The Good Food Institute APAC

Elevate alternative proteins through policy engagement in Korea.

The Good Food Institute Korea is a branch of The Good Food Institute APAC, 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.

Job description

We unlock the knowledge and resources needed to transform how meat is made—satisfying rising food demand in ways that accelerate climate progress, protect animals and ecosystems, and strengthen public health. Please check out resources in Korean on the GFI website and our 2024 Year in Review to find out more about who we are and what we do.

Korea 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 Specialist will spearhead GFI Korea’s work with the Korean government.

How you will make a difference

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

As Policy Specialist, you will lead, coordinate, and grow workstreams dedicated to driving impactful policy initiatives for alternative proteins at the national and provincial levels. You will deliver strategic planning and execution 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 Korea 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, e.g., influencing the government policies and plans under the Food Tech Industry Promotion Act.
Working with the GFI network to design, deliver, and implement national policy plans.
Building relationships with senior politicians and officials in public institutions, across legislative bodies, central ministries, and provincial governments.
Building alliances with nonprofit organisations, industry players, and other stakeholders.
Representing GFI Korea 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 Korea’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.
Serving as a spokesperson for GFI Korea in policy matters.

Regional and global engagement

Participating in relevant regional and global policy fora to represent GFI Korea’s perspective, including at global committee calls with other GFI affiliates and global policy working groups as required.
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, Brasil, Europe, Israel, India, Japan and the U.S., as well as relevant strategic partners, to address region-specific issues and opportunities.

Operational excellence and reporting

Working with Operations support to manage departmental spending on policy initiatives and adhering to people operations and operational procedures.
Drafting policy-related budgetingin collaboration with the Operations Manager and the Director of Strategy and Programs.
Performing other duties as assigned to ensure the success of GFI’s policy initiatives.

Who we are 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 Specialist position will have experience that reflects the following:

At least 7 years of experience working in Korean public policy, politics, policy advocacy/research, public affairs consulting, food regulation, industrial/biomanufacturing policy, innovation strategy, or related policy disciplines, including engaging with high-level stakeholders. A degree or equivalent experience in public policy, political science, law, public administration, or a related field is strongly preferred.
Strong experience 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.
Native-level fluency in the Korean 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.
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 solve problems under pressure.
Excellent project management, organisational, and written and verbal communication skills. Strong ability to persuade. Detail-oriented.
Comfortable working remotely and 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 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 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 free from 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: Director of Strategy & Programs, Korea
Location: Flexible – we will consider applicants from anywhere in Korea. This is a remote role, and you will be able to work from home or anywhere you choose within Korea. The whole GFI Korea team aims to get together in person approximately twice per year for around 1-5 days at a time. Travel costs will be covered by GFI Korea in accordance with our travel policy.
Travel and work hours: Flexible hours with an occasional need to work at night or early mornings to engage in global meetings with partners around the world.
Annual Salary: 90 to 143 million KRW.
Benefits: Includes statutory health, pension, workers’ compensation, and employment insurance per Korean regulations, as well as paid leave per GFI Korea’s policy.
Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of employment, have permission to work and to be able to travel within Korea. Please note that GFI Korea’s policy is not to sponsor employment visas. The successful applicant will need to confirm they are eligible to work in Korea without requiring GFI Korea’s sponsorship of an employment visa.

Application process

Please complete the application form, upload your CV, and a brief introductory video.
Screening call: An initial conversation for both parties to ask general questions and learn more about the role.
First interview with GFI APAC team members: Focused on organisational and team fit, as well as deeper expertise questions.
Attend an in-person work trial, where you’ll spend the day meeting the team and completing strategic assessments.
Final interview with the leadership team to finalize the fit.
Reference check: Provide referees who can comment on your strategic and operational capabilities.

Important dates

Application deadline: April 12, 2026
Anticipated start date: June 2026

Any questions? If you have any questions about this role, please do reach out to us at apacjobs@gfi.org. 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! Thank you!

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