About FEDIAF
FEDIAF is the trade body representing the European pet food industry with around 200 production sites, spanning members from 18 countries and five companies (Affinity Petcare, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Mars PetCare, Nestlé Purina Petcare and Wellpet). FEDIAF’s mission is to be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favorable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets and their owners. Based in Brussels, FEDIAF is fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, to the wellbeing of pet animals, to their important social role and to the respect of sustainable development.
See www.fediaf.org for further information.
About the European pet food industry
Pets provide companionship, affection and protection and unique bonds are formed with owners. In these times, pets will be a source of comfort and bring their owners many benefits both physically and psychologically. There are an estimated 80 million pet owning households in the EU, with 140 million cats and dogs, 35 million ornamental birds, 20 million small mammals, 10 million aquaria plus 6 million reptiles.
The European Pet food industry is a very significant sector for Europe’s economy and society:
- Throughout Europe, an estimated 1 million direct and indirect jobs are generated by pet ownership such as veterinarians or breeders or connected supply industries.
- Pet food products show annual sales volume of 8.8 million tons and turnover is 21 billion euros.
- Pet related products and services are valued at 8.5 billion Euros (accessories), 10 billion (services) totaling 18.5 billion.
- The pet food industry and related supply and services represent a combined annual turnover of over € 38.5 billion.
Job Purpose:
- Support of the Secretary General in all association matters to ensure a favorable, non-discriminatory regulatory environment for the European pet food industry either through legislation or voluntarily accepted rules.
- To proactively establish and maintain a good relationship with the key decision makers in the European bodies as agreed with the Secretary General.
- To proactively manage the relationship with national association to ensure a strong lobbying position as agreed with the Secretary General.
- Representing FEDIAF in contacts with external stakeholders on key technical and regulatory issues.
- To bolster FEDIAF’s engagement with regulators and society on sustainability issues.
- To manage a small team of regulatory and technical affairs managers
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
- Responsibilities for specific working groups/task forces of FEDIAF including discussion with EU decision-makers
- Analysing, understanding and summarizing complex legal-technical and scientific matters in easy-to-understand briefs and elaborating proposals for action in the area of responsibility (the areas of responsibilities will be consistent with the relevant university degree/background)
- Ensure an efficient understanding of relevant legal and technical dossiers, and formulating and communicating solutions and answers with members and EU decision makers.
- Preparing meetings (agendas), attending and facilitating meetings and writing reports, keep constant update contacts with National Associations (newsletter, etc.).
- Executing decisions of the allocated working groups (two to three working groups, allocated according to degree/background) achieving defined targets and deadlines.
- Assist the Secretary General by reading, researching, and routing correspondence; drafting letters and documents; collecting and analysing information; initiating telecommunications.
Key Skills & Qualifications Required:
- University degree with regulatory, legal or technical (veterinary) background or similar scientific background (see above-fundamental to define university/background)
- Minimum 5 years of experience, preferably, but not exclusively, in trade associations, consultancy, corporate affairs or EU administration.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- Able to understand complex scientific-technical dossiers.
- Excellent oral and written English, with ideally 1 or 2 other European languages.
- Ability to operate independently and under pressure.
