National Sustainability Assistant - Agriculture

Aldi is seeking a National Sustainability Assistant for agriculture to join its National Sustainability Team. This mid-level, permanent role involves developing sustainability initiatives, coordinating carbon footprinting, and supporting agricultural strategies. The position requires experience in agriculture, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage relationships with stakeholders. The role is crucial for delivering Aldi's Global Sustainability Strategy and achieving environmental targets.
Want to join Aldi’s National Sustainability Team? We’re looking for a National Sustainability Assistant to work on helping us lead on agriculture! The role is a permanent opportunity and reports into a National Sustainability Manager who you’ll be working with to deliver our ambitious Global Sustainability Strategy.

This role is a mid-level role in an area that receives a lot of attention, not only from external stakeholders but also across the rest of the business and will be crucial in developing the strategy and initiatives to deliver against Aldi’s targets for farming and the environmental impact of agriculture. It is an exciting time to join the team, with a lot of activity planned for 2025.

Your New Role
• Develop proposals for projects, initiatives and partnerships, and work closely with Buying Teams and Suppliers to deliver those.
• Co-ordinate on farm carbon footprinting through key suppliers and work with the Climate team to support on-farm carbon reductions to meet our net zero carbon commitment.
• Support with sustainability initiatives in agriculture, specifically in produce and arable, focusing on carbon reduction, biodiversity/nature restoration, regenerative agriculture and soils, water, peat, pesticides, fertilizers, waste etc.
• Implement an agriculture strategy for the Produce category.
• Work within the WRAP Water Roadmap and UK water projects relating to agriculture
• Recommend improvements to strengthen our pesticides policy and reporting
• Maintain regular contact with key external stakeholders for each topic (including buyers, suppliers, certification bodies, industry groups, agriculture charities and Government)
• Understand changes to farming legislation and evaluate the impact of legislation on the business and our supply chains.
• Maintain good relationships with the International Sustainability department, input into global strategy and attend working groups on topics of responsibility (agriculture, climate, water, nature and biodiversity)
• Support the business to achieve its national and international targets and objectives.
• Develop and strengthen policies. Co-ordinate policy updates.
• Maximise marketing communications including website updates and the specialbuy magazine to promote the work that Aldi is doing in agriculture.
• Carry out regular reviews of the market for competitor comparisons, media trends, NGO campaigns to inform strategy and policy development.
• Co-ordinate feedback for specification systems and advise technical service providers (TSPs) on collection of relevant data.
• Manage internal and external reporting.
• Respond to external stakeholder queries, customer/NGO/government letters.
• Provide support to the National Sustainability Manager.

About You
• Experience in agriculture (produce/arable) and the environmental impact of farming with knowledge of farm systems and on-farm emissions.
• A keen interest and passion in agriculture and sustainability.
• Awareness of agricultural policy.
• Enthusiastic, confident, professional and articulate with excellent communication skills.
• The ability to build effective relationships with colleagues at all levels of the business and external stakeholders including suppliers, farmers and farming organisations
• Good organisational skills with the ability to manage a varied workload, conflicting deadlines and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to be pro-active and work on own initiative, as part of a team and independently.
• Detail orientated with the desire to improve and simplify processes wherever possible.
• Ability to investigate and analyse a challenge and offer a solution.
• Experienced in Microsoft Office - especially Excel and Powerpoint.

What you’ll get in return
• Salary starting £36,625 rising to £42,270
• Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, with the opportunity of 2 day a week remote working
• 5 weeks’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• In office flexi-time
• Full training provided
• Pension scheme
• Private employee medical insurance after 4 years
• Company sick pay scheme
• Company maternity, paternity and adoption pay after 1 year
• Long service rewards
• Access to MyBenefits, where you can find a wide range of benefits, including our bike to work scheme, shopping and cinema discounts, health cash plan, a FREE will, travel and discounted gym memberships, as well as a host of benefits to support your financial and wellbeing needs
• Access to a free,24/7, confidential virtual GP service for all Aldi Colleagues and their children (under the age of 16)
• You’ll need to live within 90 minutes of your main working location

Aldi is an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and are dedicated to promoting a culture of inclusion, providing an environment in which collaboration, respect and fairness are essential. We value diversity and are dedicated to treating all of our colleagues and prospective colleagues fairly and with respect.

If you’re looking for a career that gives you more, apply today!
• Please be aware that this role does not fulfil the requirements for visa sponsorship