Senior Associate – Materials

Company

Description:

Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.

We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.

Location:
London preferred. Amsterdam also possible

Systemiq is looking for a Strategy Associate to join our Materials & Circular Economy team. This role is suited to someone who combines strong strategic thinking with the intellectual curiosity to tackle complex sustainability challenges.

You will work on some of the most important questions facing companies, governments and wider society as they shift towards more circular and sustainable models. Projects can range from shaping corporate strategy and identifying new business opportunities to assessing value chains, developing policy recommendations and designing system-level interventions.

We are looking for someone who can bring the core toolkit and pace of a strong strategy consultant: structured problem-solving, analytical rigour, clear communication and sound judgement. Strategy consulting experience is one route to demonstrating this. We are equally interested in candidates from other demanding analytical environments who can show the same quality of thinking and ability to turn complexity into clear recommendations.

You will join small, senior-led project teams and take meaningful responsibility from the outset. You will structure problems, conduct analysis, develop insights and work directly with clients to translate those insights into practical strategic choices.

You will:

• Structure complex problems: break ambiguous questions into clear work streams, hypotheses and analytical priorities.
• Generate insights: conduct rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis, drawing conclusions from incomplete or complex information.
• Shape recommendations: translate analysis into clear, concise and practical strategic recommendations.
• Develop client materials: produce high-quality presentations, briefings and other client-ready outputs.
• Engage with clients: work directly with senior stakeholders across businesses, governments, foundations and non-governmental organisations.
• Contribute to project direction: help shape project approaches, hypotheses and emerging strategic conclusions.
• Build trusted relationships: work effectively with clients, partners and stakeholders across multi-organisation initiatives.

You will be part of Systemiq’s Materials & Circular Economy platform, led by Partner Ben Dixon.

Ben works across circular economy and energy topics and has advised organisations including the Ellen Mac Arthur Foundation, the United Nations International Resource Panel and multinational companies across packaging, chemicals and related sectors. He also leads Systemiq’s work on plastics, focused on accelerating the transition towards a more circular and resource-efficient plastics system.

We are looking for candidates who already demonstrate, or can quickly operate with, the core toolkit expected in strategy consulting. You should be able to:

• Structure complex and ambiguous problems into clear components, hypotheses and analytical questions.
• Apply strong analytical judgement to qualitative and quantitative information.
• Synthesize complex material into concise insights and decision-relevant recommendations.
• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, including through high-quality presentation materials.
• Work effectively at pace, managing changing priorities and imperfect information.
• Move comfortably between detailed analysis and the broader strategic question.

You will typically bring:

• At least two years of experience in strategy consulting, advisory or another analytically demanding environment.
• Evidence of strong performance and increasing responsibility in your previous roles.
• Experience contributing to strategy, investment,…