GBA / Battery Passport Internship

About the Global Battery Alliance and the Battery Passport

In 2019, the Global Battery Alliance (GBA) published ‘A Vision for a Sustainable Battery Value Chain 2030’, outlining the need to rapidly scale sustainable, responsible, and circular battery value chains as a major driver to meet the Paris Agreement targets. The 2023 update to this report, ‘Battery 2030: Resilient, sustainable and circular’ in collaboration with McKinsey, highlights staggering growth forecasts, projecting that the entire lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery chain, from mining through recycling, could grow by over 30 percent annually from 2022 to 2030 when it would reach a value of more than $400 billion and a market size of 4.7 TWh. To manage the environmental, social, and governance impacts of the rapidly growing industry, transparency, collective multistakeholder engagement, and action are vital. With that in mind, the GBA conceptualized the Battery Passport as a framework to increase transparency and accountability across the battery value chain. The battery passport is a digital product passport that conveys information about all applicable sustainability and lifecycle requirements based on a comprehensive definition of a sustainable battery. It aims to bring new levels of transparency to the global battery value chain by collecting, exchanging, collating, and reporting trusted data among all lifecycle stakeholders on the material provenance, the battery’s chemical make-up and manufacturing history, and its sustainability performance. Its ultimate goal is to provide end-users with an ESG score based on the battery’s sustainability performance, according to reporting rules agreed by stakeholders from industry, academia, non-governmental organisations, and government.

To demonstrate the practical feasibility of the battery passport, the GBA mobilized members in 2022, covering the entire value chain from mine to vehicle manufacturer, to jointly establish a proof of concept. In addition to reporting the technical parameters of the battery, this included the tracking and tracing of materials flows for select value chains, integrated with consistent reporting against the GBA’s Greenhouse Gas rulebook to establish the battery carbon footprint and the Child Labour and Human Rights Indices to establish an indicative, differentiated sustainability performance score. In the course of 2024, the GBA will be working with its members on a second wave of pilots to establish a minimal viable product before the end of the year.

To successfully deliver on the GBA's mission, the Secretariat seeks to engage an intern to support the Battery Passport Programme. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a leading, multistakeholder sustainability initiative in the battery and supply chain due diligence and ESG standards ecosystem. We offer a unique view to a collaborative network of the world’s leading organisations in sustainable battery value chains, and an opportunity to contribute to tools with a lasting impact on the field.

The position reports to the GBA Programme Manager.   

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development of the Battery Passport indicator framework and sustainability performance expectations across the battery value chain and at the product level by:
• Research regulatory requirements (EU and global) related to supply chain due diligence and the battery and critical minerals value chains and updating related mappings against the Battery Passport framework.
• Researching and updating mappings of voluntary environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and responsible sourcing standards relevant to the battery and critical minerals value chains and supporting systematic consultations with standard-setting organisations to mainstream relevant voluntary and industry standards on performance into the Battery Passport framework.
• Support the Secretariat in the running of related working and advisory groups by preparing materials, meeting minutes, and incorporating input and validation of the GBA BP indicator framework.
• Update related documentation (regulatory mapping, standard equivalency mapping, BP indicator reporting templates).
• Support to other GBA activities as deemed necessary by the Secretariat:
• Participate in meetings, prepare materials, support with documentation, background research, etc.
• Other tasks as required by the GBA Secretariat.

Skills and Experience:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in Law, Economics, Political Science, Environmental Management, Corporate Responsibility, or similar, with preference to completed or ongoing Master’s studies.
• Focus through studies or previous internships/working experience on one or more of the following, preferably in the field of EV batteries or critical minerals/mining:
• supply chain due diligence, business, and human rights, corporate responsibility regulations and voluntary standards,
• Material and tracking and traceability, EV battery value chains, and key risks and impacts
• Benchmarking, rating, and certification of sustainability performance data
• Data governance, management, assurance, and verification.
• Knowledge of the related regulatory landscape and experience in legal/paralegal work is an asset.
• Excellent IT skills (MS Office suite) and online communication tools. Knowledge of additional communication, survey, and analytical programmes is an asset.
• Experience working in public-private partnerships and/or multi-stakeholder settings is an asset, as is the ability, willingness to adapt, and sensitivity to a multi-stakeholder environment with varying expectations and perspectives.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and additional languages (Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish) are an asset.
• Self-organised team player with a drive to work independently and proactively seek advice and support when needed in a dynamic, fast-paced, and fully remote environment.

The GBA is looking for a candidate who thrives in a collaborative, start-up-like remote work environment, working across different cultures, time zones, and communication styles. The GBA membership is global and exceptionally diverse, and GBA staff distinguish themselves by being active and respectful listeners and solution-oriented consensus builders.

We offer a fully remote and flexible working environment and are open to flexible or part-time working hours. We offer a compensation of 1,000 EUR / month. You are expected to work 32-40 hours per week. 

Timeline:  Anticipated starting date 1st September for a period of six months 

Location:

Home-based, remote. A valid work permit in the preferred country of residence is required. The CET-compatible time zone is preferred. Limited international travel may be expected.

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter including your CV, and starting date availability to secretariat@GlobalBattery.org with “GBA Intern—Private” in the subject line.

Final candidates may be asked for references. Interviews will start on a rolling basis as qualified candidates are identified.

 

Additional information:

The GBA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage applicants from varied backgrounds to apply. At the GBA, we aspire to be an employer of choice where all mix/range of talented individuals contribute to the team and do their best work.