The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has launched a recruitment campaign for the appointment to the role of CEO of its new office of fairness and transparency in the agri-food supply chain.
According to the job listing, the principal purpose of the new office is to provide a service to support the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.
The office will have the following main functions, the listing adds:
- Collect, analyse and regularly publish reports on price and market data concerning the agricultural and food supply chain and generally in relation to the agricultural and food sector in Ireland, including on contingency issues;
- Ensure the increased availability of market information with a view to strengthening the position of farmers, fishers and other suppliers in the ag and food supply chain against larger buyers with greater bargaining power;
- A regulatory enforcement function concerning prohibited unfair trading practices and will promote fairness and compliance in the agricultural and food supply chain;
- An Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority (UTPEA) will be established under the remit of the Office and shall enforce the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive 1;
- The new office will take over the enforcement function of the interim UTPEA, which was established in the DAFM, following the transposition of the UTP Directive in April 2021 by SI 198 of 20212.
Location and duration
- Permanent location to be determined – Envisaged the role will temporarily be based in the DAFM, Dublin 2;
- Role likely to be outside Dublin region;
- Fixed-term contract – for a period of no more than five years from the date of appointment.
Responsibilities:
The CEO will have a “key” role in promoting and enforcing fairness for, in particular, primary producers and smaller food businesses.
They will require “significant” skills to allow effective engagement and communication with stakeholders all along the agri-food supply chain.
These stakeholders include:
- Large multinational retail buyers;
- Wholesalers;
- Processors;
- Co-operatives;
- Farming representative organisations;
- Farmers;
- Fishers;
- Food businesses;
- The food service sector;
- The European Commission;
- Relevant authorities/offices in other EU Member States;
- Government bodies;
- The media.
Essential requirements:
The ideal candidate must have:
- A qualification of at least Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), preferably in economics, finance, law, business or agricultural science (on or before the closing date);
- Relevant senior management employment experience (minimum five years) in the agriculture, food, drink, or horticulture sectors or in the public service;
- Strong leadership skills and an ability to lead strategic change within a complex stakeholder environment;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and a track record of building effective relationships and influencing stakeholders;
- Track record of innovative thinking, sound judgment and informed decision-making;
- Forward-looking approach with vision, creativity, and a high degree of personal effectiveness and commitment to public service values.
Desirable:
The following are desirable but not essential:
- A post-graduate (Level 9 NFQ) qualification in a relevant discipline;
- Relevant senior-level experience in managing operations and procedures involving complaints, investigations or equivalent;
- Experience working within a complex legal/regulatory environment;
- Significant management experience, including project management, budget management and strategic management at an appropriate scale and level.
Salary
The salary scale for this position, with effect from February 1st, 2022, is as follows:
PPC: – Year 1: €98,593, €102,652, €106,732, €110,802, €114,272 (NMAX), €117,928 (LSI 1), €121,586 (LSI 2).
This rate will apply where the appointee is an existing civil or public servant appointed on or after April 6th, 1995 and is required to make a personal pension contribution.
How to apply
Your application must be submitted no later than 4 pm on October 21st, 2022, by email to [email protected]
Applications will not be accepted after this date. All queries relating to this recruitment campaign should be directed to – [email protected]. Use the subject heading: ‘CEO Office of Fairness and Transparency in the Agri-Food Supply Chain’
