ECP Fall 2026 – Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains

The World Economic Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Geneva, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Beijing, and Tokyo.

We are the trusted platform for public-private cooperation where leaders come together to understand global challenges and drive action across sectors and regions. We create spaces where different stakeholders engage openly, build trust, and collaborate to help solve shared global challenges.

As part of our global team of over 1’000+ employees across six offices representing more than 100 nationalities, you will have the opportunity to influence systems level change, build communities of action, and broaden your perspective.

Programme Overview

We believe that early career talents are an essential and vibrant part of our community. The Early Careers Program provides an exciting opportunity for participants to get a feel for working at the Forum, bringing in fresh ideas and gaining valuable real-world experience.

The positions we offer are best suited to bachelor’s and master’s program graduates, with a maximum of 3 years cumulated work experience (inclusive of internships).

Conditions and benefits of the Early Careers Program

• Full-time onsite employment contract of 6 months at a World Economic Forum office

• Programme start dates between 1 September and 1 October

• Monthly gross compensation of USD $4,550

The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains is seeking an Early Careers Programme (ECP) participant to support the expansion of SmartStart USA and broader North America engagement initiatives (as an example, Global Lighthouse Network activities). The participant will contribute to programme delivery by supporting stakeholder engagement, partnership development, workforce innovation, and ecosystem-building activities across industry, education, and government. Through hands-on involvement in pilot implementation, resource mobilization, and career pathway development, the role will strengthen programme execution, expand regional impact, and support the Centre's objectives of advancing talent development and manufacturing competitiveness.

Key responsibilities and outcomes:

• Support the growth and implementation of the SmartStart USA pilot by engaging schools, workforce organizations, state agencies, employers, and industry partners, while coordinating stakeholder consultations, pilot activities, and programme tracking.
• Contribute to resource mobilization by researching and mapping philanthropic, corporate, and public-sector funding opportunities, preparing partnership and fundraising materials, and tracking engagement with prospective funders and strategic partners.
• Assist in the development of the SmartStart Student & Teacher Portal through research on workforce trends and skills demand, mapping manufacturing and supply chain career pathways, and coordinating stakeholder feedback and testing.
• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of virtual and in-person events, including the Centre's 2027 Annual Partner Convening in North America, ensuring seamless execution and a high-quality participant experience.
• Support the planning and execution of North America engagement initiatives, including Global Lighthouse Network (GLN) roundtables and regional partnership activities, while coordinating with partners, maintaining stakeholder engagement, and identifying opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the Centre's North American network.
• Develop briefing materials, event content, programme communications, and impact reporting that strengthen stakeholder engagement, demonstrate programme outcomes, and support the continued growth of the Centre's initiatives.

Profile Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree minimum, master's preferred in business, policy, technology, manufacturing, engineering, or a relevant field
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills, with the ability to synthesize information into clear, actionable insights.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing presentations, briefing materials, and stakeholder-facing content.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple projects and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across industry, government, education, and non-profit sectors.
• Interest in advanced manufacturing, supply chains, workforce development, education, or ecosystem-building, with a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within an international team environment.

Why join us?

Join an independent and impartial organization with over 55 years of connecting leaders to make sense of global challenges and move the world forward together.