SciTech Manager

Job description

The Good Food Institute APAC is hiring a SciTech Manager to serve as its regional scientific lead on alternative proteins, providing strategic insight into R&D, regulatory trends, and emerging technologies across plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein systems. Based in China, this role partners closely with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and cross-functional teams to support ecosystem growth, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-driven strategy. The SciTech Manager tracks scientific developments, translates research into clear internal briefings and decision inputs, and represents GFI APAC with researchers, academic institutions, and technical partners. The role also contributes subject-matter expertise to regional initiatives, internal knowledge resources, and long-term strategic prioritization, helping accelerate the impact of food system innovation across Asia-Pacific.

GFI APAC’s SciTech Manager will provide strategic insight into the scientific, regulatory, and innovation landscape for alternative proteins. In this role, you’ll serve as GFI APAC’s internal expert on R&D developments, helping regional and global teams understand technical trends, stakeholder perspectives, and emerging opportunities.

You’ll collaborate with the SciTech team and cross-functional colleagues to support internal planning, identify knowledge gaps, and align initiatives across the region. You’ll also build collaborative relationships with researchers, academics, and technical stakeholders to stay close to the science and surface timely, practical insights.

How you will make a difference

You will:

• Support GFI APAC Director of Strategic Partnerships in the regional expansion efforts by providing scientific expertise in key meetings and stakeholder engagement.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with researchers, academics, and technical stakeholders, thereby strengthening the flow of trusted information and facilitating perspective-sharing.
• Represent GFI APAC at relevant science-focused forums to build and maintain meaningful relationships with key stakeholders, including research and academic institutions, individual researchers, and scientists.
• Monitor scientific and regulatory developments across the alternative protein ecosystem, assess their implications for R&D and scale-up, and share timely insights with colleagues and global SciTech teams.
• Synthesise research trends and outputs into concise internal briefings, talking points, and planning inputs for cross-functional teams.
• Provide scientific input into GFI APAC’s regional strategy, projects, and prioritisation discussions in coordination with the APAC SciTech team.
• Support GFI APAC’s cross-functional projects by providing subject matter expertise on scientific and technical topics.
• Support the development of internal scientific resources that may inform future tools or reviews.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The SciTech Manager must have:

• Master’s degree or above in a relevant scientific field (e.g., stem cell biology, tissue engineering, biochemical engineering, synthetic biology), with 7+ years of experience in scientific research, R&D strategy, or related technical roles (ideally with exposure to food science, biotechnology). A Ph.D. is a bonus.
• Knowledge of the alternative protein or food innovation ecosystem.
• A deep commitment to GFI APAC’s mission and a strong interest in food systems innovation and public engagement.
• Excellent communication skills in both English and Mandarin, with the ability to convey complex scientific ideas to diverse audiences in both written and spoken formats.
• Experience in analysing scientific literature and conducting literature reviews.
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgment in decision making, including setting and managing priorities and meeting competing deadlines.
• A proactive, self-starter mindset with the initiative to take ownership of SciTech’s impact.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with key productivity tools such as Asana, Salesforce, Slack, or similar platforms is essential.
• Comfortable working remotely within a growing and evolving nonprofit organisation.

We want the best people, and we don’t want biases holding us back. We strongly encourage people of every colour, orientation, age, gender, origin, and ability to apply. Because we value a diverse workplace, we prioritise an inclusive climate absent of discrimination and harassment during the application process and after you join the team.

The fine print

• Terms of Employment: Full-time
• Reports to: Head of SciTech, GFI APAC
• Location: Strong preference for candidates who are based in Beijing, China. Candidates based in first-tier cities in China will also be considered.
• Language: Fluent in Mandarin and English
• Annual Salary: RMB 540,000-720,000
• Application deadline: March 1
• Benefits:
  • Remote-first role within mainland China, with strong integration into a regional and global team;
  • Flexible working hours, while keeping regular overlap with China and Singapore working hours;
  • Regular exposure to leading researchers, strategic partners, and international partners;
  • Strong learning, visibility, and career development opportunities in a fast-growing global nonprofit
  • International team retreats with global colleagues;
  • Statutory PRC benefits (social insurance), with additional health, wellbeing, and learning support where locally compliant;
  • One annual employer-sponsored physical health examination;
  • Annual birthday leave entitlement.
• Right to work requirements: Candidates must already have the unrestricted legal right to work in mainland China without employer sponsorship. The successful candidate must be able to travel in China and abroad.

Application process

• Please complete this application form, including a brief introductory video (no longer than 5 minutes), by March 1.
• Attend a short introductory call where you can learn more about the role and ask questions.
• Complete a written assignment designed to reflect core responsibilities of the role.
• Attend an interview with our Director of Strategic Partnerships as well as our Head of Science and Technology.
• Attend a second interview focused on strategic thinking, collaboration style, and team fit.
• Attend a work trial, where you’ll spend the day meeting the team and completing strategic assessments. For candidates based in Beijing, this may include an in-person work trial.
• References: Share references who can comment on your strategic and operational capabilities.