Senior Policy Specialist, Asia

Elevate alternative proteins through policy engagement in Asia

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 organisations advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals.

As home to key governments that fund technology and some of the world’s foremost agricultural and technology hubs, Asia may be the most critical geography to the future of alternative proteins. The Senior Policy Specialist will work with GFI’s affiliates and partners across Asia and bring an Asia-regional perspective to GFI’s global efforts.

How You Will Make a Difference 

It’s a critical time for alternative proteins globally, and particularly in Asia, the first region of the world in which cultivated meat became a consumer reality, where traditional forms of plant-based consumption create unique consumer markets, and where governments are moving towards broader regulatory support for the sector.

The Senior Policy Specialist, Asia will support independent GFI affiliates in Asia, engage with regional bodies and governments where GFI does not currently have a presence, support regional project initiatives and boost Asia’s voice at a global level by contributing a pan-Asia perspective to global projects. The Senior Policy Specialist, Asia will be responsible for:

Regional policy engagement

• Engaging with key inter-governmental fora and regional non-governmental bodies, such as ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, EAS, SCO, ADB, and others to identify opportunities for collaboration including inter-governmental partnerships and regulatory harmonisation.
• Coordinating with policy staff at GFI’s affiliates, specifically GFI APAC, GFI India, GFI Japan and a future affiliate in South Korea and other relevant strategic partners in the region to collaborate on regional issues and opportunities. 
• Supporting policy engagement in Japan and South Korea as those affiliates are established and build capacity.
• Working with the Vice President of Strategy and Policy, Asia to design a regional policy engagement strategy focused on jurisdictions in which GFI’s affiliates do not currently have a presence to advance our highest-impact policy goals, such as: building the narrative around the benefits of alternative proteins for the global south, encouraging public R&D, advancing trade and ease of doing business, and developing a robust talent pool for the sector.
• Building relationships with government agencies, officials, and policymakers in multiple territories.
• Monitoring policy developments and representing GFI’s views to governments through written submissions and participation in online or in-person fora.
• Representing GFI at external events as necessary and speaking to external audiences on smart protein and related policy issues.

Multilateral

• Participating in GFI’s global multilateral efforts as the Asia regional point-of-contact to represent the views of GFI affiliates in the Asia region, and ensure appropriate Asia representation in global efforts. Maintaining information flow on multilateral efforts to and from affiliates and global colleagues to ensure visibility of multilateral opportunities.

Research, writing, and risk mitigation

• Undertaking detailed research on matters that directly or indirectly impact the alternative protein sector on a regional basis and building connections between existing affiliates on potential areas of policy impact.
• Drafting and preparing detailed submissions, presentations, letters, concept notes, internal and external resources, and materials for government officials and companies.
• Building your own awareness of and highlighting any areas of risk to the alternative protein sector from a government relations and policy lens.

Operational excellence and reporting

• Working with Operations support to provide inputs to department spending and following all people operations (human resources) and administrative procedures.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We’re Looking For 

We are looking for smart, thoughtful, kind, and creative self-starters who want to contribute to global efforts to fight against climate change, promote sustainable food systems, and develop healthy and humane foods that are accessible to everyone. 

An ideal candidate for the Senior Policy Specialist, Asia position will have experience that reflects the following:

• At least five years of experience working in public policy, international relations, or related policy disciplines, including engaging with high-level stakeholders in an international context. Experience with diplomacy is strongly preferred.
• A degree or equivalent experience in public policy, international relations, environmental studies, political science, law, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Experience living and working within Asia is essential.
• Strong experience in and comfort engaging with government agencies, communicating with legislative or executive branch policymakers and staff, both verbally and in writing. 
• Experience building coalitions and developing consensus among partners with different, complementary and sometimes competing objectives.
• Fluency in English to an excellent proficiency level; proficiency in another Asia regional language would be advantageous.
• Ability to navigate dynamic and constantly evolving policy environments while managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines. 
• The demonstrated ability to communicate complex and nuanced information clearly in both written and oral presentations to a range of audiences.
• Self-motivated with the capacity to thrive in a dynamic environment and pivot to meet opportunities while advancing strategic priorities. Ability to problem-solve under pressure.
• Excellent project management, organisational, and written and verbal communication skills. Strong ability to persuade. Detail oriented.
• Comfort working remotely, both independently as well as in concert with a larger, geographically dispersed group in a rapidly growing and evolving organisation.
• Strong support for GFI’s philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in plant-based & other alt 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.

We want the best people and we don’t want biases holding us back. We use a third-party anonymising 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, colour, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Since we value a diverse workplace, we prioritise 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 marginalised 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
• Reports to: Sam Lawrence, Vice President of Strategy and Policy, Asia
• Location: Remotely based role with a preference for candidates located within Australia, Japan, South Korea, or Thailand, in proximity to a major international airport. 
  • Right to Work requirements: Team members will need to be legally able to work in their location of residence. GFI is not in a position to assist with obtaining employment visas.
  • While we welcome all applicants, particularly those in Asia, we regret that we are unable to issue contracts in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Russia.
• Travel and work hours: Please note that this position will entail short trips (2-3 days) every couple of months and attendance at regional team retreats (4-5 days two-three times per year). Flexible hours with a periodic need to work late nights or early mornings to engage in global meetings with partners around the world.
• Benefits: You’ll be engaged in hugely meaningful work at the forefront of a fast-growing, intellectually challenging sector; working in a warm, inclusive and high impact global team; flexible work including work from home with periodic travel opportunities to meet with stakeholders and team members. 
• Salary: The salary and benefits package for all of our roles are researched and benchmarked against nonprofits and think tanks in the country of hire. Due to capacity, we cannot complete this detailed research for every potential country where a candidate may be based in advance, but indicative ranges are:
  • Japan: Up to 9,163,536 JPY per annum (commensurate with experience)
  • South Korea: Up to 80,825,426 KRW per annum (commensurate with experience) 

Important Dates

Application deadline: February 17, 2025

Anticipated start date: On or around March 31, 2025

Application Instructions

GFI uses an anonymised 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. Colours 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!