Senior Researcher / Key Expert 2 – Critical Minerals Supplier Development (Anticipated Position)

About the role

Position: Senior Researcher / Key Expert 2 – Critical Minerals Supplier Development (Anticipated Position). Note: This is a contingent consulting opportunity. We are currently soliciting CVs from interested candidates in anticipation of client contracting and confirmation of the assignment. Navanti Group is seeking a Senior Researcher to support a commercial comparative study of local supplier development in critical-minerals mining. The Senior Researcher will design and deliver the qualitative research and international comparative analysis that underpin the study’s evidence base, comparative matrices, and policy recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement qualitative research methods and the international comparative-analysis framework
• Analyze local-supplier programs related to critical-minerals mining across Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and/or Canada
• Organize and synthesize case evidence on instruments, actors, governance, financing, outcomes, and implementation conditions
• Develop comparative matrices and cross-cutting analysis
• Draft analytical chapters and evidence-based conclusions
• Support validation of findings and recommendations
• Differentiate increased local procurement from sustained productive development and assess the strength of available evidence

Requirements

• Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, economics, law, international relations, or a related discipline
• English proficiency at C1 level and Spanish proficiency at B1 level
• At least 10 years of experience in applied research, qualitative analysis, and international comparative studies
• At least 7 years of experience in qualitative research, public-policy analysis, and international benchmarking in industrial, trade, or investment policy
• At least 8 years of Latin America project experience
• At least 3 years of academic or applied work relating to Europe, Canada, or Australia
• Two previous projects or publications demonstrating understanding of the empirical challenges in evaluating local supplier-program effectiveness
• Combine credible comparative-policy research with rigorous qualitative analysis and substantial Latin America experience
• Demonstrate ability to assess evidence quality, evaluate supplier-program effectiveness, and develop practical policy conclusions
• Two relevant projects or publications must substantiate this expertise