US Research Manager

Today, we are the leading international farm animal welfare charity, working to end factory farming and improve the lives of farm animals through advocacy, lobbying for legislative change, and driving corporate policies and practices. Our Food Business program delivers impact for farm animals by shifting the supply chains of leading companies towards higher baseline standards and regenerative farming systems. We aim to drive corporate shifts to more plant-based dietary choices and targets in line with future food requirements. 

The purpose of this role is to help end factory farming. This role will contribute to the on-going technical credibility and development of Compassion’s resources to drive animal welfare improvements within the US food industry. This includes technical support to the US Food Business team, but also the US Campaigns and Fundraising teams as required. 

Working closely with the US Senior Research Manager, you will play a vital role in developing and strengthening our technical resources to advance farm animal welfare. This includes guidance for corporations and producers, case study development, and support on corporate compliance tracking. It is expected for the Research Manager to stay abreast of the latest research and developments in the food industry, including, but not limited to, animal welfare, animal science, meat science, and rural economics. You will also collaborate with the wider global team within the organization to ensure cohesion in terms of resource development, messaging, and workstreams. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following: Other duties may be assigned. 

 Develop new and update current science-based technical resources for Compassion’s US Food Business team to facilitate the adoption of higher farm animal welfare practices, regenerative farming, and/or shifts to more plant-forward diets in North America (50%), and Global team as needed (15%) 

• Produce a variety of new technical resources, including case studies, implementation guides, certification matrices, roadmaps for change, vendor surveys, infographics, and presentations on the welfare of US dairy cattle, beef cattle, fish, and/or regenerative farming, and/or plant-forward eating that lend credibility to the US Food Business program and enhance our knowledge transfer. 

• Work with the Senior Research Manager to oversee external research projects or data collection needed to support case studies. This may include developing experimental designs, performing data collection and subsequent analyses, collaborating with external research partners, and organizing and writing summary reports of any farm/site visits.   

• Collaborate with Compassion’s communications and digital teams on media and visual assets related to launch of new resources, as needed. This outreach may include crafting emails and website copy, and overseeing subsequent correspondence with companies, industry, or media.  

• Maintain current US technical resources to ensure these assets remain up to date for regular use by the US Food Business team and ensure global alignment with positions from the CIWF research team. 

Provide technical support to Compassion’s US Food Business, Campaigns, and Fundraising teams (15%)  

• Provide technical support to US Food Business Managers in their regular company engagement – including, but not limited to, answer technical queries from companies, assist in the preparation of technical meetings, join those meetings when required, attend farm visits, and subsequently write farm visit reports. 

• Proofreading materials from US office requiring technical oversight, including website copy, media responses, campaign materials, fundraising appeals, and compliance reports. 

• Maintain an indexed suite of US technical resources on the US Food Business webpages and in an internal central location allowing easy access for US team members.  

• Support the US Corporate Compliance Manager on the production of US compliance reports.  

• Lead the update of new US consumer guidance tools in collaboration with the US Campaigns team. This will include redesigning the US compassionate food guide into an easy-to-use resource to facilitate more engagement by US consumers. 

Represent Compassion in a variety of external forums – focused on fostering US producer and industry relationships (10%) 

• Work as an industry liaison for Compassion by maintaining a relevant network of US producers, industry groups, and external researchers to foster collaborative and trusted partnerships that help to facilitate Compassion’s mission and build internal knowledge capacity.  

• Represent Compassion in a wide range of formats, including academic conferences, industry meetings, webinars, and workshops, and with other NGOs. 

• Disseminate our recommendations and promote best practices through speaking opportunities at key industry and academic events. 

Build Compassion’s technical capacity internally and with US corporate partners (10%) 

• Contribute to build technical capacity within the Food Business team by arranging or delivering internal training sessions outside of pigs and poultry, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and fish. 

• Contribute to build technical capacity with corporate partners by developing and delivering training sessions in support of Food Business Manager engagement when required 

Compassion in World Farming provides one of the strongest benefits packages in the animal protection movement. Join us on a collective mission to shape a compassionate future for farmed animals worldwide, while experiencing a workplace that truly cares for you, click on the link, to take a look at an overview of our Benefits Package.  

Compassion in World Farming is an equal opportunity employer, and supports the facilitation of diversity, representation, and inclusivity within the animal protection movement. Compassion does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring, and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are encouraged.