Vacancies

The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) plays an important role towards the transformation of food systems through the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Together with our founding members Danone, Nestlé and Unilever, we bring together over 170+ members (Our Members — SAI Platform) from the food and beverage industry, including farmer cooperatives, manufacturers, processors and retailers. Our affiliate members include agricultural input providers, support services, assurance schemes providers, as well as other industries that source agricultural products.

SAI Platform is known for its collaborative action and the development of industry solutions to assess sustainability at farm or processor level. Recently, the Platform declared that Climate, Nature and Livelihood are areas of great strategic importance for the future development of the organisation. Projects supported by the Platform and our members must bring a significant contribution to these impact areas.

Our recently launched Regenerative Agriculture Programme – an industry flagship initiative to drive the conversion of the agricultural sector towards the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices – supports members in delivering on said impact areas.

Climate Subject Matter Expert – Agriculture (100% FTE)

SAI Platform is recruiting a Climate Expert in Agriculture. This is a very exciting role and a unique opportunity for an individual with a proven track record to lead and shape SAI Platform’s climate agenda and ultimately influence the sourcing protocols and standards of the food and beverage industry.

Given SAI Platform’s scope and breath, the Climate Expert in Agriculture will have a very influential and impactful position with direct and strong connection to SAI Platform’s members and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and development of SAI Platform’s Climate agenda for agriculture (Scope 3).
• Ensure integration of Climate and LCA approaches in SAI Platform’s collaborative action programmes and industry solutions. 
• Advise SAI Platform on NetZero and Science-based Target reporting in agriculture requirements and procedures.
• Represent SAI Platform vis-à-vis standard setting bodies, industry associations and third-party validators/ verifiers concerning climate on GHG emission accounting.
• Identify needs, develop training courses, and build up capabilities for Climate and LCA skills at SAI Platform.
• Be the first point of contact for questions related to GHG assessment methodology.
• Manage external consultants and service providers effectively and cost-consciously.
• Ensure professional communications with both internal and external stakeholders.

Candidate requirements 

• Advanced degree in environmental science/ engineering or equivalent with thorough experience in LCA, ideally in the agri-food value chain (scope 3).
• Knowledge of using different LCA tools for GHG footprint assessment. Flair for technological innovation in the area of Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV). 
• Proven experience in implementing Climate and LCA projects in agriculture and forestry.
• Good knowledge and understanding of science-based target initiative and carbon certification requirements and procedures (e.g., Goldstandard, Vera, GHGProtocol).
• Track record in climate change, environmental and agricultural sustainability topics.
• Strategic, analytical, conceptual skills.
• Ability to explain complex topics in a simple and succinct manner.
• Multi-stakeholder orchestration track record.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Self-motivated and able to work remotely with a virtual team.
• Native or near-native level English speaker with excellent verbal and written skills.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of relevant work experience.

Applications

With this position SAI Platform offers an influential role in the agricultural raw material sourcing sector. Employment will either be on a freelance or employee contract basis. The role involves 10-20% travel. SAI Platform invites candidates of all nationalities, especially those with working permit for North America and Europe.

The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) plays an important role towards the transformation of food systems through the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Together with our founding members Danone, Nestlé and Unilever, we bring together over 170+ members from the food and beverage industry, including farmer cooperatives, manufacturers, processors and retailers. Our affiliate members include agricultural input providers, support services, assurance schemes providers, as well as other industries that source agricultural products.

SAI Platform is known for its collaborative action and the development of industry solutions to assess sustainability at farm or processor level. The most recent addition to our suite of industry solutions being the Regenerative Agriculture Programme. Climate, Nature and Livelihood are of significant strategic importance for the future development of the organisation.

Director Crops Working Group (100% FTE)

SAI Platform is recruiting a Director to lead the Crops Working Group. This is a very exciting role and a unique opportunity for a high calibre individual with a proven track record to lead and shape the Crops Working Group’s agenda. The services and solutions that SAI Platform develops will ultimately influence sourcing protocols and standards of the food and beverage industry.

Given SAI Platform’s scope and breath, the Crops Working Group Director will have a very influential and impactful position with direct and strong connection to SAI Platform members and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership of SAI Platform’s Crop Working Group.
• Ensure effective collaboration between the Crops Working Group and other existing groups such as dairy, beef, and industry solutions (e.g., ERBS, FSA, RegenAg and SDP).
• Further develop the Crops Working Group strategy, growth, and resourcing plan.
• Build stakeholder engagement and commitment, share insights.
• Represent Crops Working Group vis-à-vis other industry associations, at conferences and third-party convenings.
• Work with members to initiate and develop climate-smart and regenerative agriculture projects and programmes delivering outcomes and impact at scale.
• Manage external consultants and service providers effectively and cost-consciously.
• Further establish and optimise evaluating and reporting mechanisms to monitor and share progress of projects.
• Ensure strong governance of process and budget with related tracking and reporting.
• Ensure excellent communications on plans and progress with both internal and external stakeholders.

Candidate requirements 

• Advanced degree in agronomy or equivalent with extensive experience in sourcing of agricultural raw materials and value chains development.
• Experience in implementing projects on soil, biodiversity, water management practices and precision agriculture technology at farm level and supply shed level.
• Proven success in farm advisory/consultancy and large-scale project management
• Strong team leadership skills, excited by, and comfortable with managing a dispersed remote team.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and conceptual skills.
• Thorough understanding of the real issues and practicalities of farming and the ability to relate to farmers accordingly and speak their language.
• Self-motivated, able to work remotely and achieve decisive results.
• Track record in multi-stakeholder orchestration.
• Business-oriented and pragmatic approach with a clear understanding of the needs of diverse stakeholders along the value chain.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Native or near-native level English speaker with excellent verbal and written skills.
• Minimum of 10-12 years of relevant work experience.

Applications

With this position SAI Platform offers an influential role in the agricultural raw material sourcing sector. Employment will either be on a freelance or employee contract basis. The role involves some 10-30% of travel. SAI Platform invites candidates of all nationalities, especially those with working permit for North America and Europe.