Food Policy Specialist

Animal Equality; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit advocacy organization in the UK seeks a Food Policy Specialist to lead government relations and stakeholder outreach. In this strategic role, you will promote plant-forward dietary shifts and manage the 'Love Veg' program. Ideal candidates will have public affairs experience and a strong understanding of UK policy-making. Benefits include flexible hours, EAP services, and a supportive work environment. Apply by 5.00pm on Friday 9th January 2026.

Benefits

33 days of holiday per year

Personalised Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible hours

Yearly stipend for learning

Free vegan lunch

Qualifications

• Experience in public affairs and government relations.
• Strong understanding of UK political structures.
• Evidence-driven with skills to simplify research.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead government relations and stakeholder outreach.
• Oversee the diet change program and related team.
• Advise government ministers on relevant policy.

Skills

Public affairs experience

Policy advocacy

Strong analytical skills

Excellent presentation skills

Confidence in engagement

Education

Minimum four years’ experience in food systems policy

Job description

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

Line Manager: Executive Director

WHO WE ARE

Animal Equality is an international animal protection organisation working with society, governments and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Animal Equality has offices in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil and India.

Animal Equality releases investigative materials captured from inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, exposing the conditions that farmed animals face around the world. We publish our findings on television, in newspapers and online. We routinely secure mainstream media coverage, including on the BBC, ITV, Sky news, The Times, the Guardian, New York Times and many more.

Animal Equality also advocates for political change. 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.

We focus on farmed animals because of the scale and severity of the issue. More than a billion animals are confined and killed for human consumption every year in the UK. Farmed animals also often suffer in some of the worst ways : pigs typically endure painful mutilations, many chickens die of heart attacks, fish are confined in underwater cages, and some farmed animals are victims of deliberate abuse and neglect. But the problem is solvable! By utilising effective campaigning strategies, Animal Equality is having an impact for animals around the world and building a future where all animals are respected and protected, and are no longer exploited for human consumption.

Animal Equality UK’s current key campaigns include :

• Strengthening enforcement of animal protection laws
• Halting the expansion of Scotland’s salmon farming industry
• Achieving a ban on foie gras imports
• Securing species‑specific slaughter legislation for fish
• Inspiring the public to eat plants, not animals

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.

The Food Policy Specialist will report to the UK Executive Director and oversee our diet change (‘Love Veg’) programme and team members working on diet change campaigns, with the objective of encouraging the public to eat plants, not animals.

ABOUT YOU

You are a thoughtful communicator, tactically agile and confident in high‑level engagement – both in person and through written reports. You are strategic, evidence‑driven and ready to shape policy narratives that positively impact animals with proactivity and integrity.

You actively seek constructive feedback and use it to continuously improve your work. You show ownership and a growth mindset that is focused on improving the world for farmed animals. Knowledge of farmed animal issues and alignment with Animal Equality’s mission is a must, as is professionalism, adaptability and discretion.

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, excellent analytical written and presentation skills and an ability to simplify complex research into persuasive policy messages. You must be a confident problem‑solver with a solutions‑focused attitude and a collaborative spirit.

BENEFITS

• Holiday entitlement equal to 33 days per year (including standard public holidays).
• Personalised Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): an Animal Equality‑funded benefit that offers employees confidential counselling and advice on a wide range of work and personal issues. The programme offers several services, such as a 24/7 confidential helpline and expert Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Flexible hours, with the option to start between 8am–10am and finish between 4pm–6pm.
• Able Futures Support: a nine‑month practical and confidential support service for employees whose circumstances or mental health may impact their wellbeing or work. Employees can work with a mental health professional to deepen their understanding of how their mental health may impact them and will build coping skills and resilience to thrive at work.
• Yearly stipend to access learning and development resources, to help employees further grow their personal and professional skills.
• A free vegan lunch every month at the Animal Equality monthly meetups.

APPLY NOW

To read the full job description and apply, please visit our careers page.

Closing date : 5.00pm on Friday 9th January 2026

The interview process comprises a multiple‑stage interview and skills test. The appointment process will run throughout December and January, with Animal Equality UK making an offer to the successful candidate shortly after.