Aquaculture Impact Support Manager
( Fulltime / 40 hours - Utrecht, The Netherlands)

About Aqua-Spark

Aqua-Spark is a global investment fund that makes investments in sustainable aquaculture businesses that generate investment returns, whilst creating positive social and environmental impact. The fund is building an ecosystem of small to medium-sized enterprises across the global aquaculture value chain, to make the entire value chain of food more sustainable, healthier and more accessible for all. All of this with our great team, from our beautiful office in the city center of Utrecht! The Aqua-Spark team is fast-growing, diverse, international, hardworking, tight-knit, with a clear focus on our mission. You report directly to the Director of Partnerships.

At Aqua-Spark, we believe that meeting the growing demand for fish products while simultaneously sustaining our environment requires a radical transformation. We are contributing to this transformation by investing in those companies in the aquaculture value chain that demonstrate a shared vision of a sustainable future. Our portfolio of mission aligned companies will serve as an example of a truly sustainable commercial aquaculture. To motivate wider industry adoption, we work with supply chain participants to strengthen each other’s commitment to a more sustainable industry, collaborating to test and adopt new practices and technologies.

The role

This role offers great diversity, with each day presenting new and exciting tasks! You will make an important contribution to our mission by executing our impact approach. You will compile documents and report on topics relevant to our, and our portfolio’s impact targets. You will work as part of a team including the Director of Partnerships and the Aqua Insights Editor in Chief. In addition, you will be working in close collaboration with other Aqua-spark teams, especially the Dealflow- and Investment teams.

Responsibilities

As the Aquaculture Impact Support Manager you;

• Investment support
• Roll out the impact approach within the Investment Team by using Aquaculture knowledge and communication skills.
• Review and provide input to Investment Team on Leads, Q-leads, DD questionnaires, Impact Action Plans, KPIs, Investment memos.
• Portfolio Support
• Support Portfolio managers, Board members and (as needed) portfolio companies to deliver on their impact, synergies and partnership objectives
• Support portfolio companies, utilizing the community platform once launched; e.g. create/provide content
• Impact reporting
• Collect impact data to be used for Aqua-Spark reports including: Quarterly investor reports, Annual impact report, Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative and other investor reports as needed.
• Research
• Through desk research and expert interviews, identify tools and methodologies that better capture and accelerate the impact of Aqua-Spark and of our portfolio (eg review opportunities for carbon credits)
• Identify service providers to support our portfolio in accelerating their impact and to establish programs to measure said impact
• Impact strategy
• Contribute to updating regularly the Aqua-Spark impact strategy as to ensure we leverage most recent knowledge
• Internal learning
• Coordinate internal aquaculture learning activities by identifying experts, developing agendas, coordinating execution.

What do you need to be successful in this position at Aqua-Spark?

• Master degree or higher in aquaculture or another related field such as fisheries or agriculture with a strong aquaculture component.
• At least 3-5 years working experience in sustainable aquaculture. Experience with different species and geographies is an advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. Proficiency in additional languages is beneficial but not mandatory.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially a very good working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint .
• Experience in writing and/or reviewing publications and producing summaries of scientific literature is an advantage.

Required personal skills

• Excellent at establishing and maintaining new contacts and relationships with stakeholders;
• Good written and oral communication skills in English. Additional languages are an advantage but not required;
• Service- and detail-oriented, structured and business minded;
• Organized, self-motivated and proactive;
• Broad interest with an awareness of trends in the relevant markets of aqua-/agriculture/global food production industry.
• Strong analytical skills, practical, able to work independently and learn fast
• High personal integrity, including the capacity to discretely handle highly confidential and sensitive information.
• High energy and positive team member.

Remuneration

You will have a genuinely impactful role within a great entrepreneurial and global, sustainable organization that is growing fast. In addition we offer the ideal candidate:

• Flexible working hours and partially working from home are an option.
• An excellent salary package including participation profit sharing.
•  Generous Holiday package
•  Development opportunities for professional growth
• Working in an international organisation that values inclusiveness and diversity. Excellent introduction, quick integration and opportunities for professional development.
• You’ll find yourself working in a challenging international environment collaborating within a growing and great team of professionals!

For more information or if you would like to apply directly, please get in touch with Marjolein Jetten (HR) marjolein@aqua-spark.nl and Bente Jonker (HR) at bente@aqua-spark.nl. We look forward to receiving your application!