Why these jobs?

Some jobs here won't look like jobs you'd expect could positively change the food system, and some that do won't be here at all. This page explains why, so you can better understand why we choose the jobs that we do.

The question we ask about every job

Does this job have a real say in what food a business sources, specifies, buys, reformulates or serves?

What we're really asking is whether the person in this job could change what a business buys, and to what standard. Supplier standards, product specifications, audits, buying criteria and menus are where that gets decided.

That covers every kind of big food buyer: supermarkets and manufacturers, hospitality and food service businesses like restaurant groups, hotel chains and contract caterers, and public buyers like the NHS, councils, schools and universities. Their buyers, category managers and catering managers decide what goes into millions of meals.

How we score each job

Every job gets a score from 1 to 5, shown on the listing. It measures one thing: how much say the job has over what protein a business sources, specifies, buys and serves. A 5 has a real say in those decisions, like the standards suppliers have to meet, what protein a category buys, or what goes on a menu. A 1 might have an impressive title, but it's a long way from any of them.

We focus on protein because it's one of the biggest choices a food business makes, for its carbon footprint, its land use and its supply chain risk. That's why some good sourcing jobs score low. A responsible sourcing job buying flour, packaging and vegetables has real influence, just not over protein. We score what the job can affect, not how impressive it sounds.

The score isn't a rating of how good the job is, and a low score isn't a warning. Lots of the most useful jobs here score 2 or 3, because they build the credibility and skills you'll need for the more influential jobs later. Look at the score next to the seniority. An entry-level job scoring 2 is doing exactly what an entry-level job should.

Job titles don't tell you much. A Head of Sustainability can be a long way from the decisions, while a Responsible Sourcing Coordinator three levels down is right next to them. That's why you'll see buyers and technologists here, and why some jobs with sustainability in the title aren't here.

What we leave out

• Jobs outside the food system, even when the sourcing language sounds the same.
• Buying for things a food company doesn't sell, like IT, facilities or packaging.
• Food categories with no link to protein, like fresh produce, drinks and horticulture.
• Operational jobs with no say over sourcing, from the kitchen to the warehouse floor.
• Recruitment agencies, and any advert that hides who the employer is. We can't judge a job without knowing the business.

Three kinds of job

• Responsible sourcing & supplier standards: Supplier standards, ethical trade, audits and certification. This is where the rules suppliers have to follow get written and checked.
• Plant-forward & alternative protein: Menus, reformulation and category strategy. These jobs decide how far a business shifts towards plant proteins.
• Broader food sustainability: Technical, quality, procurement and product jobs. They build your credibility inside a food business, and the influence over sourcing that comes with it.

What you'll find on every listing

Why this role matters: What could change from this job, and what it sets you up for later. If it's a stepping stone rather than a job with real power, we say so.

Where this role can take you: The skills and experience it builds, the jobs it can lead to, and what those next jobs can change.

How to position yourself: Change in food businesses rarely happens because someone argued it was the right thing to do. It happens when someone makes the case in terms of cost, risk, resilience, carbon or nutrition. These notes give you the language that works for that job.

Key terms: The skills and qualifications the advert asks for, in its own words. Applications are often screened by software looking for exact phrases.

Where we might get it wrong

Some jobs reach us as a short extract rather than the full advert, and we can only judge what's written. When there isn't much to go on, we'd rather score low than guess. So, if a listing sounds cautious, that might be down to the advert rather than the job. Always read the original before you decide.