Associate: Agricultural Supply Chain

Ponda; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering biomaterials company dedicated to transforming the fashion industry with sustainable solutions. In this exciting role, you will develop and implement strategies to expand agricultural supply chains focused on paludiculture crops. Collaborating with farmers and partners, you will help shape innovative practices that contribute to climate resilience and the shift towards planet-positive textiles. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking team that values creativity and sustainability, allowing you to make a significant impact in the industry while enjoying a flexible work environment and a supportive culture.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Flexible Working Hours

Cycle to Work Scheme

Birthday Day Off

Innovative Work Environment

Fun Work Culture

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or significant industry management experience required.
• Experience in managing new crop introduction is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Create and deliver innovative strategies for biomass supply expansion.
• Manage relationships with farming partners and government task forces.

Skills

Project Management

Communication Skills

Agricultural Processes Understanding

Strategic Planning

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Technical Subject

Industry Management Experience

Tools

Logistics Tools

Quality Control Measures

Job description

About ponda

Ponda is a biomaterials company developing technologies to transform plants grown in regenerated peatlands into next-generation textiles for the fashion industry. Our first product, BioPuff, is an innovative insulation material used as an alternative to animal-based goose-down and synthetic fillers. By connecting the restoration of precious peatlands to the creation of healthier materials, farmers are able to build climate resilience whilst supplying an industry striving to reach net-zero targets.

About The Role

You will join us right at the beginning of our journey to refine and scale our agricultural supply, with a focus on wet farming (paludiculture) crops. In this role, you will create and deliver an innovative strategy for the expansion of feedstock supply in line with production growth targets. We are one of the first companies in Europe to actively source paludiculture crops, providing farmers with new opportunities to adopt regenerative practices that have huge carbon reducing potential.

Your role will include identifying and working with these key partners to develop a trusted network of suppliers. Through the careful management of agricultural projects, you will help to shape ponda’s novel approach to material supply chains.

This is a full-time position beginning as soon as possible.

Your Key Responsibilities Include:

Biomass supply

• Create and deliver an innovative strategy for the expansion of feedstock supply
• Identify new farming partners and guide them through our supplier onboarding process
• Oversee the creation of farmer contracts in collaboration with legal partners
• Identify funding opportunities for agricultural innovation
• Work with operations department to develop logistics strategies and tools for multiple different sourcing models
• Communicate agricultural goals and visioning to assist in business development plans

Product development and Innovation

• Work with product testing department to develop clear quality improvement plans
• Develop strategic links to agricultural processing facilities in line with product quality control measures
• Work closely with farming partners to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and automation

Strategy

• Monitor government and other support streams for new paludiculture projects
• Keep up to date on relevant policy changes e.g. CAP, DEFRA
• Manage relationship with government task force on paludiculture
• Develop ties with existing projects in Europe

Who are you?

• Degree level qualification in an appropriate technical subject or significant industry management experience at an appropriate level
• Where appropriate hold an externally recognised professional competence (e.g. BASIS)
• Willing to carry out hands-on and technical tasks as well as higher level management
• Experience in managing new crop introduction and monitoring of both growth and environmental effects (desirable but not essential)
• You have an empathy with producers and a broad understanding of agricultural processes
• Flexible with attending regular site visits across the UK. Driving licence is essential
• Willing to travel for site visits to European partners
• You have the communication skills required to instil trust, influence and enthuse external partners
• You can prioritise and plan effectively to meet deadlines and project targets.
• You share our passion of wanting to shift the textile industry towards planet-positivity

What you get in return:

• Competitive salary
• Be part of an innovative endeavour towards truly regenerative materials
• Contribute to company research direction
• Flexible working around core hours
• Cycle to work scheme
• Scale with a rapidly growing organisation, working with experienced and motivated individuals
• Birthday day off
• Fun! We work hard, but we make sure we enjoy the process.

Equal opportunities employer statement

Ponda aims to be an equal opportunities employer. We invest in people regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race. We assure equality and respect. We do not accept any form of harassment, bias or discrimination towards applicants and employees.