Senior Strategy Associate: Critical Minerals
Senior Strategy Associate
Critical Minerals.
Hybrid
UK based
12 months ftc
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.
At the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, our Critical Minerals mission is to demonstrate that a circular economy approach can reduce virgin demand, create system-level value, and deliver a more resilient, prosperous, and resource-efficient future. We will be focused on various levers, such as transforming how these materials are designed into systems, circulated through value chains, and/or recovered after use - cutting across sectors and technologies like renewable generation, energy storage, mobility, digital infrastructure, electronics, and beyond.
In addition to our work with industry players, investors, and governments across the critical minerals energy and digital value chains, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is also establishing a new programme to explore the contribution of the circular economy for critical minerals to key topics within current energy transition debates and issues, including just transition and deep-sea mining. In particular, a confirmed aspect of the programme will develop the evidence and partnerships needed to assess how a circular economy for critical minerals can reduce the pressure to pursue deep sea mining. It is a timely and complex body of work, sitting at the intersection of environmental policy, industrial systems, and emerging international governance. This is innovative and groundbreaking work in an exciting area, and we are looking for committed, collaborative people who want to contribute to a field where the work genuinely matters.
Role and Responsibilities
As our Senior Strategy Associate you will support strategic insight and thought leadership around the contribution of the circular economy for critical minerals to key topics like deep-sea mining. This role combines in depth research, market analysis, and geopolitical assessment with stakeholder engagement to inform organisational strategy.
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 cross-sector research and analysis on key critical minerals (e.g., lithium, cobalt, rare earths, graphite, nickel) and deep-sea mining trends.
- Analyse global supply chains, trade flows, and geopolitical dynamics to inform strategic decision-making and risk management.
- Support the development of strategy documents, briefings and stakeholder presentations that translate research insights into actionable recommendations.
- Assist in identifying and evaluating new opportunities, including projects, partnerships, R&D initiatives to advance programme objectives.
- Collaborate with internal teams (policy, communications, stakeholder managers) to ensure cohesive and informed strategies.
- Maintain and enhance databases and dashboards tracking critical mineral markets, risks, and policy developments.
- Produce concise internal reports, memos and executive summaries to inform leadership decisions.
Your profile
- 3+ years’ experiencedelivering high-quality analysis and written outputs in a relevant field such as economics, geopolitics, international relations, environmental science, or a related discipline.
- Experience in research, analysis, or strategy roles, ideally within critical minerals, natural resources, energy, or sustainability sectors.
- Demonstrated experience conducting structured research and synthesising findings into clear insights or recommendations.
- Experience supporting the development of briefings, reports, or presentations for internal or external stakeholders.
- Familiarity with data sources, analytical tools, or dashboards used to track market or policy developments (desirable).
- Languages: Fluency in English is required. Additional working-level languages are an advantage but not a core requirement.
Please click the green icon where you will be asked to upload a CV and covering letter. We welcome the thoughtful use of tools, but applications should reflect your own skills, experience, and voice; over-reliance on AI-generated content tends not to reflect authenticity in applications.
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 12 months.
Desired starting date: As soon as possible
Closing date: 2nd April
Salary package: circa £40,000 depending 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.
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.