ROLE: Non-UPF Standard Manager

DEPARTMENT: Standards & Verification 

LOCATION: Remote

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Salaried

SALARY RANGE: $75,000 - $85,000

ABOUT THE STANDARDS & VERIFICATION TEAM 

The Standards & Verification team at the Non-GMO Project tends the roots of our organization’s work — caring for the systems that ensure our programs remain credible, relevant, and alive to change. We see our standards (Non-GMO Project Standard and the newly launched Non-Ultra Processed Food Standard) as living frameworks: grounded in science, shaped by collaboration, and continually evolving to reflect new knowledge and needs across the food system.

We stay attuned to developments in the world of GMOs, food processing, and emerging technologies; we support our third-party certifiers (Technical Administrators) and tend the infrastructure of normative documents and quality systems that sustain trust in our work. Our team is a diverse community of scientists, researchers, legal professionals, and quality and technical specialists who thrive where rigor meets practicality. Together, we’re dedicated to ensuring that the Standard remains North America’s most trusted standard for GMO avoidance while growing our emerging programs in transparency, trust, integrity and impact, strengthening the foundation for a more resilient and regenerative food system.

ABOUT THE NON-GMO PROJECT AND THE GREATER FOOD INTEGRITY COLLECTIVE

At the Non-GMO Project, we’re passionate about both what we do and how we evolve through our everyday actions. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re committed to advancing food integrity through rigorous product verification, trustworthy education, and expanded programming that includes the Food Integrity Collective and Non-UPF Verified.

Our culture is grounded in collaboration and care — for each other, for the planet, and for future generations. We believe in the power of individual and collective choices to shape a more transparent, regenerative food system and a healthier world for all.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Non-GMO Project embraces the pursuit of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work as critical to our mission. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, national origin, color, gender (including gender identity), sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family, marital or parental status, religious affiliation, creed, the presence of any physical, mental or sensory impairment, immigrant status, age, personal appearance, veteran status, or any other protected class under applicable laws. We celebrate our inclusive work environment and welcome members of all backgrounds to apply.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Non-GMO Project is seeking a Non-UPF Standard Manager to help shape and steward a groundbreaking new program defining what non-ultraprocessed means in the food system. This role offers a unique opportunity to nurture an emerging standard — one that balances scientific rigor with the living realities of how food is made, shared, and understood.

As part of the Standards & Verification team, you’ll guide the ongoing development of the Non-UPF Standard, ensuring it remains both credible and responsive as our understanding of food processing evolves. You’ll help translate science and evidence into clear, actionable requirements while cultivating collaboration among internal teams, technical partners, and industry stakeholders.

The Non-UPF Standard Manager will care for the standard as a living document — supporting its early growth, stewarding its relevance, cohesion and resilience, and helping it take root as a trusted authority within a rapidly changing landscape. You’ll bring curiosity, analytical skill, and practical experience in food manufacturing or formulation to your work, blending precision with creativity as the program matures. You’re excited to contribute to overall program development beyond the confines of standard management. You're energized by systems thinking, collaboration, and the continual refinement of ideas in service of integrity and transparency, and view this role as the chance to make a lasting contribution to the evolution of a more regenerative, trustworthy food system.

If you're interested in joining a team of unapologetic nerds with a fondness for impromptu Jeopardy! matches, then the Non-UPF Standard Manager role within the Standards & Verification team may be for you!

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Steward the Non-UPF Standard:Care for the standard as a living document — managing updates and revisions to ensure alignment with guiding principles and the broader mission of food integrity.

Interpret and Apply Requirements:Help partners and participants understand how the standard relates to real-world products and processes, offering clarity and context where boundaries are still forming.

Lead Thoughtful Revisions:Oversee periodic reviews, integrating feedback from internal teams, industry experts, and emerging science to keep the program relevant and resilient.

Develop Clear Guidance:Create and maintain materials that bring the standard to life for certifiers, partners, and brands — supporting consistent understanding and application.

Educate and Engage:Foster fluency and shared understanding across internal teams through training and resource development.

Serve as a Resource:Represent the technical integrity and intent of the standard, helping others grasp what its requirements mean, why they exist, and why they matter.

Build Relationships:Cultivate trust and collaboration with brands, and other stakeholders — recognizing that strong relationships are the foundation of lasting systems change.

External Representation:Represent the Non-UPF Program in conferences, panels, and discussions, sharing insights that inspire curiosity, transparency, and care across the food system.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Essential Experience

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and translate technical or regulatory requirements into thoughtful, real-world application
• Minimum 5 years of experience in food or regulatory science, food production, CPG development, supply chain, or systems-based food research
• Experience developing, maintaining, or implementing standards, certification programs, or similar frameworks that balance rigor with practicality
• Ability to synthesize complex scientific, technical, or policy information into clear, actionable insights that guide decision-making
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to engage with both expert and general audiences in ways that build shared understanding
• Collaborative and adaptable, with the capacity to navigate evolving contexts and contribute to the steady growth of an emerging program
• A demonstrated ability to balance consistency with responsiveness — holding structure while remaining open to learning and iteration

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with third-party certification bodies or verification systems
• Familiarity with ultra-processed food classification frameworks or food labeling programs
• Knowledge of current and emerging discussions around food processing, ingredient integrity, and consumer transparency
• Experience facilitating stakeholder engagement, consultation, or public comment processes that invite diverse perspectives and foster collective learning
• Experience in guiding or mentoring a small team (one or more direct reports), with an emphasis on collaboration, communication, and shared purpose

BENEFITS AT A GLANCE

Medical coverage

• 100% employer-paid base Aetna HSA medical plan
• Choice of Aetna or Kaiser plans with upgrade options at your own cost
• Vision & dental options
• 50% employer-paid dependent coverage (transferable to upgraded plans)
• $500 annual contribution to Medical or Limited Purpose FSA
• $500 annual contribution to Dependent Care FSA

Time away & well-being

• 11 paid holidays + your birthday off
• 8 care days for health, family, or personal needs
• Accrued paid vacation starting at 12 days/year (increasing annually)
• 36-hour workweek and flexible schedules

Growth & rewards

• Annual training & development budget
• Annual variable pay (individual bonus)
• 401(k) with 3% company match

Work from anywhere, comfortably

• $500/year work-from-home benefit
• Flexible schedule and remote-first culture

Mission & values

• Engage in meaningful, mission-oriented work in a values-focused environment

ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume. Your cover letter should address your interest in working with the Non-GMO Project and any particular skills or strengths you feel would qualify you for this role. We are committed to reviewing every application and to creating an equitable process for all candidates. To learn more about our organization, please visit www.nongmoproject.org.

We know that great candidates can come from unexpected places. Even if you don’t meet every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply. We value lived experience, unconventional pathways, and perspectives that challenge our own. If you’re drawn to the work and the mission, we’d love to hear from you.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

If you’re a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please contact accommodations@nongmoproject.org.