Public Affairs Director (m/f/x) Berlin, fulltime

About Formo

Formo was founded in 2018 to create a new generation of dairy products. Instead of animals, we use fermentation to produce real milk proteins which we incorporate into traditional European cheese products. We envision a happier, healthier future by irresistible change in the food system: where animal-free is hedonistic, cheese is deliciously high-tech, and anybody anywhere can enjoy fromage that’s perfect for them. Formo is a venture-backed, fast-growing company in Europe’s start-up hotspot, Berlin. We employ a global team of highly skilled entrepreneurs and scientists who bring real innovation to life. Our common thread? A passion for challenging the status quo and transforming the food industry.

The position

As director of public affairs, you would put the agenda of Formo and alt-protein on the map of regulators and policymakers, becoming intimately knowledgeable of the individuals and protocols that will be instrumental in bringing alt-proteins to markets, ensuring the multi-faceted upsides of alt-protein are made clear to governments around the world. You will have immense responsibility from the outset, representing not just Formo, but the vision of alt-protein to the wider world.

Why join

• Explore the unknown and take responsibility for communicating the vision of a technology that will redefine the food system, massively reduce GHG emissions and fundamentally alter our relationship with animals
• Use your passion, skills and network to drive a ruthlessly altruistic mission
• Join a diverse team of top-notch interdisciplinary experts with backgrounds in molecular biology, food design, precision fermentation, business, and many more
• Regular team offsites, monthly perks and employee participation plan

Your responsibilities

• Establish Formo’s public affairs unit, leading the conversation around the societal, environmental, ethical and economic upsides of alt-protein transition.
• Develop and execute strategy for government advocacy and policy development for Formo and the wider alternative protein space, communicating these to government, politicians and regulators
• Identify and map key decision-makers (including senior politicians and civil servants) across multiple jurisdictions, building and maintaining these relationships
• Monitor regulatory and policy debates across the world, spotting opportunities and emerging threats that can affect Formo’s go to market strategy
• Find opportunities for Formo to counsel on public policy and funding debates with policymakers within relevant government agencies
• Facilitate discussions with a diversity of stakeholders, including agricultural interest groups, dairy industry workers & NGOs, contributing to dialogue and policy for how transition to alternative proteins can deliver maximum value for the whole of society
• Develop talking points and white papers for public presentations or closed-door policy briefings
• Together with our communications department, creatively influence the policy debate within the public sphere

Your profile

• At least 5 years experience in government, politics, government-facing advocacy, lobbying
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills with an ability to translate complex topics into smart content for a broad audience; demonstrated experience distilling complex policy or technology concepts into plain language
• Excellent people-skills – the ability to influence, network, build alliances and work well in a team
• Ability to provide and articulate thought leadership
• Commitment to environmental / social / breakthrough technology causes
• Keen interest in the food system and how technology will reshape the economics, logistics and sociological relationships of food
• Passion for Formo’s values and mission
• Fluent in English with fluency in other languages (esp. German) welcomed