The Insect Institute is seeing a Program Coordinator to carry out its interventions and drive real impact for its mission.
About the organisation
The Insect Institute addresses challenges and uncertainties related to the production and use of insects for food and feed. They aim to assist this novel industry, policymakers, and other interested parties by providing evidence-based information surrounding the rearing of insects and the creation of a food system that promotes public health, animal welfare, and sustainable protein production.
Brief description of the role
The Program Coordinator or Program Officer (depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate) will be the institute’s second full-time team member, and will be tasked with helping to carry out the Insect Institute’s interventions. This is a high-responsibility role, where you will have the opportunity to drive real impact for our mission.
key roles and responsibilities
Implementing the Insect Institute’s interventions. This might include, but not necessarily be limited to, activities like:
- Working with legislators on, e.g., environmental issues related to the adoption of insects as food and feed
- Outreach to regulators in US executive agencies or UK ministries on, e.g., food safety issues related to insect farming
- Outreach to and collaboration on projects with other NGOs, such as environmental, public health, or animal welfare organizations
- Drafting press releases and conducting outreach to journalists
- Especially for more senior levels, taking initiative to, e.g., identify ways to improve on current interventions, or to identify opportunities for new interventions
- If hired at a more senior level, potentially managing others, especially as the Insect Institute expands in the future
- For candidates with suitable skills, potentially some degree of research and report writing
Experience and skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills –
- Ability to credibly and persuasively represent the Insect Institute’s positions to other stakeholders
- We do not require starting familiarity with relevant academic domains (e.g., environmental science, public health, animal welfare, entomology) or with the state of the insects as food and feed industry. However, the candidate should possess the ability to gain familiarity as needed, and to proactively stay abreast of developments
- Adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to proactively do what is necessary to give the Insect Institute’s projects the greatest chance of success
Preferred:
If you do not meet all of the below criteria, please still consider applying. Please also take an expansive interpretation of the below criteria (e.g., if you are not sure whether your work experience is relevant, err on the side of assuming it might be).
- Relevant work experience (such as, e.g., work in policy, advocacy, or alternative proteins).
- Relevant backgrounds might include but are not limited to, e.g.:
- Outreach to legislators or relevant government agencies (such as the USDA or FDA in the US, or Defra or the FSA in the UK), especially if on relevant issues (environment sustainability, food safety, etc.)
- Work within such government agencies, especially if on relevant issues
- Work in an NGO, such as one focused on the environment, alternative proteins, food safety, or animal welfare, doing work similar to that mentioned in the “key responsibilities” above
- Experience managing others, especially in working on relevant issues – Expertise in a relevant academic domain (including but not necessarily limited to, e.g., a degree and/or academic publications in agricultural science, environmental science, public health, disciplines related to food safety, animal welfare, entomology, etc.)
- Ability and willingness to contribute to research and report writing as needed – Willingness to occasionally travel (e.g., for conferences and meetings)