Market Development Manager

Responsible to: General Manager DACH Region

Department: Market Development Team (MDT)

Location: Preferably Poland, working remotely if not based in Warsaw.

Contract: Permanent, Full time. ASC supports flexible working.

About ASC: www.asc-aqua.org   

ASC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established in 2010 to set and operate global standards for responsible aquaculture. Certified farmed products are promoted to consumers through the use of its ASC-logo.

The aquaculture industry is growing strongly and is already supplying more than half of all seafood consumed worldwide, but this growing demand increases the environmental and social footprint associated with this expansion. The ASC certification and labelling programme incentivises improved farming practices by promoting the benefits of responsibly farmed seafood and encourages an industry towards achieving environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

We work across the globe with aquaculture producers, seafood processors, retail and foodservice companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to make it very easy to recognize and buy farmed seafood that meets the highest environmental standards.

Role Summary

The Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) are key growth markets for ASC worldwide. As ASC’s Commercial Outreach / Market Development Manager, you will have full autonomy to pro-actively drive ASC’s commercial growth and market development within CEE region.

This role will focus heavily on expanding the uptake of ASC’s seafood certification and labelling programme, through a bespoke regional strategy.

You will network, influence and build strong commercial relationships across the seafood and aquaculture sector. Staying close to our stakeholders and partners across various remits including retail, supply chain, farms and other NGOs to achieve our overall ASC vision & mission.

This role plays a crucial part in fostering growth and relationships between our organisation and regional core commercial partners (food industry, retail partners, supply chains and consumer/commodity drivers).

Main Responsibilities

• Implement in-country growth plans to deepen ASC presence and strengthen, defend and promote ASC’s value / brand to achieve outputs and uptake across Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) regions.
• Forge and strengthen the relationships with strategic CEE core partners and accounts (retailers, brands, processors and farms) to deepen their commitment to the ASC programme.
• Maintain and strengthen collaboration with NGOs, other certification programmes (ISEAL members) and consumer organisations. To build trust, awareness and differentiation around the ASC certification programme to clearly distinguish ASC from its competitors (value-add and impact-based).
• Identify and consolidate expectations, feedback, wishes and needs of key commercial partners and stakeholders to support the ASC programme.
• Lever commercial partners’ efforts in linking communication surrounding their marketing plans and events to pro-actively promote the ASC programme to consumers.
• Work closely with the Global Brand & Marcomms teams to deliver effective, engaging and value-add marketing campaigns/initiatives, as needed regionally.
• Work in collaboration with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in support of ASC’s efforts to service commercial partners and other stakeholders across CEE regions.
• Global coordination and promotion of a strategic regional outreach plans to build awareness, understanding and uptake of the ASC Feed Standard with feed mills, ingredient suppliers, retailers and brands.
• Support the creation of key marketing assets for feed stakeholders through transforming technical information into clear, relevant and understandable messages, creatively targeting audience needs.
• Coordinate and promote the ASC program at industry events, such as fairs, conferences,

Person Profile

• An informed and passionate commercial expert who cares about seafood, sustainability and making positive change for fish, farms, people and planet.
• Delivery & results centric, with a natural drive to ‘win’ market opportunities, increasing consumer demand for ASC labelled seafood.
• A strong connector, able to link commercial (or business) reality with the vision and mission of the ASC programme.
• Enjoys networking pro-actively with contacts to cultivate strong and long-lasting commercial partnerships.
• A natural influencer, able to creatively communicate and engage new and existing partners.
• Data-informed and able to spot new growth opportunities and make them a reality.
• Strong organizational, time management and prioritization skills, able to solve problems and manage expectations.
• Highly self-motivated able to work both independently and collaboratively, comfortable with pragmatic decision making.
• Strong brand & communication skills, with a flare for creativity to increase influence, engagement and uptake in core growth markets.
• Good listener with an inquisitive nature, able to harness networking, connection and collaboration across commercial sectors, regional demand and global structures.
• IT savvy, comfortable using many data sources to turn complex technical information into clear value-add and impact-driven results.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Multilingual (native speaking) Polish language with fluent English is required. Czech would be an advantage also.
• Degree level qualified and/or experience in business/market development role with skills suited for regional market development works.
• Corporate Sustainability Responsibility (CSR) exposure/awareness/interest is an advantage.
• An established network across CEE (esp. Poland, Czech) Sea/food service, Retail/ers, Aquaculture, Agriculture or Environment / Sustainability sectors or brands is desirable.
• Understanding and/or interest in Certification Programmes that support Aquaculture, Sea/food certification, environmental responsibility, sustainability issues is desirable.

To apply

Please send your CV in English by e-mail to: recruitment@asc-aqua.org

ASC takes data protection very seriously. We only use any personal data that you provide to us in connection with your application for this position. If your application is unsuccessful, we will retain your personal data for 6 months in case other vacancies arise for which we believe you are suitable. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy, which you can find here; https://www.asc-aqua.org/privacy/

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of choice that reflects the global community and therefore welcomes applications from all underrepresented groups.