Associate Director, Policy Engagement

Maximize the impact of GFI’s dynamic Policy and Government Relations team

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 multifaceted role, you will lead a team in driving implementation of an array of public policy and government relations initiatives through effective coalition building, workflow optimization, advocacy content creation, people management, legislative targeting, and stakeholder engagement. The Associate Director, Policy Engagement will be responsible for:

Coalition building, direct advocacy, and stakeholder engagement (40%)

• Strategically building and maintaining external coalitions of stakeholders across the political spectrum to advance GFI’s policy agenda, including representing GFI at externally facing meetings and presentations.
• Identifying legislative champions and developing strategies for their cultivation.
• Building sustained contact and partnerships with critical external entities to ensure a whole-of-government approach to advancing alternative proteins.
• Developing and maintaining strong internal relationships between the Policy and Government Relations department with other GFI departments, engaging in cross-organizational discussions and strategic planning sessions. 
• Ensuring regular contributions to GFI’s monthly and annual reports build awareness of policy initiatives. 

People management and team development (30%)

• Directly managing team members–currently the Policy Specialist, Policy Associate, and Senior Policy Coordinator–and coaching the Senior Policy Coordinator on leading project management for the department.
• Assisting in hiring, training, and developing team members across the department with a focus on policy impact and professional growth.
• Building a culture of high performance and continuous improvement by ensuring all employees have access to the same opportunities for growth, and integrating different experiences and perspectives when making decisions.

Advocacy resource and content creation (30%)

• Writing comprehensive and compelling policy resources to enable in-house and external advocates to directly advocate for GFI policy goals.
• Coaching team members in developing and honing such resources to maximize their persuasiveness.
• Ensuring that policy resources support open-access research and contribute to a skilled workforce that reflects a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, geographies, and identities.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We’re Looking For 

An ideal candidate for the Associate Director, Policy Engagement position will have experience that reflects the following:

• Experience: Minimum eight years of experience leading teams and managing projects to achieve organizational goals with at least four years of policy experience, preferably in government, a think tank, or a nonprofit or political advocacy organization. 
• Management: At least three years of experience managing and developing team members, including periods of overseeing multiple direct reports at once. 
• Leadership: Ability to mentor and inspire team members and provide stability through periods of team expansion. Experience and commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Communication: Excellent project management, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills. Strong ability to persuade audiences of all types. Detail oriented. 
• Adaptability: Capacity to thrive in a dynamic environment and pivot to meet opportunities while advancing strategic priorities. Ability to problem-solve under pressure.
• Alignment: Strong support for GFI’s philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in plant-based and other alternative proteins, public health, environmentalism, climate change, animal protection, or hunger relief.
• Values: 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.

Helpful additional qualifications:

• Expertise in policy analysis, legislative and regulatory processes, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication, typically gained through experience in government, policy organizations, or advanced studies in public policy, law, or related fields.
• Expertise in U.S. policy relevant to science and technology, infrastructure, global health, agriculture, renewable energy, climate, or food.
• Experience working with or as a member of an underrepresented community, to bring diverse perspectives that strengthen GFI’s strategic approach and policymaker engagement.

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: Pepin Andrew Tuma, Director of Policy and Government Relations
• Direct reports: Margaret Badding, Policy Specialist; Sarah Backer, Policy Associate; Saira Weinzimmer, Senior Policy Coordinator  
• 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 two weeks per year for organization retreats (reasonable accommodations for and exemptions from organization retreats considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Benefits: Hybrid work schedule, full medical coverage, optional dental and vision packages, a 401(k) plan with employer match, flexible holiday and vacation plans, lifestyle spending account, tax-free commuting with DC Metro Smart Benefits, 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 in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. 
• Salary: $129,642.76 - $136,124.82 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Important Dates

Application deadline: April 15, 2025 

Anticipated start date: May 27, 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. This tool is part of an 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. If you have questions, please email careers@gfi.org. 

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