Undergraduate Food Sustainability Policy Co-ordinator

CO-OP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension contributions

Onsite gym

Coaching and training

Stream app

Grocery Aid access

Job summary

Co-op is seeking an Undergraduate Food Sustainability Policy Co-ordinator for a 12-month placement in Manchester. You will support ethical sourcing, sustainability and food policy initiatives while working with teams across the business to build practical experience.

You'll gain hands-on experience in sustainability projects, supplier engagement, data analysis and responsible sourcing, with opportunities to contribute to campaigns and internal communications.

Qualifications

• Second-year undergraduate in a relevant subject.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint).
• Interest in sustainability and ethical sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate projects to improve transparency across Co-op supply chains.
• Maintain project plans, actions and milestones to stay on track.
• Develop stakeholder relationships and influence outcomes.
• Support data analysis, reporting and insight generation.
• Assist sustainability communications and internal campaigns.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Undergraduate degree in related subject

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

We're looking for a driven and ambitious Undergraduate Food Sustainability Policy Co-ordinator to join us in Manchester on a 12-month work placement. You'll gain hands-on experience supporting a range of activities that help shape Co-op's approach to ethical sourcing, sustainability, and food policy. Working with colleagues from across the business, you'll develop new skills, build your network, and gain practical experience in areas including sustainability projects, supplier engagement, data analysis and responsible sourcing. Why this role matters As the UK's largest convenience retailer, we're committed to providing high-quality, ethical products at great prices for our millions of customers and members nationwide. In this role, you'll support activities that help deliver our Future of Food commitments, working with colleagues across Co-op and our supply chains to drive positive change. You'll have the opportunity to make a real difference across our Co-op Own Brand food and drink supply chains, while building your knowledge of sustainability in a major food retailer. What you'll do

• Co-ordinate projects focused on improving transparency across our Co-op supply chains and supporting our Future of Food commitments
• Maintain project plans, actions and milestones, helping to keep activities on track and monitor key commitments
• Build relationships with colleagues, suppliers and other partners, developing your stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Support the wider Food Sustainability team with project co-ordination, data analysis, reporting and turning information into useful insights
• Support sustainability communications, colleague engagement and internal campaigns, such as World Water Day and Fairtrade Fortnight, including helping with copywriting and content creation
• Work with our suppliers to support Co-op's wider ethical sourcing, sustainability and climate commitments, including our decarbonisation objectives
• Research emerging sustainability, ethical sourcing and food policy topics, keeping up to date with regulation and government, NGO and industry trends
• Prepare presentations, reports and recommendations, and support meetings and working groups to share progress, insights and outcomes
  Knowledge gained from your second year of an undergraduate degree in International Development, Sustainability, Geography, Human Rights and Social Ethics, Climate and the Environment, or a related subject
• A good understanding of the current challenges in global food supply chains
• Good communication and relationship-building skills
• A passion for ethics and sustainability, and a genuine interest in caring for the planet we share and the people who create our products
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications such as Excel and PowerPoint
  Why Co-op?
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Stream app - giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn
• Grocery Aid - 24/7 access to a range of emotional, financial, and practical support services for you and your family

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive: