Project Manager

About the job

About Us

Feedback EU is a Netherlands-based climate and food campaign group. We work closely together with our sister organisation Feedback Global, founded in 2013 in the UK. We work to regenerate nature by transforming our food system. Food production is the single greatest impact humans have on the environment. From mountains of food waste, to habitat destruction to grow animal feed for factory farms or feed farmed fish,  the food system needs to change. Founded in April 2022, we combine investigative research, advocacy and campaigns, community outreach and on-the-ground pilot projects for a better food system.

About the role

Since 2018, Feedback has established an innovative body of evidence and policy on the damaging role of marine ingredients and other feed ingredients such as soy, in aquaculture, and formulated the case for aquaculture in a sustainable food system that delivers the greatest nutritional value for the least environmental impact, and does not contribute to destructive fishing, deplete global fish stocks, or worsen global food injustice.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead our international collaborative research and campaigns programme focusing on the fishmeal and fish oil industry in West Africa, and targeting policy and corporate change at EU and West African levels. In addition to coordinating a coalition of partners from within civil society, journalism and academia, you will lead our EU advocacy and campaigning on the role of aquaculture and fisheries in a sustainable food system, as well as working on wider food systems campaigns as required. The ability to work in French with West African partners is a key requirement of the role.

At a time when the global aquaculture industry is on a growth drive, this role is a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of sustainable food systems, and to both develop and deploy project management and campaigning and advocacy skills. It would suit someone with strong management and communication skills, fluent French, and an interest in global justice, who is motivated to work within a small, campaigning organization on a global issue.

You will based in our Feedback EU office in The Hague and will work closely with Feedback’s staff in London, and our European and West African partner organisations and networks.

To be successful in this role you will need to be passionate about addressing head-on the damage that our food system causes to our climate, ecology and biodiversity. You will be an experienced project manager, with understanding of the food and aquaculture sector in the EU and a good grasp of the interactions between food systems and environmental issues. You will be keen to demonstrate your creativity and initiative in establishing Feedback’s advocacy presence in Brussels, and will excel at identifying and developing new relationships and communicating with colleagues in a remote setting. As the fourth employee of a new organisation, we value flexibility, energy and a willingness to take on challenges and learn new skills. We look forward to welcoming you to our team.

Job Description

The main responsibilities of this role are:

1. Project Management
   • Day-to-day management and coordination, in liaison with the wider Feedback team and partners to ensure the project is run effectively and efficiently.
   • Planning and assigning deliverables and activities, reviewing progress, and addressing deviations in terms of timelines and quality.
   • Managing  budgets.
   • Producing grant reports and communicating with funders.
   • Liaising with consultants regarding contracts and invoices.

2. Stakeholder Management and Advocacy
   • Working in a collaborative manner and maintaining an excellent standard of communication and engagement with project partners so they are invested and aware of progress and key milestones.
   • Building relationships with other civil society groups, policymakers and industry, by representing Feedback and the campaign in external networks and deputizing for senior staff as required.
   • Participating in European and global coalitions, networks, and conversations and leveraging these relationships to amplify our research and campaigning.
   • Working with colleagues to formulate policy recommendations based on research findings and Feedback’s existing positions, and tailoring these to opportunities and audience.
3. Taking on other tasks in wider Feedback programmes, committing to extending learning and understanding to new issues and topics.

Person specification

To deliver in this role you will need to have:

• Project management experience (2-3 years), preferably involving multiple partners. Experience in working with partners from the Global South would be an asset.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills
• Proven interest in, and knowledge of environmental issues and/or food systems acquired through qualifications, professional or volunteer experience. Knowledge of aquaculture would be an advantage.
• Experience in stakeholder management and advocacy. Knowledge of EU policy and civil society networks considered an advantage.
• Excellent communication skills – persuasive writing skills and fluent spoken and written English and French, as well as experience presenting and facilitating. Knowledge of Dutch an advantage.
• Strong IT skills/literacy (Word, Excel, email management, social media)
• Ideally, experience working in remote teams and maintaining strong working relationships with remote colleagues.
• A self-starter with a can-do attitude, flexibility and adaptability, willing to pitch in on delivery and help colleagues across the team, recognising that Feedback EU is a small, nimble organisation with fast-changing priorities.
• A commitment to Feedback’s values – we are bold, collaborative, impact-driven, celebratory and inspiring – and to our goal of ecological regeneration through changing the food system.
• The right to work in the EU.