Developing data-driven insights to accelerate the alternative protein industry
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
GFI’s Corporate Engagement (CE) team accelerates innovation and scales the supply chain faster than market forces alone would allow. Our work across the private sector advances the alternative protein industry and enables market breakthroughs. We identify key white spaces and emerging opportunities and provide actionable, open-source market data and consumer insights. We foster an idea-rich startup ecosystem and help guide incumbent food and meat manufacturers’ alternative protein strategy.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead the Corporate Engagement team’s research function to accelerate the alternative protein industry, leveraging both primary and secondary research. You will be the go-to expert on market and consumer research. You will help identify industry knowledge gaps, necessary research and/or data solutions, and industry whitespaces and opportunities. Your work will bring data-driven insights to influence all Corporate Engagement activities, guiding efforts and resources within GFI and among our external stakeholders. The Corporate Engagement team’s Market Research Manager or Senior Market Research Manager will be responsible for:
Developing and implementing CE’s research plan (20%)
- Building an annual research and data plan and guiding implementation and data acquisition (e.g., retail sales data, household panel data, foodservice sales data, investment data, industry stakeholder surveys, gen pop surveys).
- Coordinating alignment of research across GFI U.S. and affiliates.
Overseeing CE’s team of research analysts, research projects and processes, and managing vendor relationships (65%)
- Managing and developing a team of 2-3 analysts/research leads.
- Leading ad-hoc research projects critical to AP market growth, including planning scope and deliverables, developing RFPs, selecting external partners, guiding project design, managing external collaborators, and reviewing deliverables.
- Translating findings into public-facing resources (such as reports, web content, databases, presentations, webinars, and decks).
- Developing a sensory study platform to track industry progress on sensory parity.
- Reviewing industry white spaces and needs.
- Securing pro-bono research and engaging in partnerships.
Acting as CE’s go-to expert on alternative protein market insights and supporting the broader organization and industry with up-to-date insights (15%)
- Maintaining a core set of insights on market size, growth, and key developments.
- Supporting engagement and presentation efforts as necessary.
- Contributing analysis for major GFI reports, such as GFI’s annual state of the industry reports.
- Engaging with researchers, companies, funders, and other organizations to guide resource allocation toward high-impact research.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Who We’re Looking For
The Market Research Manager or Senior Market Research Manager must have:
- A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, statistics, psychology, sociology, communications, or similar is preferred.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience; for Senior Market Research Manager, the candidate must have at least 8 years of relevant experience
- Consulting and/or consumer packaged goods industry research, analysis, and/or consumer insights experience preferred; for Senior Market Research Manager, this experience is a requirement.
- Direct experience with syndicated sales data such as Nielsen, IRI, SPINS required.
- Experience supervising, mentoring, and managing others; for Senior Market Research Manager, the candidate must have at least 3 years of experience managing 2 or more direct reports.
- Strong project management skills and a demonstrated ability for high-level synthesis of intersections between multiple projects.
- Strong written communication skills, including quantitative synthesis and the succinctly communicating actionable insights to stakeholders.
- Self-motivation and ability to work well both independently and in concert with a larger group.
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to develop relationships with diverse external stakeholders.
- Intellectual curiosity and interest in the alternative protein industry.
- A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels like they belong.
- 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 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: Emma Ignaszewski, Associate Director of Industry Intelligence & Initiatives
- Location: Remote; United States
- Travel: Flexible, but anticipated travel of one to two weeks per quarter for conferences, workshops, and organizational retreats. Most business is conducted virtually.
- Benefits: Full medical coverage, optional dental and vision packages, a 401(k) plan with employer match, flexible holiday and vacation plans, opportunity for advancement, respectful managers, and supportive colleagues. More information here: 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. More information here: https://tinyurl.com/GFICovidPolicy.
- Salary: Market Research Manager: $89,840.71-94,569.17 (depending on experience and qualifications); Senior Market Research Manager: for candidates that have at least 8 years of relevant experience, at least 3 years of experience managing 2 or more direct reports, and consulting and/or consumer packaged goods industry research, analysis, and/or consumer insights experience the range will be $94,570-$103,265.24 (depending on experience and qualifications)
Application Deadline: September 22, 2023
