Policy Lead Business and Human Rights: Specialised in Agriculture

Do you want to fight for equality? Tackling inequality at its roots, together with colleagues, our partner organizations and activists in more than 90 countries? To change the systems behind it, once and for all!

Oxfam Novib stands behind the people who stand up for equality. Together, we fight for a world where everyone has equal opportunities, regardless of religion, ethnicity, sex, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. A world where everyone feels safe; where income gaps are shrinking instead of growing, where climate change is tackled firmly.

Equality is the common thread in our work, both internally and externally. We recognize that our team of colleagues can become even more diverse, and that only with a diverse team can we gain a broad perspective on the world. Therefore, we want to encourage everyone who is interested to apply. Our aim is to create an environment where colleagues feel welcome and diversity is embraced and celebrated.

Our aim is to build a team that offers a rich variety of perspectives, enabling us to achieve an inclusive and inspiring work environment.

Apply and become part of Oxfam Novib!

Job description

The FAIR Private Sector and value chains Unit is part of Oxfam Novib’s Programs Department, which develops strategies, shapes policies, and manages programs and campaigns aligned with Oxfam’s 10‑year vision. The Unit is a team of 12 people passionate about influencing how business does business and is responsible for thought leadership and strategic coherence across Oxfam Novib’s work on private sector. The unit drives partnerships and collaboration with companies but also holds them to account for human rights violations, economic exploitation, and environmental due diligence. Working together we influence the policies and practices of big companies in the Netherlands, in the EU, and worldwide. We do this through designing and delivering programmes, through campaigns and advocacy, and by working together with communities, companies, and other stakeholders collaboratively.

Our work is part of a wider strategy to reimagine fairer and more inclusive economic systems in which human rights and environmental standards are upheld. We primarily focus on food and agricultural value chains because of the impact of the Dutch agro-economy worldwide. Thematically we address business and human rights, living incomes, living wages, workers’ rights, rightsholder engagement, women’s economic justice, and alternative business models. In this role you act as a senior influencing advisor and strategist, providing thought leadership and leading the design and delivery of influencing programmes. This role specifically focusses on Human Rights in agricultural value chains, but you will also support and advise the wider organisation on tactics and strategies for achieving radical corporate accountability, dismantling abusive systems, and poor corporate practice.

Key responsibilities

We are looking for a brave advocate for business and human rights who has campaigning and influence in their DNA, but also someone willing to sit with companies and collaboratively facilitate change at scale. In this role you will:

• Develop and lead evidence‑based policy propositions, research and advocacy strategies in collaboration with Oxfam teams, partners and allies.
• Provide thought leadership on responsible business conduct and agricultural value chains within Oxfam, external networks, and public policy debates
• Lead or contribute to international private‑sector campaigns and company‑focused influencing strategies within the food, critical minerals, or other sectors. Noting you will primarily focus on agricultural commodity value chains where the Netherlands is a significant global actor, such as cocoa, palm oil or coffee.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with civil society organisations, social movements, rights-holder groups, trade unions, companies, investors, policymakers, and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Write and oversee the production of policy briefs, articles, media pieces and research outputs and represent Oxfam Novib.
• Ensure that the perspectives and priorities of rightsholders, producer organisations, workers and civil society partners are reflected in advocacy and influencing strategies.
• Advocate policy positions to private‑sector and governmental decision makers and be a public spokesperson including media, events and stakeholder dialogues.
• Monitor developments in business and human rights, global food systems, food value chains and environmental due diligence.
• Initiate and contribute to new project and program proposals and contribute to programme development, implementation, and reporting.