Oversee the team that is critical to efficient and seamless execution of GFI’s mission

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 build effective working relationships across GFI’s US departments and with our international affiliate operations and finance leads in Brazil, Europe, India, Israel, and the Asia Pacific region to help GFI achieve its mission. The Director of Finance and Operations is a leadership role on GFI’s Collaborative Assistance Team (CAT) andwill be responsible for the following:

• Directly managing the Senior Finance Manager and indirectly managing the Finance Specialist and part-time Finance Assistant. Serving as the dotted line manager of the CAT Operations Coordinator, with likelihood of transitioning into direct management 3 - 6 months into the role.
• Establishing strong finance oversight practices, internal knowledge management practices, and control systems, including for banking and expense reimbursement, investment administration, funding of affiliate entities, consolidation of affiliate financials from five countries, foreign exchange risk mitigation, and annual financial audit and tax return oversight.
• Leading GFI’s annual and cycle based budget forecasting and monitoring processes for its US entity and international affiliates.
• Compiling and reviewing finance inputs for GFI US donor proposals and periodic reports, monthly management reviews, and monthly, quarterly, and annual lobby reporting.
• Managing and applying for state withholding, unemployment, and local tax accounts with the respective tax agencies; coordinating with the Associate Director of People Operations on payroll integration.
• Partnering with CAT colleagues to collaboratively address cross-functional CAT needs as well as GFI-wide initiatives, designing internal team activities, CAT and GFI-wide staff retreats, and professional development opportunities that will strengthen team engagement and inclusion. Participating in cross-organizational working groups.
• Supporting the Vice President of Operations to create, evaluate, and recalibrate CAT objectives and key results that align with other GFI departments while also reflecting CAT’s unique role as an operational support department with multiple functional subunits.
• Monitoring GFI US team travel and insurance needs, renegotiating relationships with GFI’s travel agency and administrative insurance providers, and providing GFI staff with guidance on common topics such as securing insurance certificates for programmatic events under GFI’s insurance cover.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Who We’re Looking For

The Director of Finance and Operations must have:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience working in Finance and Operations roles, with some nonprofit finance experience preferred.
• Proven ability to cultivate an environment of professionalism, customer service, efficiency, responsiveness, and creative problem solving.
• A detail-oriented, clear communicator with strong organizational skills.
• Strong commitment to following ethical business practices, and ability to develop and implement robust internal controls to safeguard financial integrity and mitigate risks.
• Experience working for a project or organization with multiple international business operating units and funding sources, with annual revenue greater than $20M.
• Experience supervising mid-sized teams; proven leadership and supervisory skills.
• CPA is preferred but not required.
• In-depth knowledge of state and local tax regulations and compliance preferred.
• Proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Google Drive or comparable platforms. Familiarity with ADP, Salesforce, Asana, and online recruitment platforms is a plus.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) 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: Chethana Biliyar, Vice President of Operations
• Location: Remote; United States
• Travel: Up to two weeks per year for organization retreats (reasonable accommodations and exemptions 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 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: $132,370.42 - $140,223.46 (depending on experience and qualifications)

Important Dates

Application deadline: March 7, 2024

Anticipated start date: On or around April 15, 2024

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.
• Please use consistent names. It helps to ensure that the name you use in your resume and cover letter is the same as the name you type into the application below. For example, if your name is Jennifer, please sign your cover letter as “Jennifer” rather than “Jenny.”
• 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 [email protected].

Thank you for helping us to ensure that the redaction process works smoothly and to review your application as quickly as possible!