Food Education Network Director

Job Title:                               Food Education Network Director

Position Type:                      Paid/Part time

Reports to:                           Food Education Network Steering Group

Salary:                                    £44,000 FTE equating to £26,400 pro rated

Location:                               School Food Matters, London TW9 2RD (minimum one day a week in office)

Working Hours:                   Three days per week

Holiday:                                 19 days including bank holidays that fall on working days

Pension:                                School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Contract:                               Fixed term for one year to be extended with successful fundraising

Background

The Food Education Network (FEN) began in 2020 as a coalition of organisations passionate about improving food education in schools and other settings to influence recommendations for the National Food Strategy.

School Food Matters is now looking for an experienced and passionate leader with skills in advocacy and communications to lead the future development of the Food Education Network and its next stage of influencing government policy around food education from early years into the secondary phase.

Main Responsibilities

The Director will build on the foundations already laid to establish the Food Education Network as a new member organisation to bring the sector together. This role will involve building close relationships with a wide range of external partners to ensure the Network is a credible voice on food education policy and is campaigning with its members to make change happen. The role will be split between governance of the network (40%) and influencing government policy (60%). 

Principle Duties:

·       Define and clearly present the top policy priorities around food education and take these to politicians, the media and wider world

·       Build close relationships with key decision-makers to influence food education policy

·       Raise awareness of food education within the educational community

·       Support the steering committee to raise funds

·       Grow and solidify the Food Education Network, setting out a one-year plan with clear objectives, purpose, operations and governance

·       Continue to build the membership of the Network, reaching out to organisations in the food education sector who can help add to the Network’s voice and evidence

Ideal Candidate

·        Can work confidently in a start-up role to grow an organisation almost from scratch

·        Solid understanding of public affairs, policymaking, and communications

·        Significant experience of working in advocacy at a senior level

·        Proven ability to effectively influence a range of political stakeholders and communicate complex policy positions verbally and in writing

·        Ability to bring together a range of stakeholders behind a shared strategy, matrix managing multi-disciplinary teams across organisations and managing differences of position and views

·        Comfortable with managing multiple workstream, rapidly assessing the changing political environment and adapting strategies accordingly

·        Genuine interest in championing food education.