European Food Business Manager (FTC)

European Food Business Manager (12-month FTC)

Role type: Fixed Term Contract (12 months); full-time or minimum 4 days per week considered

Location: Godalming, UK (hybrid working pattern with weekly office attendance)The office is based close to Godalming station, with direct trains to London Waterloo in approximately 45 minutes.

Salary: £41,000 -£46,000 per annum FTE, pro-rata , depending upon skills and experience

About the role

As our European Food Business Manager, you'll help Compassion in World Farming end factory farming and support a more humane, sustainable food system.

You'll build trusted relationships with leading food businesses across Europe, encouraging practical improvements in farm animal welfare and helping companies reduce reliance on animal-sourced products where this supports our programme goals.

As our European Food Business Manager, you'll be responsible for:

• Building positive relationships with food businesses across Europe - Using a consultative, evidence-led approach to encourage meaningful public commitments on farm animal welfare, including cage-free systems, better chicken welfare and improved fish welfare.
• Supporting sustainable food system change - Helping companies develop practical, measurable targets to reduce reliance on meat, fish, dairy and eggs where aligned with Compassion's work.
• Turning commitments into progress - Working with colleagues and external partners to support implementation, reporting, transparency and benchmarking through Compassion's tools and resources.
• Representing Compassion externally - Contributing to industry meetings, forums and collaborative projects that help improve animal welfare and food system resilience.

About you

To succeed as our European Food Business Manager, you'll bring strong relationship management skills and the confidence to influence, negotiate and support others towards shared goals. You'll be comfortable working with external partners or businesses, adapting your communication style for different audiences and managing several workstreams at once.

Skills and experience you'll need to bring as our European Food Business Manager:

• Experience of building and managing positive relationships with external partners, clients, businesses or stakeholders.
• Experience in sales, marketing, communications, procurement, supply chain, CSR, sustainability, food business or another relevant commercial or advocacy setting.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to adapt messages for internal and external audiences.
• Good project and time management skills, including the ability to prioritise, take initiative and meet deadlines.
• An interest in farm animal welfare, sustainable food systems, corporate sustainability or food industry supply chains would be helpful, but we are also open to transferable experience.

If you don't meet every requirement but believe you could thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply.

Why join us

This is an opportunity to use relationship-building and commercial insight to create real change for farm animals across Europe.

We offer a supportive, flexible workplace with a strong focus on wellbeing and development, including:

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Health Cash Back Plan and 24/7 GP access
• Employee Assistance Programme and MHFA support
• Premium Calm App subscription
• Electric car scheme available
• Defined contribution pension scheme
• Enhanced discretionary sick pay
• Hybrid working model (role and location dependent)
• Free onsite parking and office next to mainline station
• Cycle Benefit scheme and other savings options
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities

How to apply and key dates

If you're ready to make a global impact, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining how you meet the Person Specification. To support a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we kindly ask that you do not include a photo in your CV.

Please note that we may begin interviews on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.

Closing date: Sunday 23 August 2026

1stStage (Teams) Interview: Wednesday 2 September 2026

2ndStage (Face to Face at HQ) Interview, with task: Thursday 10 September 2026

"Join us in building a more compassionate future for animals, people, and the planet."

As part of Stage 1 interviews, shortlisted candidates may receive pre shared, values based interview questions to support a positive candidate experience. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know, we're always happy to support candidates.

About Compassion

Compassion in World Farming International is a leading global organisation working to end factory farming. Founded in 1967 by British farmer Peter Roberts, we've spent over 50 years driving change, successfully campaigning to ban cruel practices such as barren battery cages, veal crates, and sow stalls across the UK and Europe.

Our work combines advocacy, campaigning, and collaboration with policymakers and businesses to promote animal welfare and sustainable food systems. We envision a future where animals are treated with compassion, and farming supports both people and the planet. To learn more about our mission, culture, and opportunities, please explore our Candidate Pack, and Careers Page.

To comply with legal requirements in the UK and internationally, all applicants must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the country where the role is based.

Compassion in World Farming is absolutely committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We value diversity and live experience and acknowledge the underrepresentation of people from certain backgrounds, both within our organisation and across the sector. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, whether these be of ethnicity, gender, identity, religion, physical ability, sexual orientation or other.