Association Manager/Director General

Association Manager/Director General – Food Manufacturing Technologies Europe (FMTE)

Orgalim has a multidisciplinary team of over 30 people – 18 nationalities – representing the interests of Europe’s technology industries: innovative companies spanning the mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, ICT and metal technology branches.

Location

Brussels

Experience

Minimum 3 years

Employment type

Full-time

Orgalim | Europe’s Technology Industries is looking for an Association Manager/Director General to join our growing Partnership Department and lead the Secretariat of FMTE, the association representing Food Manufacturing Technologies in Europe. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a young, highly dynamic and fast-growing European industry association.

Who we are

Orgalim has a team of over 30 people – 14 nationalities – representing the interests of Europe’s technology industries: innovative companies spanning the mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, and metal technology branches. We are working with policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen our industries’ growth and global leadership and to maximise their contribution to Europe’s economy and society.

Orgalim’s Partnership Department provides services to nearly 20 associations across a diverse spectrum of technology sectors. A dedicated multidisciplinary team of advisers delivers a tailored offering ranging from monitoring to advocacy, to full‑time association management, strategy and support.

FMTE represents the food manufacturing technologies and equipment sector. Its scope covers mechanical and digital equipment, machinery and technologies used to handle, process and store food and beverages, including tools used for preparing, preserving, refining, handling, packaging and storing. This industry is the middle link in the food value chain, and its success helps to ensure the competitiveness of the agri‑food sector in Europe.

The Orgalim Partnership Department has supported the establishment of FMTE and runs its Secretariat. Several team members attend to the various needs of the association, in support of FMTE’s policy work, as well as communication and membership development activities.

Job brief and responsibilities

The Association’s Manager primary role is to serve as FMTE’s next Director General, leading the day‑to‑day management of the organisation and overseeing the activities of the Secretariat. The DG supports the President, Board of Directors and Sherpa Group in delivering FMTE’s strategy and priorities. As a young, fast‑growing organisation, FMTE is looking for an energetic, enthusiastic and hands‑on manager with strong leadership and communication skills who can drive FMTE’s future development and be its representative in the Brussels’ policy arena. The Association Manager will also support other Partnership management tasks or clients as required.

The responsibilities include:

• Governance, strategic leadership and internal coordination
• Operational management, compliance, finances
• Policy priorities, positions and advocacy strategies
• Membership development and member engagement
• Communications and visibility
• Support to other Partnership management tasks or clients as required

Profile and skills

Proven experience in association management, coalition leadership or comparable stakeholder‑facing roles

Demonstrated experience engaging with EU institutions and relevant stakeholders; ability to represent an organisation’s positions credibly and constructively

Track record of coordinating member‑driven workstreams and delivering outputs (e.g., position papers, advocacy plans, events, stakeholder briefings).

Core competencies

• Strategic execution: translate Board priorities into clear plans, deliverables and timelines; manage multiple parallel workstreams
• Governance discipline: strong ability to work under Board/President guidance, support decision‑making processes and ensure accountability
• Stakeholder management: build and maintain effective external relationships
  Compliance mindset: comfort operating under competition law constraints and embedding compliance into meeting processes and outputs
• Operational excellence: strong planning, organisation and prioritisation skills; ability to run a lean Secretariat and deliver at pace
• Writing and communication: excellent drafting skills (briefing notes, minutes, positions) and the ability to communicate complex topics clearly
• Fluent English; good knowledge of other European languages is a plus.

Desirable knowledge

• Familiarity with EU policy and regulatory processes relevant to industrial competitiveness, sustainability and food m