Policy Officer

Policy Officer

Fixed Term Contract

GFI Europe - Good Food Institute Europe

Brussels, Belgium

How You Will Make a Difference:

In your role, you will significantly influence how quickly Europe and the world move to a more ethical and sustainable food system.

Reporting to a Senior Policy Manager, you will be responsible for driving policy impact in Brussels and beyond on alternative proteins. This will include, among other things, driving significantly more public investment into research and development for plant-based, fermentation-made, and cultivated proteins and working to deliver a fair, evidence-based regulatory path-to-market for alternative proteins.

To achieve this, you will:

• Help create positive policy change to support plant-based, fermentation-made, and cultivated proteins at the EU level, and, where the opportunity arises, at the national level across Europe;
• Support colleagues to develop and execute lobbying strategies based on thorough research and mapping of decision-makers;
• Help to build and maintain relationships with elected officials and civil servants at the European - Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, and other public institutions - including at the national level across Europe;
• Work cooperatively with other nonprofit organisations, companies, academics, and other stakeholders, cultivating strong relationships and engaging respectfully with people who are still to be persuaded;
• Closely monitor and stay abreast of relevant policy and legislative proposals, spotting opportunities and pre-empting threats;
• Create persuasive letters, factsheets, policy briefs, and other materials;
• Together with colleagues, work with the media and use social media to help deliver our policy objectives;
• Represent GFI Europe in meetings with stakeholders and at public events where opportunities arise;
• Work with GFI’s international affiliates to ensure that our activities in Europe support positive policy change for sustainable proteins internationally;
• Perform other tasks as required.

Who We’re Looking For:

You must have:

• A passion for GFI’s philosophy and mission;
• Enthusiasm for driving policy change at the EU level;
• Working experience in policy at the EU, or at a national or multilateral level, for example in a government, public institution, political party, NGO, think tank, industry association, public affairs agency, consulting firm, lobbying organisation or other relevant institution;
• Effective written and verbal communication skills. The ability to convey information clearly and accurately, tailoring the tone and message to various stakeholders, including those who are sceptical;
• Excellent networking, interpersonal, influencing, and relationship-building abilities, and the credibility and persuasiveness to represent GFI to officials and politicians;
• Strong team spirit and open and collaborative instincts;
• A can-do approach: a self-starter with the drive and initiative to take responsibility for delivering impact and an ability to see projects through to completion;
• An eagerness to learn and to take on new challenges and responsibilities over time;
• An affinity with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and with maintaining our welcoming and supportive culture;
• Good level of IT literacy;
• Professional working proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

It would be an advantage to have some or all of the following attributes, but none of them are prerequisites, and we very much welcome applications from candidates without any or all of them:

• Up-to-date knowledge of and familiarity with EU policies relevant to food innovation, for example, Horizon Europe/FP10, novel foods regulation, and the European Biotech Act;
• A network of relevant contacts in Brussels;
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with alliances, NGOs, think tanks, academics, and industry actors;
• The ability to fluently speak European languages other than English.

We want the best people and we know that building a diverse, inclusive workplace leads to stronger, happier, more productive and resilient teams. We strongly encourage people of every ethnicity, orientation, age, gender, origin, socio-economic background, and ability to apply. Because we value a diverse workplace, we prioritise an inclusive culture absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team.