Fisheries and Aquaculture Manager

• Hours 8am – 5pm, 40 hours per week (hybrid working)
• Negotiable, DOE

About Flatfish Ltd

Flatfish Ltd is a leading UK-based seafood processing company headquartered in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. Founded in 1979, the company has evolved from a small fish merchant operation into a vertically integrated, innovation-driven business serving major UK retailers with premium-quality fresh, frozen, and value-added seafood products. Flatfish Ltd specialises in a wide variety of wild-caught and farmed fish and shellfish sourced from around the world. The company operates a modern production facility alongside traditional Grimsby curing houses, employing circa 160 people.

Now part of Nissui Corporation (Nissui) through its European subsidiary, Flatfish Ltd continues to operate under the leadership of the founding Stansfield family. The business is distinguished by its deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and supply chain transparency. With a focus on innovation, customer service, and responsible growth, the company remains a trusted partner to UK retailers and foodservice providers, while supporting sustainable fishing communities both domestically and internationally.

Full Job Description

Title: Fisheries and Aquaculture Manager

Reports to: Group Head of Technical and Corporate Social Responsibility

Location: Grimsby site, hybrid working with travel required

Salary: Dependent on experience + competitive benefits package

Hours: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week (hybrid working)

Role purpose

To lead the delivery of sustainable seafood sourcing, manage fisheries risk, and embed environmental sustainability throughout the supply chain. Act as the business expert on wild-capture fisheries, aquaculture, sustainability improvement processes/certifications, and long-term responsible sourcing strategy – using your knowledge of fisheries and environmental challenges to drive meaningful change.

You’ll collaborate with dynamic, cross-functional teams focused on key species, support wider social and environmental sustainability goals, and clearly communicate your work to both internal and external stakeholders (predominantly major retail-multiples).

Key Responsibilities

Sustainable Sourcing

• Conduct gear/region/fishery-based risk assessments (e.g. using MCS, SSC frameworks).
• Ensure compliance with sustainable seafood sourcing policies (e.g. Waitrose, M&S).
• Manage certifications (MSC, Global G.A.P.) and Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs).
• Lead and manage the business’ sustainability due diligence process, including Codes of Practice and Supplier Assessment Questionnaires, IUU checks.
• Engage suppliers on environmental performance and improvement.

Environmental Sustainability

• Align seafood sourcing with Net Zero, climate impact, and biodiversity goals.
• Lead on the implementation of Flatfish’s ESG strategy, focusing on wild-capture seafood sustainability across sourcing, packaging, and ingredients.
• Monitor marine ecosystem impacts, transshipment, bycatch issues.
• Contribute to packaging and ingredient sustainability (in line with sourcing strategy).

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with NGOs (e.g. MCS, WWF, SFP), certification bodies, and policy forums.
• Represent Flatfish Ltd in pre-competitive platforms (e.g. SSC, Seafish).
• Own key relationships with customers to deliver their goals, and work with commercial and technical teams to address customer sustainability requirements and communicate progress.
• Deliver tailored sustainability reports to customers.

Outputs / Deliverables

• Sustainable sourcing risk matrix and dashboards.
• Certification audit readiness (MSC, FIP tracking).
• Reports on % sustainably sourced species, by gear/region.
• Summarise key developments in science, policy, and industry to guide internal decision-making and support continuous improvement.
• Deliver training and engagement activities across the business to build understanding of sustainability challenges and Flatfish Ltd’s response.
• Horizon scanning briefings on fishery trends, risks, and regulatory changes.
• Customer-facing sustainability performance reports.

Experiences, knowledge and capabilities

• Proven experience in sustainability, fisheries, or environmental management within the seafood or broader food industry.
• 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, fisheries, seafood sourcing, or environmental consultancy.
• Willingness to travel (domestic and international).

Education

• Degree in Marine Biology, Sustainability, Fisheries Management, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification (MSc/PhD) or relevant certifications in fisheries (desirable).

Expertise and Skills

• Strong understanding of wild-capture fisheries, including topics such as fisheries management and governance, ecosystem impacts and bycatch mitigation, regulatory frameworks, IUU fishing and traceability challenges.
• Ability to lead and deliver complex projects across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Skilled in communicating technical sustainability topics clearly to both internal and external audiences.
• Experience working cross-functionally, ideally with supply chain, commercial, and technical teams.
• Demonstrated ability to design, lead, and deliver projects, preferably across multiple countries or supply chains.
• Strong organisational and coordination skills, especially in cross-functional team settings.
• Confident with stakeholder engagement across supply chains, NGOs, and industry forums.
• Impact driven – proven delivery of projects and initiatives that have made a material difference to sustainability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; able to produce clear, data-informed reports and presentations.
• Knowledge of aquaculture systems and environmental challenges in farmed seafood production.
• Experience with environmental risk screening and/or data tools (e.g. FishSource, Seafood Watch, risk assessment platforms).
• ESG or corporate reporting: Understanding of how sustainability data feeds into customer or investor disclosures would be beneficial.
• Understanding of climate and nature-related target-setting.
• Awareness of broader environmental and social risks (e.g. overfishing, IUU, ecosystem impacts, labour practices).

Attributes

• Passionate about sustainable seafood and driving positive change.
• Strategic, proactive, and solutions-focused.
• Strong influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Detail and action oriented, methodical, and collaborative.
• 33 days annual leave.
• Pension 5% employee contribution 3% employer contribution.
• On-site parking.

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

How to apply

If you\’re interested in applying for this position, submit your application and cover letter to:

angela.ashby-king@flatfish-ltd.co.uk

Questions about the role are to be emailed to Anton Dietschel-Buehler at:

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Industries

• Food and Beverage Manufacturing