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The Good Food Institute India (GFI India) is the leading organisation and expert convening body for India’s emerging smart protein sector. As part of an international network of organisations across the U.S., Brazil, Europe, Israel, Japan, and APAC, we are on a mission to build a secure, sustainable, and equitable global food system for all. Working alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI India’s team focuses on making alternative proteins delicious, affordable, and accessible. Leveraging India’s unique strengths—indigenous crops and agrarian economy, low-cost technologies and infrastructure, abundant talent pool, and biomanufacturing prowess—we are pioneering an ecosystem that can put smart protein on every plate.


How You Will Make a Difference

It’s a critical time for smart protein in India and globally. We’ve seen several exciting announcements and a promising beginning, with GFI India at the centre of these developments, but plenty of work remains to build a truly thriving industry and achieve our public and planetary health goals. The Policy Specialist will make GFI India’s work possible by supporting our engagement with critical stakeholders and partners who can accelerate the impact of smart proteins (plant based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived meat, eggs and dairy).


In this role, you will have the opportunity to support some of GFI India’s key policy engagements, contribute to the organisation’s strategic priorities at the intersection of policy and industry, cultivate and solidify high level relationships, represent and cement GFI India’s position as the expert authority on alternative proteins in India, and bring our work to the most influential audiences for building alliances and accelerating progress.


The Policy Specialist will be responsible for:


Project and stakeholder management

  • Work at the intersection of policy and industry (including leveraging CSR opportunities), to ideate and drive initiatives that will lead to increased engagement and scaling up of the alternative protein sector.
  • Serve as the Policy team’s primary point of contact for all industry related initiatives: entrepreneurs and investors, maintaining trusted, authentic relationships and ensuring consistent, high-quality engagement.
  • Support and build GFI India’s Policy stakeholder relationships with designated government agencies and civil society.
  • Work closely with the Head of Policy to identify and engage with state governments to build the smart proteins and equipment manufacturing initiatives at regional levels.
  • Represent GFI India at external events as necessary and speaking with external audiences on smart protein and related policy issues.
  • Work with the Head of Policy to spearhead other initiatives across GFI India’s departments on strategic projects, research, and advisory efforts, such as building the narrative around the benefits of alternative proteins for the global south, increasing both foundational and translational R&D, advancing trade and ease of doing business, and developing a robust talent pool for the sector.


Research, writing and risk management

  • Undertake detailed research on matters that directly or indirectly impact the smart protein sector, and build interlinkages between existing frameworks and potential areas of policy impact
  • Draft and prepare detailed submissions, presentations, letters, concept notes, internal and external resources and materials for government officials and companies.
  • Build your own awareness of, and highlighting any areas of risk to the smart protein sector from a government relations and policy lens.


Operational excellence and reporting

  • Coordinate with policy staff at GFI’s international affiliates to maintain alignment in advocacy efforts and collaborate on international issues and opportunities. 
  • Work with the Science and Technology, Industry and Communications teams to ensure all policy related projects and associated reporting is undertaken in a timely manner. 
  • Work with Operations to provide inputs to department spending, and follow all human resources and operational procedures.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.


Who We’re Looking For 

We are looking for smart, thoughtful, and creative self-starters who want to push back against climate change, transform industrial animal agriculture, promote sustainable food systems and develop healthy and humane foods that are accessible to everyone. GFI India staff enjoy high levels of autonomy and must be self-motivated, work well both independently and in concert with a larger group, and be comfortable working with a rapidly evolving and growing team. 


An ideal candidate for the Policy Specialist position will have the skills & experience that reflects the following:


Knowledge and experience

  • A degree or equivalent experience in business, public health, food systems, public administration and policy allied fields. A masters in a relevant degree is strongly preferred but not mandatory. 
  • 4 years of experience in a relevant sector, with demonstrable experience of delivering end-to-end strategic initiatives.
  • Strong experience in and comfort with communicating with legislative or executive branch policymakers, and industry and start-up leaders, both verbally and in writing. 
  • Experience building coalitions and developing consensus among partners with different, complementary and sometimes competing objectives.
  • Excellent fluency in English, proficiency in Hindi and conversational proficiency in another regional language would be advantageous.
  • Experience in navigating dynamic and constantly evolving policy environments. 


Skills and behavioural attributes

  • Strong support for GFI’s philosophy and mission; demonstrated interest in the business of food, food technologies, public health, sustainability, food and nutrition and the drive and initiative to take responsibility for delivering impact.
  • Excellent written and verbal communications and organisational skills, with experience in, and comfort with communicating with a range of stakeholders. 
  • The demonstrated ability to communicate complex information clearly in writing and in oral presentations to a range of audiences.
  • Strong work ethic, a self-starter and able to work well independently under pressure.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet competing deadlines.
  • A thorough team player, willing to constantly learn, help others in the team learn from them, and comfortable working remotely and in-person as required. 


Terms of employment: Full-time

Reports to: Head of Policy

Location: GFI India is a hybrid workplace, however there is a preference for a candidate based in Mumbai or Delhi

Salary: INR 22,00,000 per annum (commensurate with skills & experience) 

Closing date for applications: November 7, 2025 at 5 PM IST


Benefits: 

  • Hugely meaningful work at the forefront of a fast-growing, intellectually challenging sector
  • Working in a warm, inclusive and high impact team environment
  • Health insurance plan, work-from-home equipment allowance, mental health support budget
  • Flexible work, including work from home with periodic opportunities to meet with team members


To apply: Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining how your academic background and work experience make you a good fit for this role in terms of your personal and professional qualifications using this link - https://gfi-india.org/career-detail/?gh_jid=4620436005


Candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of people and who can contribute to the climate of inclusivity are encouraged to identify their experiences in these areas. We want the best people and we don’t want biases holding us back. We strongly encourage people of every color, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Because 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.


Questions? If you have any questions about this role, please write to us at india@gfi.org with the subject line “Query: Careers at GFI India”. If you’ve read this far but decided not to apply, please feel free to share this job description with someone else in your network who you think might be a good fit for the role!