Program Specialist, Centre for Energy and Materials

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, engaging the foremost leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The Forum’s Centre for Energy and Materials (CENMAT) aims to accelerate a sustainable, secure and just energy and materials transition that delivers on future societal needs. The Centre engages leaders from the public and private sectors to deliver new insights and multistakeholder collaborations at the global, regional and national levels. Through different programs, initiatives, knowledge products and events, CENMAT creates impact and value for constituents.

To enhance the Centre’s impact and capacity on energy transition intelligence and delivery of select Centre initiatives and activities, are hiring a Program Specialist.  The successful candidate will conduct necessary research and analysis, project management and administrative tasks in energy and materials.

The Program Analyst reports to the Manager, Energy and Industry Transition Intelligence. 

The successful candidate will also build productive relationships with colleagues from across the Forum’s Centre for Energy and Materials and other parts of the institution.

• Support the CENMAT Global Future Councils (GFC). The Global Future Councils are groups of up to 20 leading experts who interact to provide thought leadership for the Centre and for the Forum’s constituents. The Program Analyst will support and work closely with the GFC Managers for the 2025/2026 GFC term. This includes responsibilities such as contribute to the process of selection, invitation and onboarding on GFC members. GFC meetings preparations and follow up as well as facilitating GFC workstreams and content delivery.    

• Lead Transformation Maps for CENMAT and contribute to leveraging broader Forum strategic intelligence capabilities. Transformation Maps are the World Economic Forum’s dynamic strategic intelligence and knowledge tools helping users to explore and make sense of the complex and interlinked forces that are transforming economies, industries and global issues. The maps co-developed with highly reputable academic institutions allows users to visualise and understand key topics to inform decision making.  The Program Specialist will curate the CENMAT portfolio of Transformation maps in collaboration with relevant colleagues and external academic institutions to ensure the maps are up to date and of high quality. The Specialist will also follow the Forum’s broader strategic intelligence capabilities and seek strategic opportunities to leverage these for the benefit of CENMAT and our constituents.

• Support research, delivery and dissemination for key CENMAT knowledge products. CENMAT issues key knowledge products such as the Annual “Fostering Effective Energy Transition Report”, “The Net Zero Industry Tracker” and special reports on topics highly relevant to the companies, policy makers and other stakeholders engaging with our Centre. The Program Specialist will support the research, delivery and launch for such key knowledge products.

• Support CENMAT events and session delivery. The Centre for Energy and Materials organizes sessions at World Economic Forum global events and also other Centre events in specific countries. The Program analyst will lead or contribute to preparation of sessions at such events.  

• Support wider CENMAT activities. The successful candidate will support other CENMAT projects and activities as needs arise and based on the competences of the candidate.  

• Bachelor’s degree in energy, materials, decarbonization, technology innovation, business management or similar fields. A master’s degree is desirable.   

• 5+ years of experience post-Bachelor, or 4+ years with master’s degree, in the private or public sector, including experience/expertise in energy or materials is a must. Business experience is desired.   

• Passion for energy transition issues is a must.

• Experience working in diverse and international work environments, ideally in relevant fields of energy, materials, energy-economics, energy or climate policy.

• Hands-on experience in project management, research and/or supporting or developing initiatives and communities.  

• A doer with the ability to problem solve and move things forward while collaborating 

• Experience and comfort with stakeholder interactions and working on matters involving knowledge management, administrative and coordination support.

• Excellent communications skills, including creation of visually compelling presentations and materials. Excellent verbal and written language skills in English; proficiency in other languages is an asset.

• Proficient with recent digital platforms. High levels of proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analytical tools.  Knowledge of a programming language (e.g. Python) and digital presentation (e.g. PowerBI, Tableau) is desired.

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!