Medior Advisor Food and Agriculture

WWF-NL is a professional and dynamic organization with an informal working culture based in Zeist, the Netherlands. The organisation consists of four departments: Engagement, Organization & Talent Development, Finance & Operations and Conservation. In this light, WWF-NL's Conservation department is looking for a Medior Advisor Food and Agriculture (32-40 hours per week). 

How we produce and consume food is the single biggest threat to nature today. But the food system also holds the key to a nature-positive future. By working with nature, not against it, we can stop deforestation and conversion of habitats for food production, bring biodiversity back into farming landscapes and build more resilient food systems in the face of current and future crises. Do you share our ambition to transform the food system at scale and with the urgency required for it to operate within the planet’s boundaries, within our lifetimes? Are you ready to dedicate your knowledge, energy and experience to help us achieve this? Then we are looking for you! 

In this role you contribute to realizing nature-positive agriculture (e.g. agroecology) in the most biodiverse landscapes around the world, and support structural transformations at the food system level to enable this, such as combatting deforestation and promoting plant-based diets. The position improves effectiveness of WWF landscape programmes through thematic expertise, drives concepts for food system change across multiple landscapes and leverages impact by influencing Dutch and global stakeholders (e.g. policy and businesses). The Advisor reports to the Head of the Unit Food. 

Roles and responsibilities  

• Contributing to the implementation of the Unit Food strategy, both independently and in (multidisciplinary) teams with colleagues within WWF-NL, other WWF offices and partner organizations; 
• Providing thematic expertise and programme support to relevant WWF landscape programmes; 
• Contributing to the alignment and integration of food in conservation strategies such as human-wildlife coexistence, inclusive conservation, climate and green finance; 
• Commissioning and supervising studies and assignments that support our work; 
• Supporting lobby, advocacy and corporate engagement and contributing towards the development of policy briefs and position papers; 
• Contributing thematic expertise towards corporate partnerships, proposal development, fundraising and communication, as needed; 
• Building a network of relevant stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally; 
• Representing WWF-NL and the Food Unit in relevant networks and meetings. 

We are looking for an expert at the nexus of food and conservation who understands the relationship between food and itsrelated threats and opportunities for nature. A strategic thinker who can translate this understanding into interventions and activities for nature-positive agriculture in WWF priority landscapes, international value chains, consumption and at the global food system level, with the Netherlands as an important stakeholder. A flexible team player who is committed to our goals and dedicated to continuously developing themselves and our strategy, to ensure that WWF-NL's work remains relevant and has maximum conservation impact. 

Required qualifications, skills and competencies     

• Relevant academic education and 3-5 years of relevant work experience at the interface of food and conservation. International experience is an advantage; 
• Thorough and demonstrable expertise combining biodiversity conservation and food, e.g in the field of agroecology, deforestation free supply chains or the protein transition; 
• Good understanding of global trends and developments at the food system and nature conservation nexus; 
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop appealing and innovative solutions to complex problems, with a clear focus on realizing WWF’s long-term goals and mission of protecting the most valuable natural areas in the world; 
• Engaging and inspiring networker, connector and speaker communicator with the ability to clearly and convincingly present the WWF-NL vision on agriculture food and nature (orally and in writing) to different audiences and stakeholders, maintaining relations and mobilizing others to make a difference; 
• Experience with project management and guiding consultancy and research assignments; 
• Flexible and result-oriented, able to set priorities and good time management skills;  
• Excellent English and Dutch communication skills, both written and verbal.  
• Willingness to travel and work outside office hours; 
• Work to the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. 

Core values

You recognize yourself in the core values of WWF-NL:

• Courage
• Integrity
• Respect
• Collaboration

What we offer

• You will be able to work in a sustainable office surrounded by nature;
• Fun colleagues and the chance to build up an international network;
• Vegetarian lunches in our canteen and free after work drinks every other Thursday;
• An employment contract of 32-40 hours. Initially, a fixed-term employment contract of one year with a one-month probation period will be offered;
• Salaries that are in line with the standard in the Dutch not-for-profit sector; The minimum gross monthly salary for this role is 3.726 EUR and the maximum monthly salary is 5.083 EUR, based on relevant experience (based on a 40-hour contract) (Please note, due to the maximum salary, we are not able to sponsor a knowledge migrant permit for people above the age of 30 who are not eligible for the reduced salary criterion. Please see the IND website for more information);
• Staff receive a personal budget that is made up of 8% holiday allowance and 2,08% flexible budget, and receive 6 weeks of holiday per year (based on a 40-hour contract);
• We stimulate flexible working arrangements, the use of public transport and bike for work related travel. Employees receive an NS Business Card for 2nd class travel to and from work;
• We also have a hybrid working model, so staff can alternate working from home and from the office.

Information and procedure

If you are interested in this position, please apply via our website by Sunday August 25th, 2024.

Please note that in order to work for WWF-NL, you need a valid work permit.

If you have any questions about the application process or the role, please contact Natasja Oerlemans (Unit Head of Food) via noerlemans@wwf.nl and Seline Meijer (Advisor in the Food team) via smeijer@wwf.nl.

We actively strive for our employees to reflect society and the international character of our organization. We therefore especially encourage candidates with backgrounds that are normally underrepresented to apply.

We consider the safety and protection of our colleagues as important. The successful candidate is therefore required to complete an integrity statement and supply a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag). We may also ask for references.