Cambridge Colleges Sustainable Food Research Associate
The Cambridge Zero - Cambridge Colleges Sustainable Food Initiative and El Erian Institute of Behavioural Economics and Policy are seeking expressions of interest for a four month part time (0.5 FTE) position from June – September 2023 to be based in Cambridge Zero.
Pay: £33,348 annually (pro rata)
Application deadline: 9am, 19 June 2023
Project Background
This aim of this project is to develop, conduct and analyse a baseline survey to understand current food sustainability practices in all 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge.
Many of the 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge are changing their food systems to achieve more sustainable ones, providing some examples of excellent practice. Currently these initiatives are uncoordinated, thus missing the opportunity for Colleges to build on each other’s successes and learn from their failures. Working together would also provide other opportunities including: (a) commissioning new accounting systems to enable more efficient purchasing of food and monitoring of food waste (b) finding new suppliers of more sustainable foods (c) training chefs in plant-based menus (d) coordinating effective communications.
Cambridge Zero-Cambridge Colleges Sustainable Food Policy Initiative
This initiative was set up in May 2023 by a small group of academics and College officers with the aim of facilitating an evidence-based sustainable food policy across all 31 Colleges by 2025.
The initiative is overseen by a Steering Group that includes relevant College officers (catering managers, domestic bursars, operational managers, conference managers, JCR and MCR green officers) and relevant sciences (conservation and behavioural sciences). Co-ordination of the initiative is provided by Cambridge Zero.
The initiative works to enable all Colleges to implement a policy that builds on (a) the University Catering Service (UCS) sustainable food policy led by Nick White (evaluated 2016-2019)2,3; (b) The Catering Managers’ Committee Sustainable Food Policy, endorsed by Catering Mangers across Colleges, currently activated to varying degrees; and (c) existing College initiatives.
Required Skills
· Excellent quantitative analytical skills; able to collate, understand and draw conclusions from quantitative information.
· Experience of survey design.
· Good interpersonal skills; confident in meeting and working with people from a range of backgrounds and disciplines.
· Strong written communication skills.
· Well-developed organisation skills.
· Ability to prioritise own workload as not continually supervised.
Desirable Skills
· Knowledge and experience of working on climate change and food systems.
· Ability to communicate complex concepts in a user-friendly way which is appropriate to the target audience.
Apply here
Application deadline: 9am, 19 June 2023
Get in touch
For questions about this role please contact: info@zero.cam.ac.uk
