Location England
Job-type Permanent
Salary £DOE
Reference ACRE-12439

PlantWorks (working title) is a new initiative designed to build a global action movement that will in turn accelerate the transition to a world with a more nutritious, sustainable, plant-rich food system. Their mission is to put the world on track for a more secure, healthy, and sustainable food system that is nature and climate-positive, through a radical shift to more plant-rich diets.

Targeting USD 500 million and backed initially by a significant investment, the organization will facilitate the movement, and regrant funds to partners.

You will be joining the organisation at an early stage of its inception - a fantastic opportunity to support the creation and initial strategies that will be rolled out across their six target regions of the world, working with local partners to impact projects directly, and funding strategic research projects to support the communication with key stakeholders globally.

As Director - Just Transition, Rural Economies, you will develop, lead and execute PlantWorks' strategy on ensuring a thriving rural economy as part of the vision to accelerate the transition to a nutritious, sustainable, plant-rich food system. This role will design strategy to ensure that grant-making, thought-leadership, and advocacy puts farmers and rural communities at the centre of Plantworks strategy, and advance thinking on a just rural transition.

In this role, you will:

  • Design a strategy on a just transition to ensure that Plantworks advances a vision that can ensure a thriving rural economy.

  • Work with country directors in the UK, Germany, United States, South Africa, Thailand and Brazil to ensure that their strategy and grant-making can benefit rural and farming communities.

  • Support the PlantWorks Director of Strategy and Director of Research to design transition pathways for farming communities as part of the transition to a plant-rich food system.

  • Create and manage a network of supportive farmer groups and rural constituencies on just rural transition.

  • Advance thought leadership on just transition for rural economies and effective policy and private sector pathways to support farming communities.

You will bring:

  • Proven experience in a role with interaction with farmer and rural constituencies - with a particular focus on bridging environment and farming sectors.

  • Ability to work collaboratively in a remote team environment.

  • Ability to lead and manage teams for impact.

  • Extensive personal network within the sustainability and farming sectors.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail, alongside deep research and analytical skills.

  • Passion for climate change and sustainable food systems.


Plantworks' mission is to reduce meat consumption by shaping the choice context for consumers. They will do this by shifting policy, establishing private sector champions, supporting farmers, and building a wider civil society movement that collectively makes it easier for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable food.

If this sounds like your next role, please apply by contacting us at dan.bond@acre.com.