Business Development and Operations Intern
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (in-person)
Duration: 6+ months
Start date: asap
Type: Part-time (alongside your studies) or full-time
Brineworks is an Amsterdam-based climate tech company building ultra low-cost Direct Air Capture technology. Our proprietary electrolyzer captures CO₂ directly from the air while co-producing green hydrogen. This breakthrough unlocks affordable and scalable carbon removal and e-Fuel production.
We're looking for a Business Development and Operations Intern to work directly with our business development and strategy team and support the decisions that will shape how and where Brineworks grows next. You’ll work closely with our Head of Strategy and Business Development Lead on their day-to-day priorities. You'll help map ecosystems, track policy and funding developments, and build on the intelligence we already have to shape where we deploy, who we partner with, and how we position ourselves. You’ll also contribute to broader business development efforts, from putting together applications for competitions, awards, and conferences to supporting our marketing and content. No two weeks look the same here, and we're looking for someone who is happy to pick up whatever needs picking up.
You'll also get involved in the operational side of an early-stage startup.That might mean organizing team events, coordinating office needs, helping with day-to-day logistics, or generally making sure things run smoothly as the team grows.
If you're curious about the energy transition, enjoy going down rabbit holes, get satisfaction from turning messy information into clear insights, and don't mind rolling up your sleeves when something practical needs doing, you'll feel at home here.
- Work closely with our Head of Strategy and Business Development Lead, supporting them on their day-to-day priorities across strategy, business development, and whatever else needs moving forward
- Research national and regional energy landscapes across Europe and beyond — renewable capacity, infrastructure, regulation, and market dynamics
- Keep our map of industry players up to date (competitors, partners, offtakers, enablers)
- Continue tracking the funding landscape for sustainable and climate projects across different countries — grants, subsidies, tax incentives, public tenders, and strategic investment programs
- Build briefings, market maps, and country deep-dives that feed directly into business development decisions
- Support outreach preparation by profiling potential partners, customers, and stakeholders
- Keep a pulse on relevant policy developments (EU ETS, ReFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime, national hydrogen strategies, etc.)
- Help prepare applications for competitions, awards, and conferences, including pitch decks, one-pagers, and supporting materials
- Support marketing and content creation across our channels
- Help organize internal events and team gatherings, and keep the office and day-to-day running smoothly
- Hop on whatever else comes up — at an early-stage startup, no two weeks look the same
- Enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor's or in a Master's program at a European university, in a field such as business, economics, sustainability, energy, environmental studies, public policy, or a related discipline
- Already based in the Netherlands, or able to relocate to Amsterdam for the duration of the internship
- Genuinely enjoys research — comfortable starting from a blank page, knowing how to find credible sources, and synthesizing findings into something useful
- Strong writing skills and the ability to communicate complex topics clearly and concisely
- Independent, self-directed, and excellent problem solving — you can take an open-ended question and come back with a structured answer
- Happy to switch between deep research and hands-on operational work — organized, proactive, and comfortable juggling a few things at once
- Attention to detail, ability to prioritise, and strong communication skills – this is a high-trust role and we expect you to apply your best judgement about when to escalate information to us
- Comfortable balancing speed with rigour – we move fast, but we expect your outputs to be delivered to a high quality
- Capable across Microsoft Word and Excel
- Fluent in English
- Driven by a genuine desire to contribute to meaningful change
- Please note: we are unable to sponsor visas for this role. Applicants must already have the right to work/intern in the Netherlands.
- Experience with financial modelling
- Familiarity with the energy sector and sustainability topics such as carbon removal and e-Fuels
- Previous experience with market research, consulting, policy analysis, operations, marketing, event planning, and/or working at a startup
- Fluency in Dutch and additional European languages
- Drivers license
- Work directly with our Head of Strategy and Business Development Lead, with real ownership of your projects
- Hands-on experience in a fast-growing climate tech startup
- Based at Science Park in Amsterdam, a hub for science and climate tech
- Free lunch, plus unlimited snacks and drinks in the office
- Flexible working setup, full-time or part-time alongside your studies, with flexibility around your academic schedule.
- Paid internship