The Manchester Food Board have two vacancies for new board members.
The Manchester Food Board provides the strategic leadership to drive forward the city’s Food Strategy. It acts as a hub for connecting the people and projects working to shift towards a food system that is resilient, healthy and sustainable.
The Board is chaired by Councillor Tracey Rawlins (Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport at Manchester City Council) and is made up of a wide range of partners from across the city. The Board meets in person on a quarterly basis, in the city centre.
The Board wants Manchester to be a prosperous, healthy, and inclusive city where everyone can thrive. With its wider partners, the Board helps anchor good food across the city, to bring about positive and lasting change. It works with a wide range of organisations, individuals and businesses across the city to find ways of working together that support its aims and objectives.
Members of the Board include leading decision-makers from across the city’s economic, public health, environment, housing, wholesale, community and social sectors.
The Board would like to extend its expertise even further and is looking to recruit two new members who can represent a business, public organisation, charity, voluntary or community organisation. Applications are welcomed and encouraged from people from a broad range of backgrounds and lived experience.
Members of the Manchester Food Board are leaders in their field who are motivated to work together to drive forward the priorities set out in the Manchester Food Strategy.
This includes work around the three key themes:
- Food for inclusive economic growth
- Food for the planet and
- Food for healthy and sustainable diets
The Board would like to strengthen its expertise and recruit two people with either:
- Experience of representing the voice of communities or
- Knowledge and expertise within the food system for example procurement, marketing or commissioning
Principal responsibilities:
- Represent either a business, public body, voluntary sector or community group with a robust understanding of food related challenges in the city such as the health crisis, climate emergency, food poverty; food security of supply and the cost-of-living crisis
- Make a positive contribution to the Board by representing the city’s diverse range of communities and their challenges and opportunities in creating a resilient food system
- Represent the Board within their organisation and professional network
- Attend quarterly meetings and champion the work of the Board outside of meetings
- Apply professional skills, knowledge and experience from their field of expertise to support the work of the Board
Skills and expertise the board are looking for:
- Knowledge and understanding of the food system
- Knowledge and understanding of the key challenges the city faces, with a creative vision to realise how these could become opportunities
- Passion about the city and drive to improve the life outcomes of its residents
- Strategic leadership
Meetings and time commitment
Board meetings take place every quarter and are organised by Manchester City Council’s City Policy Team. These are usually 2-hour meetings and will involve pre-meeting reading and preparation.
Remuneration and expenses
The role is voluntary and therefore unpaid, however, if support is needed to cover transport to meetings this can be considered alongside any other specific costs.
To apply complete the attached application form. Or if you would prefer to submit your application in an alternative format, the board also welcome applications such as a CV, covering letter, email or a video demonstrating how you meet the role specification.
Applications should be submitted via email to manchesterfoodboard@manchester.gov.uk by 5th September 2025.