent with extensive experience in sourcing of agricultural raw materials and value chains development.
• Experience in implementing projects on soil, biodiversity, water management practices and precision agriculture technology at farm level and supply shed level.
• Proven success in farm advisory/consultancy and large-scale project management
• Strong team leadership skills, excited by, and comfortable with managing a dispersed remote team.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and conceptual skills.
• Thorough understanding of the real issues and practicalities of farming and the ability to relate to farmers accordingly and speak their language.
• Self-motivated, able to work remotely and achieve decisive results.
• Track record in multi-stakeholder orchestration.
• Business-oriented and pragmatic approach with a clear understanding of the needs of diverse stakeholders along the value chain.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Native or near-native level English speaker with excellent verbal and written skills.
• Minimum of 10-12 years of relevant work experience.

About Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform

The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) plays an important role towards the transformation of food systems through the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Together with our founding members Danone, Nestlé and Unilever, we bring together over 170+ members from the food and beverage industry, including farmer cooperatives, manufacturers, processors and retailers. Our affiliate members include agricultural input providers, support services, assurance schemes providers, as well as other industries that source agricultural products. SAI Platform is known for its collaborative action and the development of industry solutions to assess sustainability at farm or processor level. The most recent addition to our suite of industry solutions being the Regenerative Agriculture Programme. Climate, Nature and Livelihood are of significant strategic importance for the future development of the organisation.

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