Policy Officer - Labelling and Trade

 
Ornua is an Irish dairy co-operative that markets and sells dairy products on behalf of its Members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products and has annualised sales of €3.4 billion. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has a strong global team of 2,900 employees, operating from 10 business units worldwide, including 13 production facilities. Ornua’s core purpose is to build profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products. 

The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. Ornua Foods is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands, including Ireland’s most successful food export, Kerrygold, as well as Kerrygold Dubliner, Pilgrims Choice, Avantage, Forto and BEO milk powders. 

Ornua Ingredients is responsible for the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, for the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers across the world, and for managing volatility through de-risking and trading strategies. 

Ornua’s Values 

 
At Ornua, our Values lie at the core of everything that we do and how we behave both individually and as a business. Our five values, and their underlying behaviours, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together.  

Ornua’s Growth  

At Ornua, our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business. We care passionately about driving sustainable, profitable growth, underpinned by our ambitious ‘Path to Prosper’ strategy. We have delivered significant growth in our core business, and we have ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years. 

Why this role is valuable 

Ornua is seeking a Policy Officer to join the Dublin Regulatory and Trade Compliance (RTC) team.  The RTC team is responsible for monitoring, recording and advising on key regulatory, and related issues relating to dairy trade, across Ornua’s businesses, primarily in Ornua’s core and strategic markets.   The primary role of the Policy Officer is to provide: 

• a competency to the business on product labelling and claims, related legislation and standards in Ornua’s core export markets 

• support and guidance on the impact and opportunities to the business of third country Trade Agreements, particularly in the areas of market access, rules of origin and product classification options 

• support to the business on BRC compliance in related areas   

The RTC team is a key support for Ornua’s dairy export operations and involves maintaining close working relationships with many functions across the organisation. The Policy Officer is expected to keep abreast of all relevant labelling legislation, standards and trade agreements, to brief Ornua teams and to ensure the business is aware of its compliance obligations, particularly with regard to product classification and labelling requirements for Ornua’s products.   

Key Areas of Responsibility:  

• To monitor and have a good working knowledge of labelling and claims legislation and International standards of relevance to Ornua’s dairy export business, including: 

• monitoring and advising the business on EU and third country labelling requirements and legislative changes and on market specific and product specific labelling requirements 

• working with national and third country authorities to resolve labelling challenges and related market access issues 

• maintain comprehensive labelling checklists and a database of available information on the main third country mandatory labelling requirements 

• participating in industry working groups (EU and national) on labelling issues 

• To monitor and establish a comprehensive food labelling claims database including regulated claims and environmental green claims for core markets, working with internal departments where applicable and keeping the business abreast of changes. 

• To review Ornua product labels ensuring compliance with relevant regulations for each market and guiding the business on the use of regulated claims.  

• To keep abreast of Trade Agreements, to assist with analysis of their impact on the dairy sector and to work with the business on potential trade opportunities.  

• To work as part of the Ornua team on implementing and maintaining BRC Agents & Brokers 

• To represent the company to the highest level in all interactions with national and third country officials, industry bodies, members, suppliers and customers. 

• To horizon scan for the business in all areas relevant to Ornua and the dairy sector, supporting the team in dissemination of information to the business via email and Connect. 

• To support the team and business in reviewing and proving product tariff classifications. 

• To work collaboratively and to provide back up and support to other team members, to ensure a consistent high level of service by the Regulatory and Trade Compliance Team to the business. 

• To perform any other appropriate duties from time to time. 

Key Requirements & Competencies: 

• Third level regulatory or related qualification or experience 

• Business acumen and experience of working in or understanding of food/dairy industry  

• Ability to work to deadlines, to display initiative and to work under pressure 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 

• Good people, time management and organisational skills 

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.  

Competencies for the role, aligned to Ornua’s Values would include: 

• Expertise For complex challenges or new areas, applies effective professional skill, analysis, problem solving, decision making, prioritising, planning, and reviewing. 

• Ownership Empowers performance; ensures quality and delivery; rewards initiative, courage, and success and/or makes decisions about sustainable growth. 

• Working Together Ensures own team effectiveness; promotes, facilitates and leads cross-functional working and breaks down silos.  Creates and reinforces a co-operative culture within the organisation. 

• Customer Focus Advocates for the customer, balances customer, commercial and business needs, and spots opportunities for growth. Delivers to standard. 

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