Food Policy Specialist

Terms of employment: Full time, permanent

Position Location: Remote, in the UK (mandatory to travel to London once a month, at own cost)

Line Manager: Executive Director

Application Deadline: Accepted on a rolling basis

WHO WE ARE

Animal Equality is an international animal protection organisation working with society, governments and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. We publish our findings on television, in newspapers and online. Our current campaigns include a UK ban on foie gras imports, increased enforcement of existing animal protection laws, legal protections for farmed fish, and Government subsidies for transitioning towards a plant-based food system.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a strategic, personable, persuasive, and policy-savvy Food Policy Specialist to spearhead Government relations and stakeholder outreach. This highly impactful role bridges high-level advocacy with on-the-ground influence, and involves advising Government Ministers, politicians, expert bodies, and sector stakeholders to promote policies that support plant-forward dietary shifts aligned with the UK’s sustainability, public health, and animal welfare commitments and priorities.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• General Responsibilities

• Government and stakeholder engagement: Develop and sustain strong working relationships with Government Ministers, MPs, Parliamentary officials, senior civil servants, advisory groups, and other influential stakeholders across food, health, sustainability, and agriculture sectors.
• Policy influence and advice: Deliver expertly crafted, evidence-based briefings and position papers that advocate for meaningful legislative and policy shifts toward plant-based diets and reduced consumption of animals.
• Representation and advocacy: Support Animal Equality’s UK Executive Director, as required, to represent the organisation in Parliamentary Committees, Government consultations, policy roundtables, and strategic coalitions.
• Campaign collaboration: Work closely across Animal Equality’s UK and global departments to convey and amplify our advocacy efforts.
• Trend scanning and strategic analysis: Monitor emerging developments in UK food, nutrition, environmental, and agricultural policy landscapes, identify opportunities for influence, and advise accordingly.
• Impact tracking and reporting: Measure and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and initiatives, translating outcomes into insights for policy refinement and broader strategy.
• Represent Animal Equality’s culture: Support Animal Equality’s life-saving work by producing high-quality output and embracing the organisation’s culture principles.
• Take on ad-hoc tasks, as requested by your line-manager.

• Individual Attributes Required

• You are a thoughtful communicator, tactically agile, and confident in high-level engagement.
• You are strategic, evidence-driven, and ready to shape policy narratives that positively impact animals.
• You actively seek constructive feedback and use it to continuously improve your work.
• You show ownership and a growth mindset focused on improving the world for farmed animals.
• Knowledge of farmed animal issues and alignment with Animal Equality’s mission is a must.
• You must have a minimum of four years’ experience in public affairs, Government relations, policy advocacy, or food systems policy.
• You are expected to have a strong understanding of UK political structures and policy-making dynamics.
• You must be a confident problem-solver, with a solutions-focused attitude and a collaborative spirit.

In addition to monthly meet-ups, some travel within the UK may be required for demonstrations, meetings, and events. While not common, occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary to support campaigning activities.

APPLY NOW

Complete the application form below. Due to capacity limitations, we are currently only able to contact shortlisted applicants. Applications should comprise a full curriculum vitae, an accompanying cover letter, and answers to specific questions.