Policy Project Manager

Maximize the impact of GFI's dynamic Policy 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 role, you will have the opportunity to help GFI's team of lobbyists, lawyers, and policy specialists achieve even greater success. Working with the Director of Policy in our Washington D.C. office, you will ensure the effective operation and management of GFI's Policy and Government Relations Department. The Policy Project Manager will be responsible for:

• Directly managing team members, currently the Policy Coordinator and Executive Assistant, Policy.
• Assisting in hiring, training, and developing team members across the department.
• Overseeing the team's project management efforts, working closely with the Policy Coordinator; ensuring projects are well-coordinated and moving forward efficiently.
• Leading project planning and evaluation for the department as part of our organization-wide OKR (Objectives and Key Results).
• Cultivating and sustaining a positive, collaborative, well-run office environment, working closely with the Executive Assistant, Policy, including by being present in the office on the occasional Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday when the need arises.
• Ensuring cost-effective office operations, including by assisting the Director of Policy and SVP, Policy and Government Relations with budgeting.
• Encouraging effective use of tools like Salesforce and Asana to share information freely and maximize impact (training provided).
• Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion in our team culture and policy work.
• Proposing workflow improvements to enhance the Policy Team's effectiveness.
• Providing support, as needed, to others on the team who have outward-facing duties and travel obligations.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We're Looking For

The Policy Project Manager must have:

• Experience: Minimum five years of project management and operations experience in a professional workplace (in-person, remote, or home office), preferably at a nonprofit organization. At least two years of experience managing team members. Experience influencing policy in the United States is a plus.
• Leadership: Ability to mentor and inspire team members and provide stability through periods of team expansion. Experience improving and sustaining diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Skills: Excellent project management, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills. 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.
• Inclusion: A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels like they belong.
• 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: 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.

Preferred qualifications. The ideal candidate would also have:

• Demonstrated experience managing expenses to maximize donor funds.
• Ability to contribute to the diversity of ideas and backgrounds on the Policy and Government Relations 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: Curt Chaffin, Director of Policy
• 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 outside of the Washington, D.C. area.
• Travel: Up to two weeks per year for organization retreats (reasonable accommodations and exemptions considered on a case-by-case basis).
• Benefits: Working from home, full medical coverage, optional dental and vision packages, a 401(k) plan with employer match, flexible holiday and paid time off plans, paid family and medical leave, generous lifestyle spending account, opportunity for advancement, and supportive managers and colleagues. For more information, please view: 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.
• COVID vaccination policy: GFI requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination will be requested before the start of employment. GFI will consider requests for accommodations or exemptions from this policy on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with applicable laws. For more information, please view: https://tinyurl.com/GFICovidPolicy.
• Salary: $81,226.60 - $85,287.80 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Important Dates

Application deadline: April 22, 2024

Anticipated start date: May 28, 2024

Application Instructions

GFI uses an anonymized hiring system that redacts key identifying personal information from all applications. This tool as 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!