Job Vacancies

Details of the latest job vacancy at the Food and Drink Federation.

We are currently looking to fill the following vacancies. If you would like to apply, see applications details below.

Executive (Policy Development)

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

About the Role

To represent and promote the legitimate common interests of SFDF through dialogue with government, regulators and other external organisations and to identify and act upon issues of concern to the members.

Organisation

SFDF is a small, integrated team that works closely together from an Edinburgh office with three permanent officials: one director and 2 executive staff (see division organogram (pdf, 10kb). The team in Scotland leads the focus on Scottish specific issues, liaises with the London based FDF team who lead on national initiatives and work collaboratively as one team on joint projects.

Essential Requirements

  • Excellent communication skills both written and oral
  • The ability to construct authoritative, influential and convincing arguments and cases (policy development and formulation)
  • Experience preferred of lobbying within a technical and regulatory environment
  • Ability to cope with high degree of responsibility and a wide ranging, diverse workload, meeting the deadlines to accompany it
  • Sound working knowledge of the Scottish, UK and European political system and an
  • understanding of the processes and actors within them
  • Ability to disseminate information, identify and understand diverse issues and react accordingly
  • Numerate
  • Project Management
  • Competent with range of IT packages and the uploading /updating of websites

Specific Duties

  • To communicate the views and concerns of SFDF to legislators (Scottish, UK and European), regulators and other external organizations, either directly or jointly with FDF, in order to influence the decision making process of these institutions and bodies.
  • To identify and monitor issues of interest to SFDF members and to effectively communicate any relevant information and developments to them in an appropriate way. This can involve drafting circulars, writing articles for websites and updating members through presentations at meetings.
  • To evaluate policy developments of interest to SFDF members and to seek comments from them, in order to ensure the compilation of comprehensive case evidence and enable representations to be made on their behalf to government officials and others.
  • To provide support to the Director SFDF by researching and preparing briefing documents and scripts to ensure up to date knowledge and useful information is available for key meetings and on a regular basis.
  • To provide regular updates for colleagues within the SFDF team and across the organisation on policy activity, consultation, Scottish parliamentary issues, topical information on key stakeholders to ensure both the local and national team are broadly informed to support effective forward planning.
  • Following development and sign off of the membership strategy at Director level work closely with the FDF Membership team and appropriate Account Manager to recruit and retain members in order to achieve membership targets, generate income for the organization and maintain the credibility of SFDF as a representative body.
  • To organize effective meetings and events to consult, educate, promote and influence including Members' Forum and the Parliamentary Reception, ensuring speakers and venue secured, agenda produced and minutes recorded.
  • To devise and contribute to the implementation of policies that enhances the reputation of SFDF.
  • To contribute fully to the achievement of the objectives of SFDF/FDF.
  • To manage a self -sufficient approach to administrative tasks and provide occasional support to Director as required.

Working relationships

The working relationships are with the SFDF Director, SFDF members, SFDF and FDF colleagues, civil servants and other external organizations such as CBI, Food Standards Agency, Scottish Parliament, Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish media.

Main Challenges

Ensuring that SFDF members receive a comprehensive level of representation and service and that all salient issues and concerns are identified quickly and acted upon effectively and appropriately

Closing Date

Friday 10 September 2010

Method of Application

Please forward your application with an up to date CV to HR at: human.resources@fdf.org.uk (stating your existing salary).

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Executive (Communications)

Location

Edinburgh, Scotland

About the Role

To coordinate and develop communications that actively promote the achievements of SFDF and inform and engage members on industry issues, supporting colleagues to effectively influence government, regulators and other external organizations.

Organisation

SFDF is a small, integrated team that works closely together from an Edinburgh office with three permanent officials: one director and 2 executive staff (see division organogram (pdf, 10kb). The team in Scotland leads the focus on Scottish specific issues, liaises with the London based FDF team who lead on national initiatives and work collaboratively as one team on joint projects.

Essential Requirements

  • Excellent communication skills both written and oral
  • The ability to construct authoritative, influential and convincing arguments and cases (media communications and marketing)
  • Ability to cope with high degree of responsibility and a wide ranging, diverse workload, meeting the deadlines to accompany it
  • Experience in Marketing, Public Relations, Corporate Communications or the media preferred
  • Awareness of the Scottish, UK and European political system and an understanding of the processes and actors within them
  • Ability to disseminate information, identify and understand diverse issues and react accordingly
  • Numerate
  • Project Management
  • Competent with range of IT packages and the uploading /updating of websites

Specific Duties

  • Monitor, measure and evaluate the SFDF website to ensure a process of continuous improvement maintaining the website as a key strategic communications tool that effectively enhances SFDF's reputation, adds value to members, and is engaging to visitors of the site.
  • Work with the FDF communications team to develop the communication tools for SFDF colleagues to use in communicating the views and concerns of SFDF to legislators (Scottish, UK and European), regulators and other external organizations.
  • Contribute to development of an annual communications and marketing plan in alignment with SFDF strategy and including FDF's overall business priorities.
  • Liaise with the FDF press team to ensure the organization has effective relationships with key members of the media ensuring SFDF maintain a positive profile and that key strategic messages and achievements are represented accurately to a wider community of interest.
  • Produce the SFDF update newsletter and regular briefs to Scottish members of key developments and organization achievements and coordinate the submission of materials to FDF for both FDF branded newsletters and updates and also external media in time for publication deadlines, including copy on current industry activity in Scotland.
  • Compile and keep updated a Food and Drink industry calendar.
  • Ensure members benefits are easily accessible, clear and well communicated to existing members and potential members across Scotland.
  • Following development and sign off of the membership strategy at Director level, work closely with the FDF Membership team and appropriate Account Manager to recruit and retain members in order to achieve membership targets, generate income for the organization and maintain the credibility of SFDF as a representative body.
  • To organize effective meetings and events to consult, educate, promote and influence including such events as Suppliers' Forum and Symposium, ensuring speakers and venue secured, agenda produced and minutes recorded.
  • To contribute fully to the achievement of the objectives of SFDF/FDF.
  • To manage a self-sufficient approach to administrative tasks and provide occasional support to Director as required.

Working relationships

The working relationships are with the SFDF Director, SFDF members, SFDF and FDF colleagues, civil servants and other external organizations such as CBI, Food Standards Agency, Scottish Parliament, Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish media and PR/Corporate Relations experts within member and stakeholder organisations.

Main Challenges

Ensuring that SFDF members receive a comprehensive level of representation and service and that all salient issues and concerns are identified quickly and acted upon effectively and appropriately.

Closing Date

Friday 10 September 2010

Method of Application

Please forward your application with an up to date CV to HR at: human.resources@fdf.org.uk (stating your existing salary).

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What's It Like to Work at FDF?

SFDF is an equal opportunities employer, aiming to recruit a diverse range of talented people. Our success is directly dependent on the collective contribution and commitment of each member of its staff. It takes pride in having top quality, highly motivated and loyal staff supporting the organisation's aims.

The values of the SFDF are fundamental to the way business is done and to relationships with staff, members and food chain partners. We recruit individuals from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds and the result is a wealth of talent and creativity where outstanding individuals work together to meet the demanding standards of our members and shareholders.

We believe that our culture, built on teamwork and quality, offers opportunities for everyone to have an important impact on the future of our industry.

We believe that our reputation is built on the quality of our people and we are therefore committed to staff training and development:

  • Each member of staff has a training and development plan, which is regularly reviewed.
  • All new staff receive induction training linked to the needs of their new role.

We continue to develop and refine our HR policies in line with our status as a best practice organisation.

As an employer, FDF offers an excellent benefits package including an Annual season ticket loan, Private Healthcare, a Pension scheme, travel insurance and up to six weeks annual leave for all employees.

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Last reviewed: 25 Aug 2010