World Economic Forum is looking for a Lead, Global Materials Collaboration

(temporary contract, start asap – March 2027, Geneva based)

About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is committed to improving the state of the world through public–private cooperation. The Forum engages political, business and civil society leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Why we are recruiting

The World Economic Forum is seeking a Lead, International Materials Collaboration to lead the continued delivery and development of the Materials Collaboration workstream within the Centre for Energy and Materials. Building on earlier analytical and convening work, the role will focus on deepening business engagement, strengthening regional collaboration, particularly in Asia–Pacific, and elevating regional perspectives into global materials dialogue. The position has a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement, high-quality convening, and the translation of insights into actionable outputs.

Reporting lines and interactions

The role reports to the Material Systems Manager within the Centre for Energy and Materials and works closely with:

• The Centre for Nature and Climate
• The Forum’s Japan Office
• Regional and Japan/APAC stakeholders
• External partners across governments, businesses, international organisations and civil society

Breakdown of main responsibilities

Programme leadership and delivery –Materials Collaboration

• Own the end-to-end planning, management and delivery of the Materials Collaboration workstream.
• Translate strategic objectives into a clear annual workplan and ensure timely, high-quality delivery of agreed outputs.
• Act as the primary Forum focal point for key government and institutional partners supporting the workstream.

Advancing global dialogue on materials collaboration

• Lead targeted insights-gathering exercises with regional and global stakeholders to assess perspectives on international materials collaboration pathways.
• Synthesise findings to inform discussions on materials efficiency, trade, governance and international cooperation.
• Design and deliver high-quality dialogue sessions at major international events.

Knowledge products

• Lead the development and writing of briefing papers and articles that synthesise stakeholder insights, support international dialogue, and inform policy and business decision-making.
• Engage senior leaders from business, government, academia and civil society to build momentum and ownership around materials collaboration.

Strengthening regional collaboration in Asia–Pacific (APAC)

• Lead targeted engagement on regional materials and circular economy cooperation, including lessons from existing regional frameworks.
• Design and convene regional dialogue sessions at relevant APAC platforms, integrating global industry perspectives.
• Develop concise briefing papers and articles that capture regional insights, best practices and opportunities for materials collaboration and disseminate key findings to global audiences.
• Support partner-led engagement at priority international events, leveraging the Forum’s global network to bring relevant business and expert voices and to ensure APAC and Japan perspectives are effectively integrated into broader international materials cooperation discussions.

The successful candidate will be assessed on

• High-quality and timely delivery of Global Materials Collaboration outputs
• Effectiveness of global and regional dialogue convened
• Seniority and diversity of stakeholder engagement and partner satisfaction
• Contribution to the Forum’s Future of Materials programme
• Proactive collaboration across internal teams and external partners

Preferred requirements and experience

• Master’s degree in resource economics, circular economy, economics, or equivalent, with broad intellectual background
• Experience in the environment and natural resources, technology and innovation. Specific experience in circular economy and international collaboration issues would be an important asset
• A minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in the public, private or civil society sectors, working with different industries to lead projects and initiatives
• Ability to work with C-suite business leaders and leading issue experts in academia, international organizations, governments and NGOs, as well as with representatives from grassroots organizations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with an understanding of stakeholder needs.
• A committed, collaborative, positive and solution-oriented team player
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English. Proficiency in other languages desirable
• Good analytical capabilities

Why work at the Forum

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!

Join an independent and impartial organization with over 55 years of experience enabling public-private cooperation for the common good. Be part of a global team that brings leaders together through dialogue, to build trust, and turn shared understanding of complex global issues into collective solutions.

Our culture is grounded in care, curiosity and respect, encouraging genuine dialogue and meaningful collaboration. By investing in trust and understanding, we create an environment where everyone can contribute fully to our shared mission.

Work in an environment that values shared learning, diverse perspectives, and real-world collaboration, helping you grow through challenge, not routine. At the Forum, every role contributes to global progress. We advance together and help our partners shape solutions that make a lasting impact.

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