CEEREAL Executive Director
Job experience: 8 years
Job location: Brussels
Deadline for applications: April 30th, 2022
CEEREAL represents the breakfast cereal and oat milling industry towards the European Union and its institutions, industry and consumers associations as well as consumers. CEEREAL was established in 1992 by 8 breakfast cereal associations and counts today 9 member associations in 8 European countries and 10 company members.
Job description
CEEREAL is seeking an inspiring Brussels-based Director with a demonstrated ability for networking and dealing with diverse stakeholders, to convey confidence and with a proven resilience in dealing with politically complex issues where aspects related to regulatory restrictions and political adversity combine.
This is a part-time role, though we are open to consider full-time dedication. The Director brings strategic leadership to the association and plays a leading, proactive role in executing CEEREAL’s forward-thinking strategy and engaging with key EU stakeholders. The Director reports to the CEEREAL Board and is responsible for coordinating the work of the association’s small team day-to-day and ensuring the effectiveness and financial viability of the association.
Responsibilities
The Director of CEEREAL:
Provides and facilitates visionary and high integrity leadership for CEEREAL
- Provides general direction and management of all association committees and guides the organization through the Strategic Goals developed by the Board of CEEREAL.
- Is the embodiment and voice of the breakfast cereals sector towards the EU institutions and other key stakeholders, promote its visibility and seek support for CEEREAL’s positions.
- Is an experienced leader of diverse teams in a collaborative environment that attracts and motivates high caliber talent.
- Ensures effective day to day coordination and communication with members
- Plans the annual budget and maintains financial viability of the association
- Organises Board and General Assembly meetings (invitation, agenda, minutes, action points) and ensures pre-reads are circulated in a timely manner to facilitate Board decisions
- Recruits new members
Organizes, facilitates, and leads the development and implementation of CEEREAL’s strategies, programmes, and policy and priority development efforts.
- Anticipates policy developments and proactively drives CEEREAL’s strategic planning and advocacy plan
- Provides general direction and management of all association committees.
- Ensures that effective public relations and communications programmes are in place to enhance public acceptance of breakfast cereals.
- Manages and collaborates with association staff to ensure effective regulatory monitoring and analysis and to propose effective advocacy and engagement strategies according to agreed objectives.
Maintains or develops relationships with other stakeholder associations, industry partners, government policymakers, and public service organisations. Represents and serves as a respected spokesperson for the association with these constituencies.
- Anticipates and identifies issues before they become problems and helps the industry to prepare and preempt.
- Maintains relationships with stakeholders in EU institutions, agencies and other relevant influencers and media.
Main Accountabilities
1. Ensure that the members of the Board of CEEREAL are fully informed on the conditions and operations of the association.
2. Provide leadership to both normal operations and potential crisis, including the food safety topics.
3. Oversee the administration of the Secretariat teams and the effective operation of CEEREALS’s office, its staff, and their initiatives.
4. Develop Annual budget proposals and Annual action plans.
5. Effective management of CEEREAL relationships with member companies and National Associations.
Minimum qualifications
- Minimum 8 years of related work experience and university degree.
- Demonstrated understanding of how EU officials develop and implement policy.
- Ability to analyse EU policy and advocate positions to a range of key EU stakeholders.
- Demonstrated consensus building skills.
- Strong interpersonal, networking and public speaking skills.
- Ability to work as part of a small team.
- Fluent in English (strong written and oral communication skills).
- Strong organisational, negotiation, diplomatic, analytical, and writing skills.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience working for one of the EU institutions, a food company, a public affairs consultancy or a Brussels-based trade association.
- An established network of contacts in the EU institutions.
- A client-focused mindset.
- Understanding of food, nutrition and food safety issues and the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy.
- Fluent in another European language other than English.
- Passion for breakfast cereals is a plus.
Our offer
In return for your expertise and commitment, we will provide a stimulating role with opportunities for professional development. We also offer a competitive salary and an opportunity to interact with leading breakfast cereal companies.
Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV to info@ceereal.eu with a one-page letter of motivations and compensation expectations, stating “CEEREAL Director position” in the subject line. Only candidates being considered for selection will be contacted.