Associate Director, Policy Initiatives

Create a better future of food by launching and guiding alternative protein policy initiatives

The Good Food Institute (GFI) is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI's teams focus on making plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world's climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals.
How You Will Make a Difference

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead the development and execution of policy initiatives to advance alternative protein policy. Working out of our Washington D.C. Policy and Government Relations office, you will manage team members who work on policy initiatives while advancing your own portfolio of executive branch advocacy. The Associate Director, Policy Initiatives will be responsible for:

Policy development, advancement, and evaluation (50%)

• Crafting GFI's positions on diverse policy issues pertaining to alternative proteins.
• Developing and executing a portfolio of (non-regulatory) strategic executive branch advocacy.
• Leading the department's development and evaluation of action plans to achieve organizational objectives and key results (OKRs).

People management and cross-organizational collaboration (50%)

• Managing and coaching team members who lead GFI's policy initiatives: currently the Senior Policy Specialist, Public Investment and Industry, and the Policy Specialist, Diplomacy.
• Honing these policy initiatives to do the most good and advance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Cultivating a positive and collaborative team environment and helping to motivate the team.
• Working with the Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations to improve and sustain coordination and collaboration among GFI's policy team in the United States and those in our international affiliates.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We're Looking For
An ideal candidate for the Associate Director, Policy Initiatives position will have:

• Experience
  • At least eight years at a government agency, think tank, advocacy organization, or equivalent, or at least six years and a J.D. from an accredited law school.
  • Experience leading a multi-year initiative or advocacy campaign.
  • Minimum of two years directly managing, mentoring, or coaching team members, ideally with a focus on policy.
• Skills
  • The ability to mentor and inspire team members-both direct reports and other colleagues-to refine their policy initiatives to have a greater impact.
  • The ability to problem-solve under pressure and take advantage of time-sensitive opportunities.
  • Expertise in developing bipartisan policy positions in a rapidly evolving landscape.
  • Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Alignment
  • A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels like they belong.
  • The ability to thrive in a dynamic environment-comfort pivoting to meet opportunities while advancing strategic priorities.
  • Strong support for GFI's philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in plant-based & other alternative proteins, public health, environmentalism, climate change, animal protection, or hunger relief.
  • A commitment to GFI's values: believe change is possible, do the most good we can, share knowledge freely, act on evidence, and invite everyone to the table.

The most highly qualified candidate would also have:

• Experience
  • Setting international policy through engaging diplomats and multilateral organizations.
  • In the alternative protein sector, with company scaleup and commercialization in any sector, or with securing public investments for food companies or green businesses.
• Skills
  • Expertise in U.S. policy relevant to science and technology, infrastructure, global health, agriculture, renewable energy, climate, or food.
  • Proficiency with best practices for impact assessment.
• Alignment
  • International outlook and experience, as demonstrated by experience working for a multilateral organization, having lived in a country outside of the United States, or fluency in languages other than English.
  • The ability to contribute to the diversity of ideas and backgrounds on the Policy team.

We want the best people and we don't want biases holding us back. We use a third-party anonymizing tool to redact personal information from submitted applications - including name, location, contact details, and several other factors - to reduce bias and increase fairness in our process. We strongly encourage people of every race, color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Since we value a diverse workplace, we prioritize an inclusive climate absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team.

Research indicates that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups only apply if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about GFI's mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don't check all the boxes, please apply. We'd appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The Fine Print

• Terms of employment: Full-time, exempt
• Reports to: Jessica Almy, Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations
• Direct reports: Maille O'Donnell, Senior Policy Specialist, Public Investment and Industry; Michael Carter, Policy Specialist, Diplomacy
• Location: Policy Office, Farragut Square, Washington, D.C.; Hybrid (Monday/Thursday in office; Tues/Wed/Fri from home or office)
• Relocation Benefit: A relocation stipend of up to $5,000 will be paid to cover the costs of relocation from at least 50 miles away from 1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
• Travel: Up to four weeks per year for organization retreats, conferences, and meetings (reasonable accommodations for and exemptions from organization retreats considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Benefits: Full medical coverage, optional dental and vision packages, a 401(k) plan with employer match, flexible holiday and vacation plans, lifestyle spending account, opportunity for advancement, respectful managers, and supportive colleagues. More information here: https://tinyurl.com/GFIBenefits.
• This is a U.S.-based position: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work for any employer in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. At this time, GFI's policy is not to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas.
• Salary: $129,642.76 - $136,124.82 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Important Dates

Application deadline: March 4, 2025

Anticipated start date: April 14, 2025

Decided not to apply? If after reviewing this job description, you have decided not to apply, please let us know why by completing this short survey: https://tinyurl.com/GFIJobSurvey.

Interested in working at the Good Food Institute? Join us for the Career Opportunities Webinar to learn more about our work and ask questions about specific job opportunities! See upcoming webinar dates and more information at https://tinyurl.com/GFICareers.
Application Instructions

GFI uses an anonymized hiring system that redacts key identifying personal information from all applications. We use this tool as part of a wider effort to reduce bias in our hiring process. Following these instructions will help to ensure your application is not delayed by a failed redaction.

• Where possible, limit the creative formatting of your documents. If the name on your resume is an inserted image file or is styled with large spaces between each letter, for example, the redaction is likely to fail. Colors and designs are OK, but wherever possible, the text itself should just be regular text.
• Please use consistent names. It helps to ensure that the name you use in your resume and cover letter is the same as the name you type into the application below. For example, if your name is Jennifer, please sign your cover letter as "Jennifer" rather than "Jenny."
• Submit PDF or .docx files only. Other file formats, like .txt, are likely to fail redaction.
• Please do not include personal identifying information in your responses to the application questions. Referencing past education, work experience, and mission-alignment is OK.
• Please do not contact the role's supervisor or any potential member of the hiring team.

Thank you for helping us to ensure that the redaction process works smoothly and to review your application as quickly as possible!