The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is Hiring a Critical Minerals Specialist (Africa-Based)
Be part of shaping transparency, accountability, and democratic governance in the global critical minerals economy.
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is seeking an experienced Africa-based Critical Minerals Specialist to support the U.S. government–funded PROTECT (Promoting Responsible Ownership and Transparency in Critical Minerals) project.
This is a unique opportunity for a governance, anti-corruption, or responsible sourcing expert to work at the intersection of democracy, global supply chains, and sustainable mineral development.
For over four decades, CIPE has been at the frontline of strengthening democracy through private enterprise.
As one of the core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, CIPE partners with business leaders, policymakers, innovators, and civil society to ensure markets remain open, accountable, and grounded in ethical governance.
CIPE’s programming cuts across Enterprise Ecosystems, Democratic Governance, Anti-Corruption & Ethics, Business Advocacy, and Trade—and this role sits squarely where these priorities intersect.
About the Role
The Critical Minerals Specialist (Africa-based) will play a central role in CIPE’s global strategy to advance responsible business conduct in the rapidly expanding critical minerals sector.
As demand for minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, graphite, and rare earths intensifies, so does the urgency to ensure that supply chains are transparent, corruption-resistant, and aligned with democratic values.
This position offers the chance to influence how companies, chambers of commerce, state-owned enterprises, SMEs, business associations, and tech innovators across Africa, Latin America, and Asia navigate this evolving landscape.
Working closely with CIPE’s regional, communications, finance, and grants teams, the Specialist will support program implementation, strengthen multi-stakeholder coalitions, and contribute to global thought leadership on responsible sourcing and mineral governance.
Key Responsibilities
The selected candidate will:
- Support implementation of PROTECT project activities across multiple regions, with a focus on Africa.
- Lead outreach to companies, SOEs, chambers of commerce, SMEs, and business associations to expand participation in collective action initiatives.
- Strengthen relationships with private sector partners, advocacy coalitions, and innovation networks.
- Collect and synthesize company feedback, maintain updated engagement databases, and support risk-mapping research.
- Contribute to the development of corruption-risk roadmaps for supply chains, procurement, and mineral governance systems.
- Organize forums, hackathons, high-level convenings, roundtables, workshops, and multi-stakeholder dialogues.
- Manage logistics: invitations, agendas, speaker coordination, venues, vendor outreach, travel, and participant lists.
- Prepare meeting minutes, event reports, and follow-up communications.
- Support monitoring, evaluation, and compliance documentation, including quarterly reporting to donors.
- Track political and economic developments across target regions and assess implications for ongoing project work.
- Draft newsletters, partner communications, and knowledge products.
- Collaborate with CIPE’s communications team to produce blogs, publications, and thought-leadership content.
- Ensure all activities align with CIPE’s finance, grants, and donor-compliance requirements.
Qualifications
CIPE is looking for a highly motivated professional with:
- A Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Business, Economics, Development Studies, Resource Governance, Mineral Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent senior-level experience) in Natural Resource Governance, Mining Law & Policy, Public Policy, Energy or Natural Resource Management, International Business, or similar fields.
- Minimum 6 years of professional experience in NGOs, private sector, supply chains, governance, or compliance.
- At least 4 years of strategic program management experience.
- Strong understanding of the critical minerals sector, responsible sourcing, and/or mineral transparency initiatives.
- Experience with anti-corruption, business ethics, democratic governance, or responsible supply chain development.
- Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder meetings or high-level events.
- Prior experience working with U.S. Department of State programs is an asset.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Fluency in English; French proficiency strongly preferred.
- Strong command of MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Why This Role Matters
This position is ideal for someone passionate about ensuring that the global energy transition is not only fast but fair—that the sourcing of critical minerals supports democracy, economic inclusion, ethical business practices, and transparent supply chains.
You will be working across continents and shaping a portfolio that has immediate impact on how countries, companies, and communities engage with mineral resources.
If responsible mineral governance, anti-corruption, and sustainable development are central to your career mission, this opportunity offers a meaningful pathway to influence global systems from an Africa-based leadership position.
