Today, we are the leading international farm animal welfare charity, working to end factory farming and improve the lives of farm animals through advocacy, lobbying for legislative change, and driving corporate policies and practices. Our Food Business program delivers impact for farm animals by shifting the supply chains of leading companies towards higher baseline standards and regenerative farming systems. We aim to drive corporate shifts to more plant-based dietary choices and targets in line with future food requirements.
The purpose of this role is to help end factory farming. This role will contribute to the on-going technical credibility and development of Compassion’s resources to drive animal welfare improvements within the US food industry. This includes technical support to the US Food Business team, but also the US Campaigns and Fundraising teams as required.
Working closely with the US Senior Research Manager, you will play a vital role in developing and strengthening our technical resources to advance farm animal welfare. This includes guidance for corporations and producers, case study development, and support on corporate compliance tracking. It is expected for the Research Manager to stay abreast of the latest research and developments in the food industry, including, but not limited to, animal welfare, animal science, meat science, and rural economics. You will also collaborate with the wider global team within the organization to ensure cohesion in terms of resource development, messaging, and workstreams.
Requirements
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following: Other duties may be assigned.
Develop new and update current science-based technical resources for Compassion’s US Food Business team to facilitate the adoption of higher farm animal welfare practices, regenerative farming, and/or shifts to more plant-forward diets in North America (50%), and Global team as needed (15%)
- Produce a variety of new technical resources, including case studies, implementation guides, certification matrices, roadmaps for change, vendor surveys, infographics, and presentations on the welfare of US dairy cattle, beef cattle, fish, and/or regenerative farming, and/or plant-forward eating that lend credibility to the US Food Business program and enhance our knowledge transfer.
- Work with the Senior Research Manager to oversee external research projects or data collection needed to support case studies. This may include developing experimental designs, performing data collection and subsequent analyses, collaborating with external research partners, and organizing and writing summary reports of any farm/site visits.
- Collaborate with Compassion’s communications and digital teams on media and visual assets related to launch of new resources, as needed. This outreach may include crafting emails and website copy, and overseeing subsequent correspondence with companies, industry, or media.
- Maintain current US technical resources to ensure these assets remain up to date for regular use by the US Food Business team and ensure global alignment with positions from the CIWF research team.
Provide technical support to Compassion’s US Food Business, Campaigns, and Fundraising teams (15%)
- Provide technical support to US Food Business Managers in their regular company engagement – including, but not limited to, answer technical queries from companies, assist in the preparation of technical meetings, join those meetings when required, attend farm visits, and subsequently write farm visit reports.
- Proofreading materials from US office requiring technical oversight, including website copy, media responses, campaign materials, fundraising appeals, and compliance reports.
- Maintain an indexed suite of US technical resources on the US Food Business webpages and in an internal central location allowing easy access for US team members.
- Support the US Corporate Compliance Manager on the production of US compliance reports.
- Lead the update of new US consumer guidance tools in collaboration with the US Campaigns team. This will include redesigning the US compassionate food guide into an easy-to-use resource to facilitate more engagement by US consumers.
Represent Compassion in a variety of external forums – focused on fostering US producer and industry relationships (10%)
- Work as an industry liaison for Compassion by maintaining a relevant network of US producers, industry groups, and external researchers to foster collaborative and trusted partnerships that help to facilitate Compassion’s mission and build internal knowledge capacity.
- Represent Compassion in a wide range of formats, including academic conferences, industry meetings, webinars, and workshops, and with other NGOs.
- Disseminate our recommendations and promote best practices through speaking opportunities at key industry and academic events.
Build Compassion’s technical capacity internally and with US corporate partners (10%)
- Contribute to build technical capacity within the Food Business team by arranging or delivering internal training sessions outside of pigs and poultry, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and fish.
- Contribute to build technical capacity with corporate partners by developing and delivering training sessions in support of Food Business Manager engagement when required
Additional Tasks
To assist with other departmental duties where necessary, as listed below:
- As part of your employment, you may be required to travel anywhere within the world to carry out the duties of your employment; anticipated 10%-25% travel expected based on business requirements.
- Due to the nature of the role, there may be a requirement to conduct some work out of office hours. This work is to be arranged in accordance with procedures.
- Take due and reasonable care of oneself and others in respect of Health & Safety at Work.
- Act in accordance with the principles of Compassion in World Farming’s Ethical Policy.
- In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and Compassion in World Farming’s requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals.
- Provide formal and informal training at the request of your line manager, senior manager, or a director, in your areas of expertise, to other members of staff, work experience students, trustees, etc.
- The job description is not exhaustive, and you may be asked to carry out additional tasks which are appropriate to your job role, as required by your line manager.
- Actively support the promotion and delivery and embedding of equality, inclusion, and diversity.
Qualifications
Essential
- Proven knowledge of farm animal welfare science and practical application for US farmed species
- Strong writing abilities in relation to animal science, welfare & behavior, or a related field
- Graduate level understanding of applied scientific research
- Ability to condense large volumes of scientific evidence and complex information into succinct summaries and cases of support for welfare improvements for US farm animals
- MSc level, or equivalent education, in a relevant discipline (such as, but not limited to, animal welfare and behavior, veterinary medicine, meat science, or animal science)
- Practical experience of applied animal production/welfare science working with or in the food and farming industry
- Proven IT computer skills including Microsoft Office application, research search engines, reference management software, with a working knowledge of research/data collection apps and creative presentation tools
- Critical analysis
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills adapted for diverse audiences.
- Strong proof-reading skills, attention to detail, and accuracy
- Ability to engage, inspire, and influence both internal and external stakeholders
- Output driven with a desire to embed knowledge into the organization and our corporate and industry partners
- Effective planning and time management to deliver projects within deadline
- Willingness to collaborate with industry-leaning entities, including, but not limited to, producers, corporations, processors, and industry groups
- Dynamic team player embracing integrated working and inclusion, and capable of working on own initiative
- Sensitivity to diverse US and wider global social and cultural issues
- Approachable and adaptable with a positive disposition
- Trustworthy and professional
- Confident and assertive, capable of delivering clear messages under pressure in external meetings
- Demonstrates initiative, innovation, and creativity
- Able to travel within US and internationally
- Sympathetic to the goals of Compassion in World Farming
- Compassionate to people and animals
- Prepared to assist with other projects and organizational activities, as needed
Desirable
- Proven knowledge of US dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, broilers, layers, and/or fish welfare issues and industries
- Experience working remotely
- Knowledge of/interest in the role of livestock production and regenerative farming
- Familiarization with referencing for scientific manuscripts
- Project management skillset, including professional training/certifications
- Working knowledge of Spanish and/or French
- Understanding of North American farm animal welfare certifications and implementing welfare outcome measures on-farm
- Public speaking and presentation experience
- Experience speaking to the media
Benefits
Compassion in World Farming provides one of the strongest benefits packages in the animal protection movement. Join us on a collective mission to shape a compassionate future for farmed animals worldwide, while experiencing a workplace that truly cares for you, click on the link, to take a look at an overview of our Benefits Package.
Salary is up to $65K annually.
Compassion in World Farming is an equal opportunity employer, and supports the facilitation of diversity, representation, and inclusivity within the animal protection movement. Compassion does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring, and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are encouraged.
