Job Description

Build a robust and inclusive R&D and manufacturing workforce to power the alternative protein field

The Good Food Institute 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

The alternative protein sector is poised for significant growth in the coming decade. As the pace of technological progress accelerates, so does the demand for an inclusive and highly-skilled workforce to advance the research, scale-up, and production of plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation technologies. In this role, you will engage a diverse community of academic, industry, nonprofit, and public sector partners around the globe to collaboratively identify and solve the education and training bottlenecks of the future food workforce. The Education and Workforce Development Manager will be responsible for:

• Leading GFI's efforts to develop and execute a strategic plan to build a robust and inclusive workforce for alternative protein R&D and manufacturing. This will include actively building relationships with stakeholders to identify, forecast, and address technical talent needs. Relevant parties include, but are not limited to, high schools, community colleges, trade schools, and universities; startups and industry; professional associations and for-profit training providers; and other partners in the workforce development ecosystem.
• Hiring and managing one team member who will be responsible for implementing and contributing to this vision with the possibility of future team growth.
• Conducting research and analyses to understand the state of the alternative protein workforce, including establishing data streams around the size, diversity, and composition of the existing workforce, mapping the existing landscape of education and training programs, tracking quantitative and qualitative signals that model evolving talent needs for the growing alternative protein sector, and advising workforce development partners on the basis of these emerging trends.
• Inspiring, convening, and advising a network of workforce development partners—both within the alternative protein field and in adjacent technological fields—to close gaps in global education and training. This could include representing GFI on advisory boards related to workforce development, building strategic relationships with program officers at government funding agencies, influencing state and regional economic development plans, mobilizing public funding for education and training program development, giving presentations at workshops and conferences, and facilitating partnerships between academic and industry partners to develop sector-specific training programs.
• Developing and deploying a suite of educational materials and resources that enable educators to build, launch, and accredit industry-aligned alternative protein courses, majors, and vocational programs, and technical talent of all career stages to enter the alternative protein workforce. This includes managing and expanding resources like GFI's teaching library, MOOC, alternative protein career portal, and course database.
• Managing all of the aforementioned responsibilities with a focus on advancing the equity and inclusion of the alternative protein workforce.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We're Looking For

The Education and Workforce Development Manager must have:

• Fluency in biology, chemistry, engineering, food science, or a related scientific field, and a functional understanding of the science of plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-enabled technologies; demonstrated through a relevant Master's degree or higher or equivalent professional experience.
• Deep familiarity with education and workforce systems, as demonstrated by at least 3 years of professional experience developing educational or vocational training programs, such as new certification programs and degree tracks at an academic institution, or working in government, trade associations, or professional associations to support training for emerging fields—especially in an emerging technical field and/or manufacturing industry. Experience with 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions is a plus.
• At least two years of experience in a professional leadership or supervisory role.
• A strategic and analytical mind; with your team, you will be responsible for selecting the highest-impact initiatives to work on to build and train the alternative protein workforce.
• Excellent people and interpersonal skills: the ability to influence, network, build strong alliances, and represent GFI in front of diverse stakeholders across industry, government, and education sectors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to tailor messages to a range of different audiences in the workforce development ecosystem.
• Strong team spirit and open and collaborative instincts (you will be working closely with colleagues on our global Science & Technology team and prior experience working globally in a comparable role is strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated cultural competence and a proven ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, showing sensitivity and respect for different perspectives, values, and customs.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and in concert with a larger group.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to nurturing this on your team and throughout GFI.
• Comfort working remotely 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 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 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: Amy Huang, Associate Director of Scientific Ecosystems
• Location: Remote; United States
• Travel: Flexible, but anticipated travel of 3 to 5 weeks per year for conferences, workshops, and organizational retreats, mostly within the United States (reasonable accommodations and exemptions from the retreats are 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. Sa
• Salary: $86,377.72 - $93,912 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Application Deadline: February 20, 2024

Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2024

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. We are testing 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.
• 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!

*Please mention you saw this ad on VeteransInAcademia.*

Apply Now