Senior Policy Officer Critical Minerals

Senior Policy Officer
Critical Minerals Mission

UK based/hybrid

Role Overview

Shaping a circular economy for critical minerals 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.

Policy is a key enabler of systemic transformations and so it is key that our work connects with and engages with policymakers. To support this and provide a regulatory dimension to our rapidly growing Critical Minerals Mission, we are seeking a Critical Minerals Senior Policy Officer to work together with the team’s Climate and Institutional Lead and the wider team overall. The role will support the transition towards a circular economy for critical minerals (CMs) / Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) in the context of decarbonisation across energy, transport and industrial processes (including electric vehicles, batteries, charging infrastructure, renewable energy and storage), as well as the expansion of the digital economy (including electronics, data centres, and related technologies).

Our Senior Policy Officer will play a key role in shaping the Foundation’s engagement with EU institutions and international bodies, as well as contribute substantially to relevant sector and macro research. You will provide mission-embedded policy analysis and engagement support across the Critical Minerals portfolio. You will help ensure that policy and regulatory developments inform EMF’s work on batteries and energy storage, circular electronics, digital infrastructure and other critical-mineral value chains. You will monitor emerging policy, translate complex developments into clear implications and recommendations, and help programme teams identify credible policy pathways for their work.

Role & Responsibilities

• Keep abreast of key CMs / CRMs policy and legislative developments identifying opportunities for engagement and input. The Foundation works globally and has teams in the EU, China, Latin America and South East Asia which will inform priority focus areas. Share these insights with the Foundation’s Critical Minerals mission and Policy & Institutions teams.

• Identify policy analysis needs and develop policy positions in the context of the Foundation’s Critical Minerals mission’s portfolio, working with the Mission and Policy & Institutions teams to deliver position papers and policy briefings both for internal use and with key stakeholders.

• Build relationships with both thought leaders and practitioners on critical minerals-related policy to support impact, exploring with them what it takes to shape and implement a transformative agenda on a circular economy globally, and to foster dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders in the context of our Business - Policy Interface work.

• Identify opportunities to develop collaborations and potential joint publications on circular economy policy in the context of the energy and digital transition including by rowing and maintaining the Foundation’s key policy relationships (including with key policy institutions,, key research organisations, consultancies and policy think tanks that are working on critical minerals in the context of energy, transport and digital transitions .

• Contribute to broader Mission research and analysis priorities by working in an agile manner to contribute content to reports, presentations, funding propositions and stakeholder materials, working with technical and programme leads to maintain accuracy and coherence.

Your profile

You will have 4+ years demonstrable experience in policy research, analysis, advocacy, regulatory affairs or a related role, with examples of personally produced outputs.

• Institutional knowledge: Evidence of working within the policy landscape and international frameworks in the EU and international contexts, including how these frameworks shape global value chains and market issues for minerals and raw materials in sectors such as: energy, transport, industry or the digital economy. Experience engaging with institutions or stakeholders in the Global South would be a real plus.

• Stakeholder engagement: Evidence of engaging in and maintaining constructive relationships with stakeholders across businesses, NGOs, and government institutions.

• Research, analysis and synthesis: Experience in research and policy development, with strong analytical skills to synthesize complex information.

• Communication and drafting: Excellent communication skills, including public speaking, writing, and facilitating multi-stakeholder discussions. Fluency in English is required; additional languages are a plus.

Transferable skills welcome. We welcome applicants from adjacent policy domains or adjacent sector domains, who bring strong stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and delivery skills. If you meet most of the requirements and can show how your experience translates, we encourage you to apply.

Apply by clicking the green icon where you will be asked to upload a CV and covering letter.

Closing date: 28th October 2026

Desired starting date: as soon as possible.

Salary package: Circa £48k depending on experience. Generous holiday allowance (25 days plus UK Bank Holidays plus discretionary organisational extra days leave at Christmas and Easter), generous parental leave; enhanced pension options/private health scheme after 6 months; wellbeing programme.

Location: A remote UK location will be considered for this role. We are unable to sponsor a Skilled Worker Visa for this role. All applicants must have an existing right to work in the UK valid for at least 2 years.

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 are able to 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 [email protected].