Business Development Intern – Industrial Processing Facility Siting & Development

Reports to: VP of Commercialization

Duration: 10 weeks, Summer 2026

About Still Bright

Still Bright is a seed-stage, deep-technology startup dedicated to solving the world's critical copper shortfall. The transition to a secure and sustainable economy depends on a massive expansion of copper supply, yet traditional extraction methods face significant environmental and permitting challenges.

Our proprietary hydrometallurgical process is designed to improve copper yields at currently producing mines as well as unlock vast, untapped copper and other co-located metal resources. As a closed-loop system, our technology offers precise control over all outputs, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing value.

Backed by top-tier investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Material Impact, our team is designing and executing its pilot and is preparing the next stages of commercial deployment.

We prioritize the well-being of our employees, customers, and communities, and work to create a positive impact on the world through our business practices. We especially encourage applicants from historically marginalized communities to join our mission of sustainable metals extraction.

Position Summary

The Business Development Intern – Industrial Processing Facility Siting & Development will explore and develop a framework for how Still Bright evaluates, selects, and advances central or regional processing facility locations. This role digs into the nuances that vary across regions — regulatory environments, municipal water partnerships, land use considerations, and permitting pathways — and synthesizes those findings into a decision-making framework that Still Bright leadership can use to assess and prioritize locations. Working closely with the VP of Commercialization and with direct exposure to the CEO, the intern will build the analytical and strategic foundation for one of the company's most important infrastructure questions.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach to water municipalities across key regions to understand partnership structures, regulatory requirements, and appetite for collaboration
• Map relevant state and federal regulatory bodies and identify the most efficient path to compliance for central processing facilities
• Research land use considerations, including differences in requirements and processes for publicly versus privately held land
• Outline permitting requirements and expected timelines across key regions to inform location prioritization
• Coordinate and prepare materials for executive conversations between the CEO, VP of Commercialization, and key external stakeholders
• Synthesize findings into a framework for making business decisions between facility locations, accounting for regional regulatory, permitting, and partnership differences

Qualifications & Experience

Core Competencies:

• Currently enrolled in an MBA program or equivalent post-bachelor degree program
• Strong research and communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly with regulators, municipal officials, and senior executives
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure in early-stage environments
• Self-directed with strong instincts for prioritization and follow-through

Strongly Preferred Experience:

• Background or coursework in infrastructure, energy, environmental policy, project development, or adjacent sectors
• Experience coordinating across multiple external stakeholders toward a defined outcome

Nice-to-Have:

• Familiarity with NEPA, permitting processes, or industrial facility siting
• Prior experience in an early-stage or venture-backed company
• Exposure to mining, metals, or industrial technology sectors

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position. Still Bright provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Still Bright complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Still Bright expressly prohibits and will never tolerate any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.