Events and Engagement Coordinator

Support events that advance alternative proteins and transform the food system

The Good Food Institute (GFI) 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

In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with GFI team members in the U.S. and around the world to promote, coordinate, support, and evaluate the mission impact of a range of virtual and in-person events including GFI’s flagship conference. Based in the Communications team, the Events and Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for:

• Working closely with GFI’s global events team to strengthen and streamline the organization’s events and community-building function in partnership with the Senior Manager, Community Engagement and Programming. This may include coordinating meetings of the GFI planning committee as well as conference management agency contractors; program/session development, marketing/promotions, and evaluation; contributing to strategy discussions, facilitating tactical discussions, and decision-making; and coordinating systems and processes to organize, centralize, and oversee events programming.
• Supporting the planning, production, and promotion of various GFI-hosted events (both in-person and virtual) throughout the year (e.g., webinars, workshops, mixers, special donor events, etc.). This includes coordinating invitations, registration, event inbox responses, venues, room setup, hotel blocks, catering, transportation, and A/V.
• Managing and reconciling event budgets, expenses, vendor contracts, and timelines for major events. Providing day-of event coverage and assistance as needed, as well as post-event publishing and dissemination of recordings.
• Soliciting, documenting, analyzing, and implementing attendee recommendations to improve GFI-hosted events and events at which GFI participates, and advising event leads on ways they can improve engagement opportunities and increase audience interactivity for in-person and online GFI-hosted events, as well as identifying ways recorded event content can be repurposed in post-event marketing or to advance event objectives.
• Maintaining GFI’s global events database of GFI-hosted events and third-party events in which GFI participates, as a resource to help the organization better visualize, understand, and think strategically about its presence and impact across the broader field of alt proteins and allied initiatives/endeavors.
• Coordinating the planning of all major third-party events for which GFI is serving as a knowledge partner or at which GFI has a significant presence. Working closely with programmatic teams and interacting with the event organizers to coordinate the program schedule and run-of-show, speaker logistics, and delivery of promotional assets as needed.
• Determining which events are appropriate for promotion via GFI’s owned and social channels (some may be closed-door/invite-only, for niche audiences, a violation of private benefit rules, or not brand aligned).
• Collaborating closely with programmatic teams and the editorial and engagement team to create effective pre-event marketing campaigns and post-event information-sharing campaigns, which may include social posts, e-newsletter features, and press releases.
• Managing the gfi.org/events calendar: writing compelling and informative event description copy, communicating with event liaisons and collecting any outstanding information, and coordinating with the creative team to ensure that event web pages and forms are published in a timely manner.
• Coordinating the design and production of event collateral in collaboration with the creative team, including branded name badges, exhibitor booth materials, handouts, giveaways, and VIP invitations. Maintaining a database of GFI event materials in storage. In partnership with the Communications Coordinator, placing orders with vendors, as needed, and liaising with event attendees to ensure successful shipment of event materials (both deliveries and returns).
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We’re Looking For

An ideal candidate for the Events and Engagement Coordinator position will have experience that reflects the following:

• A minimum of three years’ experience planning a variety of successful events (both in-person and virtual) in a professional setting.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Creativity, resourcefulness, and problem-solving ability.
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Interest in, functional understanding of, and ability to speak to the business, policy, and science realms of GFI’s work.
• 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: Ingrid Eck, Senior Manager, Community Engagement and Programming
• Location: Remote; United States
• Travel: Up to four weeks per year for major GFI events, and up to two weeks per year for organization retreats (reasonable accommodations for and exemptions from organization retreats 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 vacation plans, lifestyle spending account, 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 for any employer in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. At this time, GFI's policy is not to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas.
• Salary: $69,002.70 - $72,452.90 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Important Dates

Application deadline: November 14, 2024

Anticipated start date: On or around December 30, 2024