Temporary Animal Welfare Specialist, Chickens (Maternity Coverage)

at  The Humane League

WHO WE ARE

The Humane League (THL) is a global nonprofit ending the abuse of animals raised for food. THL fosters a high-energy culture of teamwork and mission-driven problem solving, and we have earned recognition as Top Charity from Animal Charity Evaluators for all of their rating periods. Over the past few years, we’ve grown to a staff of 100+ talented individuals dispersed across the country and around the world. At The Humane League (THL), how animals are treated in the food system is at the forefront of our everyday work. As such, many of our staff are vegan by personal choice, and all of our THL-hosted events offer fully vegan menus. We welcome all mission-aligned candidates to apply, no matter where you are in your journey to end the abuse of animals raised for food.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

The Humane League is seeking a tenacious, determined, and well-organized individual with deep knowledge of laying hen welfare and the drive to create progressive change for millions of animals. The Temporary Animal Welfare Specialist (known internally as the Temporary Global Technical Lead or Temporary Global Technical Manager) is part of a small, high-impact global team specializing in corporate outreach and policy. The primary focus of this position is to deliver advice on farm animal welfare science to inform animal welfare campaigns and corporate engagement efforts. This requires extensive research and close collaboration with other organizations in the Open Wing Alliance (a global coalition of animal protection groups) to prepare for meetings with food companies and strategize on advocacy tactics from a scientific perspective.
We want you because you are as comfortable reading and writing research papers as you are in the boardroom and on the farm. You have a deep understanding of how the egg industry works and are determined to use this knowledge to improve conditions for laying hens. You are excited to bring your knowledge to advocates around the world and work with them to put theory into practice.
The ideal candidate is passionate about The Humane League’s mission of ending the abuse of animals raised for food and excited about working both independently and as a member of a team in a dynamic environment. While working with autonomy is an important part of this role, strong collaboration and communication skills are also paramount to your success, as is the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively. This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Global Animal Welfare.
This is a part-time (32 hours per week), temporary, remote position. The temporary hire will provide coverage while a permanent staff member is on maternity leave, and overlap will be provided for training and onboarding. Employment is expected to be twelve (12) months in duration, beginning on approximately February 3, 2025. The duration of employment may be extended or shortened at The Humane League’s discretion. This position requires both domestic and international travel, equivalent to 3 or more week-long trips per year.
The new team member’s title will be either Temporary Global Technical Lead or Temporary Global Technical Manager, depending on their experience and qualifications. Please see below for more information about the responsibilities and qualifications which distinguish the Temporary Global Technical Lead role from the Temporary Global Technical Manager role.
We are only able to consider applicants who reside and possess work authorization in the United Kingdom.
We will be recording a webinar hosted by Mia Fernyhough, Sr. Director of Global Animal Welfare, and Siân Phillips, Sr. Global Technical Manager, Layers. You can submit any questions you would like answered regarding the role and The Humane League via this form. Please submit any questions by Tuesday, November 12, and the webinar will be available to watch here by Wednesday, November 13th.
This position will be open until filled, with a priority deadline of Thursday, November 21, 2024. Applications received after that date will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. If you are experiencing technical issues, please contact careers@thehumaneleague.org prior to the deadline. Please submit applications and all supporting documents in English. All application questions and materials need to be submitted here through the application submission, we do not accept applications through our careers email.

THE ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL TECHNICAL LEAD OR TEMPORARY GLOBAL TECHNICAL MANAGER ARE:

• Animal Welfare Expertise: Veterinary degree or master’s degree in farm animal welfare science, or equivalent experience. On-farm experience required; this experience can be educational.
• Research and Data Analysis: Advanced research skills, with the ability to quickly find and comprehend technical information on unfamiliar topics. Performs advanced data analysis and extracts meaningful insights. Handles complex datasets, applies various statistical techniques, and translates findings into actionable recommendations. Communicates insights effectively to team members to support informed decision-making.
• Problem Solving: Addresses complex problems by analyzing situations, gathering relevant information, and proposing innovative solutions that demonstrate creativity and independent thinking.
• Adaptability, Flexibility, and Proactivity: Navigates complex changes with resilience and identifies and addresses issues proactively. Able to prioritize multiple goals simultaneously and adjust to rapidly shifting priorities.
• Verbal and Written Communication: Able to communicate technical information in a clear and compelling manner to audiences with varying levels of knowledge, tailoring communication to each audience’s needs.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Effectively supports team dynamics by promoting open communication and idea sharing. Encourages collaboration and works cohesively with colleagues to meet shared objectives.
• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and the ability to resolve interpersonal conflicts and challenges. Able to persuade others and navigate difficult conversations.
• Time Management and Prioritization: Excels in managing multiple tasks efficiently and setting priorities. Allocates time wisely to important tasks, prioritizing and re-prioritizing as needed.
• Live and Virtual Presentations: Excellent public speaking skills, with the ability to deliver complex information in a clear and persuasive manner. Encourages participation and handles complex questions adeptly.
• Strategic Thinking: Excels in aligning individual and team efforts with departmental strategic goals. Utilizes strategic thinking to identify potential challenges and propose solutions that align with broader objectives.

IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE ABOVE, THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED OF A GLOBAL TECHNICAL MANAGER:

• 3+ years of relevant work experience engaging with the animal agriculture industry, producers, or policy makers on matters of farm animal welfare. Experience on poultry farms is required.
• Leadership: Mentors team members to develop their skills and knowledge while contributing to a collaborative and focused work environment. Effectively manages projects and delegates to project teams.

A TEMPORARY GLOBAL TECHNICAL LEAD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES, WITH CLOSE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE FROM THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ANIMAL WELFARE:

• Conduct extensive research into the scientific literature and corporate data relating to animal agriculture systems and industries. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the egg industry and laying hen welfare.
• Leverage scientific knowledge to inform the work of THL and Open Wing Alliance member groups that are working with major food companies to advance protections for animals within their supply chains. This includes producing animal welfare education materials, preparing and delivering presentations on the science behind proposed welfare policies, and communicating effectively with corporate executives and stakeholders in the animal agriculture industry.
• Collaborate cohesively with intra- and inter-departmental team members and Open Wing Alliance member groups to coordinate on strategic initiatives.
• Track industry progress, working closely with THL’s other welfare specialists and Global Research & Insights Analyst when required.
• Attend conferences, events, retreats, protests, and corporate meetings as required.
• In addition to the above essential job duties, other duties may be assigned as business needs arise. These may include non-essential, marginal job duties.

A TEMPORARY GLOBAL TECHNICAL MANAGER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES ABOVE WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE TEMPORARY GLOBAL TECHNICAL MANAGER ROLE:

• Serve as a thought leader for colleagues at THL and other animal protection groups in the Open Wing Alliance. Provide training to help others develop their knowledge of animal welfare.