Policy Manager - GFI Japan

**All applications for the Operations Manager position at GFI Japan must be submitted in English. This position is based in Japan and is part of a global network of organizations which communicate primarily in English.**

Elevate alternative proteins through policy engagement in Asia

The Good Food Institute Japan (GFI Japan) 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.

We work with scientists, businesses and policymakers to make plant-based meat, fermentation-based proteins, and cultivated meat (grown directly from cells) delicious, affordable and accessible. Please check out the rest of our website (JP, Global), SNS, and our 2024 Year in Review to find out more about who we are and what we do.

Japan is home to world-class research institutions, drives funding of technological advancements, and has the potential to lead the global revolution in alternative proteins. The Policy Manager will spearhead GFI Japan’s work with the Japanese government.

How you will make a difference 

Your position will carry both high responsibility and high impact, shaping how quickly Japan and the world transition to a more sustainable and ethical food system.

As Policy Manager, you will lead, coordinate, and grow a small team dedicated to driving impactful policy initiatives for alternative proteins at the national and prefectural levels. You will provide strategic oversight and establish a team that collaborates with policymakers, nonprofit organisations, and other stakeholders while working in alignment with GFI’s global affiliates.

You will play a pivotal role in driving the creation and adoption of evidence-based regulatory pathways for fermentation-derived and cultivated proteins, securing significant public investment in R&D for all alternative protein modalities, and ensuring equitable access to domestic and global markets for alternative protein products, ultimately accelerating the adoption of alternative proteins and contributing to a more sustainable, ethical, and resilient food system in Japan and beyond.

Key responsibilities

Policy development and advocacy

• Developing and implementing policy strategies to achieve positive policy changes, underpinned by thorough research and stakeholder mapping.
• Working with the GFI network, to design, deliver, and implement national policy plans.
• Building relationships with senior politicians and officials in public institutions, including the Cabinet Office, the House of Representatives, the House of Councillors, central ministries, and local governments.
• Building alliances with nonprofit organisations, industry players, and other stakeholders.
• Representing GFI Japan at external events and collaborating on policy issues related to alternative proteins, with a focus on areas such as public R&D funding, trade facilitation, regulatory support, and talent development.
• Monitoring domestic and international policy developments and representing GFI Japan’s positions to the government through written submissions and direct engagement.
• Drafting and preparing detailed submissions, presentations, letters, concept notes, and internal and external resources.
• Overseeing external contracts related to policy work, including partnerships with political consultancies and grant-funded initiatives.
• Serving as a senior spokesperson for GFI Japan in policy matters.

Regional and global engagement

• Participating in relevant regional and global policy fora to represent GFI Japan’s perspective, including at global committee calls with other GFI affiliates and global policy working groups as required.
• Representing Japan at the heads of Policy meetings.
• Collaborating with colleagues across GFI and its global affiliates to align on regional and international policy initiatives, while actively coordinating with policy staff from APAC, Brazil, Israel, India, Europe, U.S., and in the future, South Korea, as well as relevant strategic partners, to address region-specific issues and opportunities. 

Leadership and team management

• Designing and providing oversight and leadership to a high-performing policy team, ensuring objectives, key results, and action plans are developed and executed effectively.
• Managing and supporting future policy team members, including performance assessments, professional development, and other aspects of line-management.

Operational excellence and reporting

• Working with Operations support to manage departmental spending on policy initiatives and adhering to people operations and operational procedures.
• Overseeing policy activity budgeting, growth planning, and any recruitment of new team members in collaboration with the Operations team and Managing Director.
• Performing other duties as assigned to ensure the success of GFI’s policy initiatives.

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. GFI’s staff enjoy high levels of autonomy and must be self-motivated; work well both independently and in concert with a larger, geographically dispersed group; and, be comfortable working in a rapidly evolving operational environment. An ideal candidate for the Policy Manager position will have experience that reflects the following:

• At least 7 years of experience working in Japanese public policy, food security, novel food, economic growth through science and innovation, or related policy disciplines, including engaging with high-level stakeholders in an international context. A degree or equivalent experience in public policy, political science, law, science and technology innovation, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• 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.
• Fluent in Japanese language and business-level written and conversational proficiency in English.
• 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 verbal presentations to a range of audiences.
• 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, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills. Strong ability to persuade. Detail oriented.
• Comfort working remotely and in a rapidly growing and evolving organization.
• 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 best 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 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, 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. 

The fine print:

• Terms of employment: Full-time (flexible hours), contract. Following the initial probationary period, you may transition to a regular employee role upon mutual agreement.
• Reports to: Kimiko Hong-Mitsui, Managing Director for GFI Japan
• Location: Flexible – we will consider applicants from anywhere in Japan. This is a remote role, and you will be able to work from home, or anywhere you choose within Japan. The whole GFI Japan team aims to get together in person approximately twice per year for around 2-3 days at a time. Travel costs will be covered by GFI Japan within our travel policy.
• Travel and work hours: Flexible hours with an occasional need to work at nights or early mornings to engage in global meetings with partners around the world.
• Annual Salary: Up to 10 Million Japanese yen (pre-tax).
• Benefits: Includes statutory health, pension, labor, and employment insurances per Japanese regulations, as well as paid leave per GFI Japan’s policy. 
• Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work, and to be able to travel within Japan. Please note that GFI Japan’s policy is not to sponsor employment visas. The successful applicant will need to confirm they are eligible to work in Japan without requiring GFI Japan’s sponsorship of an employment visa.

Important dates

Application deadline: August 6, 2025

Anticipated start date: September 15, 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!