Executive - Sustainable Food Systems and Consumer Industries
Executive - Sustainable Food Systems and Consumer Industries
Brunswick Group LLP
Brussels, Belgium
Our work within Food and Consumer Industries
Companies across and working with the food and consumer industry are at the forefront of the fast-changing stakeholder landscape and increased sustainability requirements. Their high-profile brands mean they are always in the spotlight and under public and investor scrutiny, and they need relevant, timely advice on how to articulate their story and engage with their audiences in a fast-changing environment.
Our team of advisors bring a unique perspective to critical reputational issues. Operating in a high-profile sector and increasingly digital marketplace, speed of response and deep experience is key. We work side-by-side with the management teams of a range of companies working in this space on an extraordinary variety of regulatory, policy and communications challenges and campaigns.
The Opportunity
We are seeking to hire an Executive to join Brunswick in Brussels, and support our international team working on sustainable food systems and consumer related matters. The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the European Green Deal and aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly. We are supporting our clients in navigating the profound changes the EU regulatory and policy environment is currently facing in this transition.
Working alongside colleagues with strong expertise in public affairs, communications, crisis management and digital, you will have the opportunity to work in a local and cross-border team that helps clients articulate their value and sustainability profile, deliver their message with impact, and build and maintain trusting relationships with stakeholders.
As an Executive, you will deliver timely news updates and analysis, political and broader stakeholder mapping – and in doing so you will develop a strong understanding of clients’ businesses.
Brunswick Executives are the eyes and ears of their teams; they prepare key client documents, in particular biographies, stakeholder lists and policy analysis, and often lead on research.
Key Responsibilities
Client Contribution & Handling
- Provide high quality research and analysis on EU policy developments, media coverage, relevant trends and events – with a special focus on Farm to Fork Strategy and related files and debates (in particular, Chemical Strategy for Sustainability, climate policies, food security);
- Draft, proofread and edit agendas, briefing notes, action reports, press releases, memos, presentations and other documents created for clients; exhibit exemplary attention to detail;
- Effectively handle the logistics around policy and media events, meetings and other client events;
- Remain well-informed on all relevant sector/client policy developments by monitoring and sharing coverage.
Communication Skills
- Write thoughtful, well-structured content; consider audience in style and tone of communications;
- Express a point of view in a thoughtful manner; analyze and distil complex information;
- Exhibit discretion with sensitive and confidential information;
- Use good judgment in deciding what information should be shared and what should not.
Teams & Community
- Actively support account teams in the implementation of day-to-day tasks and activities;
- Keep colleagues informed of activity and project status; develop action plans/meeting notes as appropriate;
- Willingly assume and actively pursue additional responsibility and role on the team; take initiative;
- Participate and contribute to internal activities such as marketing.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 1-3 years of relevant work experience in EU public affairs, communications and/or policy-making, either in another consultancy or in a relevant in-house role for an organisation actively engaged in EU advocacy;
- Knowledgeable on business issues and current affairs related to agriculture, food and chemicals; up to date on key trends, issues, commentators and debates, particularly as it relates to consumer-facing organisations;
- Previous experience in organisations dealing with sustainable agriculture and/or chemicals a plus;
- Ability to operate effectively in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment;
- Exceptional research, writing and communication skills;
- Ability to multitask and prioritise accordingly;
- Problem-solving skills and detail orientation;
- Ability to exhibit discretion with confidential client matters;
- Self-motivated and an eager learner;
- Excellent language and writing skills in English. Dutch and/or French language are an additional asset.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Maintaining and strengthening a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace are pillars of Brunswick’s culture and key to our future success. Valuing and supporting every colleague as an individual while helping them reach their full potential is critical to attracting and developing our greatest strength – our people. By embracing our differences and diverse perspectives we create richer experiences within our firm and enhance the quality of the ideas and advice that we deliver to our clients.
Brunswick is an equal opportunities employer and our Equal Opportunities Policy is available on request.
About Brunswick Group
Brunswick is a critical issues firm. We advise the world’s leading companies on how to navigate the critical issues they face and engage with their critical stakeholders.
Our purpose is to help our clients play their role in the world more successfully. We help the leaders of the world’s great value-creating organizations operate successfully across the increasingly complex and fast-changing arenas of finance, politics and society at large.
Brunswick is one firm globally, operating as a single profit centre. This allows us to respond seamlessly and effectively to clients’ needs wherever they are in the world.
Background
Founded in London in 1987, Brunswick’s global partnership has grown organically to 27 offices in 18 countries. We began as a M&A and financial communications firm and, over time, expanded our capabilities to provide expert advice to our clients on a range of business-critical issues. We invested in new offices, sector teams and practice groups including investor engagement; shareholder activism; governance; regulatory and public affairs, including geopolitical; crisis; litigation; social issues including climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion; cybersecurity, data and privacy; employee engagement; digital communications; opinion research and analysis, and; creative services.
Our CEO is Neal Wolin, based in Washington, D.C. Our Chairman is Sir Alan Parker, based in London.
If you are interested in applying or finding out more, please send your CV to brusselsrecruitment@brunswickgroup.com.
