Research Analyst, Critical Minerals

Research Analyst, Critical Minerals.

Hybrid

UK based

Shaping a circular economy for critical and strategic minerals and materials is one of the most urgent and high-impact levers we have to advance the clean energy transition, secure digital infrastructure, and enable resilient industrial systems. The global economy is undergoing a massive transformation – electrification, digitisation, and decarbonisation are driving exponential demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earths.
In 2025, the Critical Minerals Mission at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy for critical minerals (CMs) / Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the context of decarbonisation across energy (including renewable generation and storage), transport (including electric vehicles, batteries, and charging infrastructure), and industrial processes, as well as the expansion of the digital economy (including electronics, data centres, and related technologies). 

Our commitment to you​:

We are keen to receive applications from people from underrepresented backgrounds, including (but not limited to) those of colour, people with disabilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from other marginalised groups. It is important to us that our recruitment approach makes the opportunity as accessible as possible and ensures a diverse range of people can demonstrate their potential. We would be happy to provide any further support that you may require - please get in touch so that we can work together.

If you would like further information on our diversity and inclusion policy or any further assistance, please contact us at recruitment@ellenmacarthurfoundation.org.

Role and Responsibilities:

You will support the Critical Minerals Mission by developing and writing thought leadership and high-quality research outputs, conducting rigorous research and analysis to deepen the Foundation’s knowledge and expertise across critical minerals value chains in the energy and digital transition. In particular, the Mission will focus on the critical minerals (CMs) / Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the context of decarbonisation across energy (including renewable generation and storage), transport (including electric vehicles, batteries, and charging infrastructure), and industrial processes, as well as the expansion of the digital economy (including electronics, data centres, and related technologies).

This role facilitates knowledge exchange with stakeholders, including Advisory Board members, and supports the design, preparation, and delivery of in-person and online events that convene the network. Through research, insight generation, primary and secondary analysis, and collaboration, you will contribute to advancing evidence-based solutions and strengthening EMF’s impact and the value we bring to collaborative partnerships.

As an ambitious team with intention for global impact, you will play a crucial role in helping the Critical Minerals Mission to move faster by turning complex information into decision-ready insights, credible external outputs, and stronger partner convenings.

Specifically, your role will involve the following:

• Conduct rigorous primary and secondary research across critical minerals value chains to generate decision-ready insights that support the Foundation’s Critical Minerals Mission and the transition to a circular economy.

• Translate complex evidence into clear, high-quality outputs (e.g., research writing, briefings, reports, case studies, slide decks, and practical tools) tailored to different audiences.

• Plan and support the delivery of workshops and convenings (online and in person), including agenda design, speaker/expert input, pre-reads, facilitation support, and post-event synthesis.

• Provide presentable research inputs to industry collaborations and project workstreams, including sector scanning, stakeholder mapping, and technical/market analysis to inform strategy and delivery.

• Engage confidently with different stakeholders (industry, academia, civil society, policymakers), representing EMF’s work and communicating circular economy concepts with clarity and credibility.

• Maintain a robust internal knowledge base (sources, interview notes, datasets, key learnings) and contribute to the Foundation’s thought leadership by identifying emerging themes and opportunities.

Your profile:

• 1 to 2 years’ experience delivering high-quality analysis and written outputs in a research, publishing, consulting, strategy, policy, think-tank, or other analytical setting (relevant internships would be taken into account).

• Strong interest in sustainability, energy and the circular economy, and interest in applying systems thinking to real-world problems (e.g., materials, product systems, supply chains). Ideally, demonstrable interest in critical minerals or adjacent areas (e.g. mining, renewables, climate change, waste, etc).

• Communication & writing skills: Evidence of producing concise, well-structured writing for different audiences (internal briefings, external-facing notes, slide decks), with strong attention to clarity and tone. Strong verbal communication skills (such as past experience in presenting to different stakeholders) will be highly advantageous.

• Research and analysis: Evidence of undertaking research tasks and converting this research to presentable insights for commercial, policy and technical stakeholders, including demonstrating some experience in both quantitative and qualitative research

• Ideally, comparable experience and demonstrable comfort working in a fast-moving environment - demonstrated ability to contribute to multiple writing and research workstreams, and ability to iterate quickly based on feedback and emerging priorities. Ability to work proactively and in a self-directed manner against tight deadlines. Good at incorporating and learning from feedback.

• Stakeholder and workshop skills: Confident in engaging technical and non-technical stakeholders; contributes constructively to meetings, asks strong questions, and synthesises discussions.

• Languages: Fluency in English is required. Additional working-level languages are an advantage but not a core requirement (e.g., German, Mandarin).

Please click on the green icon where you will be asked to upload a CV and covering letter outlining how you feel you match the core requirements of the role.

Please note that we are unable to sponsor a Skilled Worker Visa for this role. All applicants must have an existing right to work in the UK which is valid for at least 18 months.

Desired starting date: As soon as possible

Closing date: 23rd January 2026

Salary package: circa £33,000 dependent on experience level plus generous holiday allowance (25 days plus UK Bank Holidays plus discretionary extra days during the office closure between Christmas and New year and Easter) generous parental leave; enhanced pension options/private health scheme after 6 months; wellbeing programme.

Location: We have offices in Cowes on the Isle of Wight and at Somerset House in London but, depending on circumstances, we also welcome individuals to work remotely from anywhere in the UK. We cannot support remote working from overseas for this role.

Application process:

• Initial zoom meeting with our Talent team and prospective Line manager to start the process (we will send you the outline of the interview, so you know what to expect).

• A work-related assignment to complete at home or as part of the interview process so we know you will be comfortable with the type of work you would do here.

• In person or Zoom Interview with our People Team, Team Lead and prospective manager.

What we do:

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation develops and promotes the idea of a circular economy. We work with, and inspire, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilise systems solutions at scale, globally. Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

Our vision is a new economic system that delivers better outcomes for people and the environment. Business models, products, and materials are designed to increase use and reuse, replicating the balance of the natural world, where nothing becomes waste, and everything has value. A circular economy, increasingly built on renewable energy and materials, is distributed, diverse, and inclusive.