Senior Associate, Emerging Markets, Centre for Energy and Materials

The World Economic Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Geneva, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Beijing, and Tokyo.

We are the trusted platform for public-private cooperation where leaders come together to understand global challenges and drive action across sectors and regions. We create spaces where different stakeholders engage openly, build trust, and collaborate to help solve shared global challenges.

Context and why we are recruiting?

The Centre for Energy and Materials (CENMAT) brings together leaders from business and government to generate insights, shape solutions and foster high-impact collaboration that accelerates the energy and materials transitions.

Within CENMAT, the Emerging Markets Deployment (EMD) Team works with emerging and developing economies to advance their energy, materials and industrial transitions through tailored insights, strategic dialogues and partnerships.

This role offers an opportunity to contribute to these transitions by delivering regional projects and supporting stakeholder engagement while ensuring that the priorities and perspectives of the Global South inform the global agenda.

Reporting line and how is this role embedded in the wider team?

Reporting to the Director, Emerging Markets, you will work closely with Forum colleagues across the Centre for Energy and Materials (CENMAT), the Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics (CRTG), and Business Engagement (BE) teams to support regional stakeholder participation in global energy transitions activities and ensure the local relevance of our programmes. Externally, you will engage senior stakeholders, including from companies, governments, research institutions and civil society organizations.

What will you be responsible for?

Regional Programme Delivery

• Contribute to the development of regional engagement strategies and delivery plans for CENMAT’s energy, industrial and materials activities, drawing on regional insights and stakeholder needs.

• Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of Forum assigned regional projects, managing timelines, stakeholder contributions, deliverables and risks to achieve agreed objectives.

• Develop and maintain regional communities supporting the delivery of CENMAT regional activities, including through stakeholder mappings, consultations, and proactive engagement of key government and private sector leaders in the region, in coordination with senior colleagues where appropriate.

• Support partner retention and acquisition activities by contributing to regional insights, identifying engagement opportunities and coordinating relevant activities with Business Engagement colleagues.

• Facilitate the participation of regional leaders in international Forum events, dialogues, and communications activities, helping to bring Global South perspectives into the global agenda.
• Plan and deliver regional events and dialogues within agreed programme priorities, coordinating contributions from CENMAT colleagues and relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Special Projects

• As required, conduct research and fieldwork to help inform, shape and scope new CENMAT or cross-centre initiatives or activities.
• Coordinate research, stakeholder consultations and analysis on the implications of trade and geopolitical disruptions for the energy and climate sectors
• Translate research and project insights into high-quality content, including event Ssessions, reports, articles, blogs, media assets and internal briefings.
• Prepare stakeholder consultations, pre-reads, briefing materials and session structures based on targeted research and analysis.
• Support the engagement of existing Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IRs) in assigned region, through advisory and project management, ensuring alignment with CENMAT priorities.
• Act as a coordination point between Energy programme colleagues and the EMD team, facilitating information sharing, identifying opportunities for collaboration and supporting the integration of agreed global priorities into regional activities.

What core knowledge, skills and experience are we looking to add to our team?

Domain Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s degree in energy, environmental sciences, sustainable development, international relations, public policy, or related fields.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience in international and/or multi-stakeholder environments, with demonstrated ability to independently manage projects, coordinate diverse stakeholders and deliver high-quality research, analysis and engagement activities.
• Experience contributing to projects addressing energy, industrial or materials transition challenges, ideally in emerging or developing markets context.
• Good understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with accelerating inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the Global South.
• Interest in advancing public-private cooperation and delivering practical outcomes in support of energy, industrial, and materials transitions.undefined

Core Skills

• Strong research, analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear insights and practical recommendations.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, coordination, delivery and follow-through across multiple workstreams.
• Ability to work independently within agreed objectives, exercise sound judgement, anticipate delivery challenges and escalate matters requiring broader decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to tailor messages to senior and diverse audiences.
• Command of Spanish, French or Arabic considered a plus.
• Collaborative, proactive and adaptable approach, with a commitment to advancing dialogue, cooperation and innovation.
• Operational excellence ensuring that day-to-day tasks and data are adequately accounted for and captured, including in the Forum’s internal CSM dashboards.

Why join us?

Join an independent and impartial organization with over 55 years of connecting leaders to make sense of global challenges and move the world forward together.