Application Guide

How to Apply for Sustainable Foods Corporate Policy Program Manager

at Lever Foundation

🏢 About Lever Foundation

Lever Foundation is a unique public charity driving sustainable food system change in Asia and beyond, with a focus on reducing animal-based ingredients through corporate engagement. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that achieves tangible impact by partnering with major food companies to shift toward plant-forward options, making it ideal for those passionate about climate and animal welfare.

About This Role

As Sustainable Foods Corporate Policy Program Manager, you'll lead outreach to European food-industry companies, persuading them to reduce animal-based ingredients by building relationships with sustainability and procurement teams. Your work directly secures public commitments from hospitality companies, contributing to a more sustainable food supply chain and measurable environmental benefits.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day starts with reviewing outreach metrics and prioritizing follow-ups with European hospitality companies. You'll spend several hours on email and LinkedIn outreach, then have calls with sustainability leads to discuss plant-forward opportunities. Afternoons might involve preparing for an industry conference or compiling a country scorecard, with regular check-ins with your remote team via video call.

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🎯 Who Lever Foundation Is Looking For

  • Experienced in sales, business development, or policy advocacy with a proven track record of engaging and persuading corporate decision-makers.
  • Self-motivated and goal-oriented, able to work independently in a remote environment and hit targets for outreach and commitments.
  • Resilient and persistent, comfortable handling unanswered emails, pushback, and rejection in corporate engagement.
  • Passionate about sustainability, climate, or food systems, with fluency in English and willingness to travel occasionally across Europe.

📝 Tips for Applying to Lever Foundation

1

Tailor your resume to highlight quantifiable achievements in sales or advocacy (e.g., number of companies engaged, commitments secured).

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your personal passion for sustainability to Lever Foundation's mission and mention specific European food companies you'd target.

3

Research Lever Foundation's current campaigns (e.g., plant-forward commitments in Asia) and suggest how you'd adapt them for the European market.

4

Demonstrate your ability to work remotely by citing examples of self-directed projects or goals you've achieved without direct supervision.

5

Prepare to discuss your resilience: share a specific example of how you handled repeated rejection or pushback and eventually succeeded.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your experience in corporate engagement or sales, with concrete examples of persuading companies to change practices.', "Show genuine interest in sustainable food systems and Lever Foundation's impact, referencing specific campaigns or achievements.", 'Highlight your ability to work independently and manage a high-volume outreach pipeline across Europe.', "Mention your familiarity with European food industry trends and sustainability challenges, and how you'd leverage them in outreach."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Lever Foundation's website and recent press releases to understand their current campaigns and successes in Asia.
  • → Study the European food industry landscape, including major hospitality groups and their sustainability commitments.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the 'plant-forward' movement and key reports on environmental impact of animal agriculture.
  • → Look up Lever Foundation's team members on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and the organization's culture.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach a cold email to a sustainability director at a major European hotel chain?
2 Describe a time you persuaded a skeptical stakeholder to adopt a new initiative; what was your strategy?
3 How do you prioritize outreach when managing hundreds of companies across different countries?
4 What metrics would you use to track progress in securing plant-forward commitments?
5 How would you handle a company that expresses interest but delays making a public commitment?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic cover letter; failing to mention Lever Foundation or its specific mission signals lack of interest.
  • Avoid overemphasizing veganism or animal rights; focus on sustainability and business benefits to align with corporate engagement approach.
  • Don't downplay the sales aspect; this role requires persistence and goal-orientation, so highlight relevant sales experience even if non-traditional.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Lever Foundation!

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