Agriculture, Welfare & Sustainability - Contractor

ABOUT US

Foods Connected connects supplier, quality, production, and compliance data in one platform — so food businesses can spot risk earlier, strengthen compliance, and make confident decisions across their supply chain. We work with some of the UK’s leading food retailers and manufacturers, helping them manage supply chain assurance, sustainability programmes, and compliance at scale.

We are a B2B software and professional services business. We sit at the intersection of deep food-industry expertise and data-driven assurance. When we engage contractors, they join projects where the work is substantive, the brief is structured, and the team genuinely understands the subject matter.

WHY WE’RE BUILDING A CONTRACTOR NETWORK
As demand for specialist project support grows across our client portfolio, we’re building a network of experienced, self-employed practitioners who can hit the ground running. Contractors are engaged on a defined-project basis — timelines and scope vary — and are expected to work independently within a structured brief.

AREAS OF SPECIALISM
We are interested in practitioners with hands-on expertise in one or more of the following:
•    Livestock production systems and farmed animal welfare assessment
•    Human rights and social compliance in food supply chains
•    Farm and factory auditing
•    Agricultural supply chain traceability and risk management
•    Sustainability strategy, reporting, and impact measurement

THE WORK
Contractors in this specialism are typically engaged to support projects across the following activity types:

Customer Advisory & Specialist Consultancy
•    Provide expert advice on livestock standards, sustainability considerations, and policy developments across species including pork, poultry, and commercial egg.
•    Advise customers and suppliers on current and emerging regulatory frameworks — including UK and EU animal welfare legislation, EUDR, and relevant sustainability standards.
•    Deliver on-site consulting and training at farms, transport operations, and processing facilities.
•    Benchmark standards and practices across whole-chain animal welfare, sustainability, and food safety, providing customers with clear assessments and improvement roadmaps.
•    Engage with NGOs and industry bodies to translate policy and standards developments into practical customer recommendations.

Programme Development & Compliance Support
•    Lead or support programmes and protocols designed to drive measurable improvement in animal welfare and sustainability performance.
•    Support farms and production facilities in developing and implementing corrective actions identified through audits.
•    Develop and deliver training on animal welfare practices, environmental compliance, and sustainability standards — adapted for diverse supply chain audiences.
•    Contribute to best practice guidance, policy frameworks, and SOPs aligned with current regulatory requirements.

Standards, Policy & External Engagement
•    Monitor developments across animal welfare science, agricultural policy, aquaculture regulation, and environmental legislation.
•    Engage with NGOs, regulatory bodies, and industry associations to track policy shifts and emerging best practice.
•    Contribute to thought leadership through guidance documents, white papers, and briefings.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The right contractors will bring a combination of hands-on industry experience and a clear understanding of retailer or foodservice assurance requirements.
Essential
•    Degree in Animal Science, Livestock Science, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Food Science, or a related field — or equivalent demonstrated professional experience.
•    Proven experience providing specialist advice on animal welfare, agricultural policy, sustainability, or food safety across one or more relevant livestock species.
•    Strong working knowledge of UK and EU regulatory frameworks relevant to livestock production, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability, including EUDR.
•    Demonstrated experience delivering on-site consultancy, training, or auditing at farm, transport, or processing level.
•    Ability to translate complex scientific and regulatory content into practical, accessible guidance for diverse audiences.
•    Self-directed working style — able to deliver to a structured brief independently and manage your own time across a defined project scope.
Desirable
•    Postgraduate qualification in Animal Welfare, Livestock Science, Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a related discipline.
•    Experience engaging with NGOs, regulatory bodies, or industry certification schemes in a professional advisory capacity.
•    Familiarity with CSR frameworks including carbon accounting, packaging waste regulation, and deforestation-free supply chain requirements.
•    Experience working in a professional services, consultancy, or B2B customer-facing environment.
•    Familiarity with digital traceability, supply chain compliance, or sustainability platforms.
•    Experience supporting customers through audit corrective action processes.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US
Work that is substantive and varied, with a team that genuinely understands the subject matter. Foods Connected sits at the intersection of food industry expertise and data-driven assurance,  we don’t deal in generalities.
Projects are real, scoped, and grounded in food-industry reality. You will work alongside permanent specialists, receive clear briefs with defined deliverables, and engage with some of the UK’s leading retailers and manufacturers.