Framework Foresight | Glossary | Tools | Jobs | Videos

Futurists use a variety of terms, definitions, concepts, and tools in our work. Listed below are some of the terms and software tools you will learn about and use in classes as well as real world projects.

• Rohrbeck Heger GmbH,a strategic foresight and innovation management firm, is growing looking for ambitious new colleagues at different seniority levels. The foresight consultant role will play the key role in client engagement – leading and implementing projects with clients and maintaining, guiding them through complex decision making in an uncertain future, and directing and deepening the relationship over time; they are also looking for part-time foresight analysts who will play a key role in trend scouting, analysis and interpretation, and developing insights about future opportunities for clients. More info
• WBB, a technical and management consulting company, is looking for a Program Management Analyst–Strategic Foresight to support its work with the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). The project analyzes future scenarios and supports strategic decision making by examining technologies, concepts, and policies. Among the duties are scanning for disruptive change, applying the Framework Foresight model, and providing project management support. More info
• American Modern Insurance Group is looking for a Futurist/Senior Analyst Disruption to be part of the  Futurist Innovation Strategy and Scouting team in Silicon Valley We’re looking for someone to join our diverse team of Innovation Scouts in the Silicon Valley. The ideal candidate is someone well connected in the Silicon Valley ecosystem and committed to identify new technology trends and able to translate them into new business models. The Futurist will leverage a mature understanding of potential technology disruptors and a deep network within the Silicon Valley tech ecosystem to scout highly disruptive, tech-related Horizon 3 opportunities. The Futurist will present findings and insights to senior leaders in Munich Re which will inform which strategic growth opportunities are to be developed to drive business development forward in unchartered territories. More info
• Swain Techs is looking for a Principal Futurist for their Pasadena, CA location. The company provides solutions in technical, engineering, and enterprise IT core business areas. The Principal Futurist will look to socialize and elucidate the vision of the Digital Transformation, building a vision of increased efficiency by reducing headcount and driving greater investment and innovation at a reduced cost in light of aggressive competition. More info
• Policy Horizons Canada is looking for a Senior Foresight Analyst and a Foresight Manager. The Senior Foresight Analyst will research and synthesize future developments in the policy landscape that could affect government policy and programs, engage with public servants, develop and write high quality foresight materials, help design foresight projects, and facilitate and participate in meetings and workshops. The Manager of Foresight will take on many roles of a Senior Foresight Analyst, and you will also: Hire, orient, train, manage and develop talent of foresight staff and Lead production of foresight reports, presentations, and corporate documents. More info
• Quantumrun Forecasting is looking for freelance Foresight writers and researchers. Quantumrun Forecasting is a research and consulting agency that uses long-range strategic foresight to help organizations thrive from future trends. We are expanding our foresight report and content writing business in 2019. Depending on the project, you will likely provide a combination of foresight-focused editorial, creative writing, research, and report writing services. All work will be paid per editorial or per report edited with a percentage initial deposit paid up front. For now, all work will be conducted virtually and on a freelance basis. More info
• KnowledgeWorks is hiring for a Senior Manager, Strategic Foresight. This position will make key contributions to KnowledgeWorks’ strategic foresight work through a focus on strategic foresight research and publication development and the execution of project and client deliverables. This position will also carry out operational activities for the team, take on some project management, and contribute to KnowledgeWorks’ communications related to the future of learning. This position requires familiarity with the field of strategic foresight along with strong research, writing and editing skills and experience contributing effectively to collaborative projects. It can be based remotely or in KnowledgeWorks’ Cincinnati office. More info
• The Frederick S. Pardee Center at the University of Denver has posted a position for a Quantitative Modeler.  The Pardee Center is the home of the International Futures (IFs) global modeling system.  IFs is an integrated assessment model that represents demographic, economic, health, energy, agriculture, education, infrastructure, socio-political, environmental, and international politics subsystems for 186 countries interacting in the global system. Preferred candidates will have: PhD in social science, engineering or science (e.g., mathematics, physics).  Master’s degree required; demonstrated model development experience, including work that goes beyond statistical approaches to the creation of larger-scale structural models that are dynamic across time; xoding experience for model development in one or more computer languages (Visual Studio especially useful); extensive knowledge in one or more of the issue domains of the IFs system and willingness to work across all domains; and experience in developing proposals for new research projects would be useful. More info
• OECD is looking for a Policy Analyst, Foresight for the Development Co-operation Directorate (DCD) . The Policy Analyst will coordinate and support the implementation of the work stream on foresight aimed at strengthening the Development Assistance Committee’s and the DCD’s work on development co-operation and facilitating the necessary steps to imagine alternative and plausible futures and narratives so as to build preparedness in and through development co-operation work. More info
• Nesta has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Researcher to join a Future of Work programme which supports governments and experts to design policy and solutions that support future and digital skills development. Our successful candidate will focus on building on the team’s work to date creating evidence, practical tools, materials and codified case studies that demonstrate what good practice in skills policy looks like and how it can be implemented. This will involve leading the future of work research agenda to inform better policy design and taking responsibility for the development of new research proposals for international partners. More info
• Forum for the Future is hiring for a Director of Systems Change Programs who can be based in Singapore, Mumbai, London, or New York. This person will lead the development and implementation of significant global programs to catalyze change on key global challenges. They will be responsible for  the development and testing of “Challenge Labs”, the new way in which we are focusing our global programs in order to enhance their impact by incorporating systemic design principles, and adopting experimental and collaborative approaches to solving complex problems. More info
• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a full-time position for a Systems Dynamics Modeler. Applicants should have a Master’s degree and be skilled in systems dynamics and interested and capable of working at a national laboratory. Among the tasks are conceiving and implement novel modeling and analysis methods to assess the implications of technology development. The position helps inform strategic decisions facing policy makers, industry representatives, State and Federal government agencies and R&D portfolio managers by capturing the development of renewable energy technologies and related supply chains. More info
• Trace3 is hiring a Research Analyst, Emerging Technology. It was brought to us by alum Sean Daken, Director of Research at Trace 3, which is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to clients. A key aspect of the job is interest and some experience with emerging technologies and related trends. More info
• The Narxoz Business School (NBS) is seeking an Assistant Professor level with a focus on futures and foresight. Additionally, this hire will form an integral part of senior leadership at the Qazaq Research Institute for Futures Studies (QRIFS) in Kazakhstan. Requirements include a PhD, DBA, DArch, or DDes with a focus in futures studies, strategic foresight, and/or another related area, and hands-on experience as a consulting “futurist” designing and delivering custom processes and products. More info
• The Omidyar Network, a market-oriented philanthropic investment firm in Redwood, CA, is looking for a Head, Exploration and Future Sensing. This new effort proactively identifies emerging insights, issues, and opportunities for impact and investment that could have significant implications for their overarching goal of individual empowerment. For the past year, the team has been building foresight and insight generation capabilities; it now seeks to complement this platform with an entrepreneurial leader who can help drive insight to action through enhanced, creative collection of inbound signals and ideas, dissemination and strategic network development. More info
• Philips is looking for a Communications Program Lead, Future Health Index. The candidate will develop and active Philips’ flagship research-based Communications program, to build the company’s thought leadership position in the health technology space.The Future Health Index (FHI) examines the role of technology in the health system to help determine the readiness of countries to address global health challenges and build sustainable, fit-for-purpose national health systems. More info
• Toyota’s Corporate Strategy and Planning’s & Business Insights group is looking for a highly motivated Scenario Planning Senior Analyst to lead business impact scenario planning activities. The primary responsibility of this role is to provide business scenarios as strategic inputs for key business decisions. A secondary responsibility will be to integrate into/support team projects focused on Future Mobility, in terms of new activities and impacts on the industry and competitive environment. Additional responsibilities may include engaging in core Business Insights projects and ad-hoc, quick-response reports may be required. More info
• Autodesk is seeking interns on the Future of Work and the Future of Learning. The mission of Autodesk Research is to deliver strategic foresight to the future of Autodesk’s business through exploration and experimentation, and to provide tangible validations that showcase risks and opportunities. A key element in these explorations is how they tell stories about the future in order to make them come true. More info on future of work and more info on future of learning.
• KPMG is currently seeking a Director, Strategic Foresight and Market Scouting to join their Innovation & Enterprise Solutions organization in Boston. Responsibilities include leading efforts to identify weak signals, emerging trends, and detect discontinuous change early, work with a dedicated team to interpret its consequences for the firm, and inform future courses of action to ensure the long-term survival and success of the firm. More info
• The Security & Sustainability Guide is looking for future-oriented systems thinkers to serve as research associates to help flesh out content to, and to post to their website-in-formation, www.securesustain.org. The S&SG, a project of the World Academy of Art & Science, identifies >2,000 organizations concerned with some or all aspects of “security” and/or “sustainability. Work entails: 1) writing up brief descriptions of organizations; 2) bringing these abstracts into conformity with our standards; 3) using WordPress to upload the abstracts and index descriptors; 4) updating abstracts that already exist on the site. Other responsibilities may include mounting material on Facebook and assisting in grant applications. More info, email Micheal Sales or Michael Marien
• Fast Future is recruiting a Futures Researcher (Ideally London or Houston based). Your work will include foresight research for internal and client projects, preparation of presentations, writing articles for our books, editing book contributions, and managing future publishing projects. Prior foresight experience is desirable but not essential – you will receive continuous training in our foresight methods. If interested, If you are interested in any of these roles, please contact karolina@fastfuture.com with your resume, the name of the job you are applying for, and a covering letter explaining what contribution you think you could make to Fast Future
• University of Minnesota is hiring a new full-time researcher to on a funded project focused on supporting the US Forest Service to develop, apply, and refine strategic foresight tools for public land management and decision making at both the national forest and regional levels. The candidate will have a graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in natural resources, policy and planning, social sciences, strategic foresight/futures. More info
• University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk is recruiting for a post-doctoral researcher in horizon scanning and foresight. Candidate will build on existing horizon scanning work and investigate the utility of a range of horizon-scanning and foresight techniques and methodologies for early detection of extreme technological risks, and, where appropriate, how these might be matched with risk mitigation options. More info
• Institute for the Future is hiring for a Research Director position. They are seeking a dynamic, mid-to senior-level director to help grow their Future 50 Partnership Program and catalyze long term futures thinking around the globe. The Future 50 Partnership is a network of future smart organizations that support strategic foresight research into the urgent futures that will shape the next decade across the business, social, and civic spheres. More info
• Porsche is looking for a candidate who can identify ideas based on future trends and build ideas into business cases through pilots. The Atlanta-based position will help define the direction of future mobility concepts and activities related to the US market More info
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is looking for a Management and Program Analyst (Strategic Foresight) to be part of the Forecasting and Methods office. The candidate will apply expertise in foresight methods to explore emerging trends and innovative approaches to solving current/future workforce challenges, as well as building, supporting and sustaining OPM’s foresight program as recognized leader, and serving as a liaison to other foresight efforts in the federal government and organizations around the world.  More info
• EC Joint Research Center (JRC) is is enlarging its competence on foresight and thus looking for two policy analysts as part of its “Foresight, Behavioural Insights and Design for Policy” unit based in Brussels. Among the responsibility are horizon scanning, developing and implementing novel foresight approaches and the partnershisp and communications needed to activate that work. More info
• Arup, an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists offering a broad range of professional services, is looking for a talented Senior Foresight Consultant to join our Foresight, Research and Innovation team (FRI) based in London. The successful candidate will help us to deliver industry-leading foresight services to both internal and external clients, lead the development of major strategic foresight initiatives and projects globally, and expand our external consulting offering. More info
• The Office of Personnel Management is looking for Management and Program Analyst, Strategic Planning in Washington DC. You will be part of the Forecasting and Methods unit of the Strategic Workforce Planning where you will apply your expertise in futures and foresight methods, e.g., scenarios and speculative design, to explore emerging trends, behaviors and innovative approaches to solving current and future workforce challenges. Responsibilities also include building, supporting and sustaining OPM’s foresight program. More info
• The SEI Stockholm Centre, an international non-profit research organization focused on creating a sustainable future, is recruiting a highly motivated Research Fellow with a strong research background in scenario development and foresight methodologies. The successful candidate will initially contribute to two new SEI projects where stakeholder-based scenario processes play a central role, ranging from global to local scales in both industrialised and developing countries.More info
• Trilateral Research, a London-based enterprise, specialising in research and the provision of strategic, policy and regulatory advice on new technologies, is seeking to engage one or more Foresight Research Analysts. The candidates will be expected to work on Trilateral projects in both the public and private sectors. For more information on our projects, see PROJECTS. The candidate should have a sound understanding of the issues arising from artificial intelligence and big data analytics and should have expertise in foresight techniques, notably scenario construction and Delphis. More information
• Facebook is looking for a Foresight Strategist at its Menlo Park location. For this position we are looking for experienced individual contributors who will help elevate the practice of research with creative but rigorous research and foresight methods. Some of the key duties include identifying market trends to inform business decisions, orchestrating strategic visioning, applying a apply rigorous approaches to the future to real-world problems, and collaborating with market strategy on the development of future-forward recommendations. More info
• SunTrust Bank’s Accelerator Studio, is seeking a Strategic Foresight (Futures) lead who feels at home in fast-paced and innovative environments. Candidates should be entrepreneurial and have the intellectual elasticity and grit to conquer challenges and identify and disseminate key trends. They will have the diplomatic ability to foster partnerships with high-level stakeholders and dispel the challenges inherent in Futures implementation at the enterprise level. More info
• BSR, a global sustainable business consultancy, is looking to hire a design futurist for its new Sustainable Futures Lab. The Design Futurist position has been created to help build and grow BSR’s futures practice, with a particular focus on using design futures methodologies to augment the impact of our work. The Design Futurist will, among other things, work closely with other members of the Lab to research trends and signals of change; innovate the ways in which our member companies engage with this information; and deliver projects that drive insight, value, and impact. More info
• Graduate Institute of Futures Studies, Tamkang University, seeks an Assistant Professor (the Associate Professor level may be considered for applicants with extended research, teaching and consulting/community service experience in Futures Studies). Looking for Ph.D. in Futures Studies or related areas and publications on foundational concepts, methodologies and epistemological approaches in Futures Studies. Teaching experience in Futures Studies or related areas is referred.Tamkang University is located in Tamsui, Taipei, Taiwan. More info
• Autodesk is looking for an intern on the Future of Work, World Building to explore how automation will shape the future landscape of our customer’s jobs, industries and their work. Working with the Corporate Strategy team, you’ll build rich worlds and draw on these to build speculative narratives, helping us explore potential futures, by making them relatable and tangible. More info
• Pennsylvania State University seeks an energetic and experienced Futurist in Residence for its Teaching and Learning with Technology department. The role will lead the design and implementation of a new international program for identifying and disseminating key trends in learning technology. More info.
• AARP is looking for a VP, Futurecasting  to work with the SVP Corporate Strategy & Strategic Impact to define, deploy, and drive enterprise strategy on future-focused priorities. She or he focuses on advancing AARP’s future-forward value proposition, evaluating new and disruptive industry trends, and working across all business units to identify and develop strategic approaches that help AARP respond effectively to external forces. More info
• Fast Future is looking to fill two roles. First is marketing, including marketing planning, managing the website redevelopment, content management, social media, PR, research, sales and marketing campaigns, and working closely with the team on all aspects of our work. If interested, email Steve Wells with a few paragraphs explaining why the role appeals to you and your initial thoughts on how you’d approach it. Second is an entry level or more experienced researcher to work on conducting, writing up, and editing  foresight research for client projects, presentations, articles, and books, and helping to design and facilitate client workshops and deliver public presentations. For more info, contact Karolina Dolatowska.
• Policy Horizons Canada is seeking an Executive Director for a 3-year Interchange appointment. A corporate strategic foresight agency within the federal Government of Canada, the organization’s paramount responsibility is providing timely and integrated perspectives and advice on emerging policy issues for the deputy minister and policy communities. Education background includes graduation with a Master’s degree from a recognized university with specialization in futures or foresight studies, public administration, social science or other specialty related to the position. More info
• Nesta, a global innovation foundation, is looking for a Senior Researcher, Explorations. The candidate will apply their expertise in futures and foresight methods (from established approaches such as scenarios through to more experimental methods such as speculative design and science fiction) to explore emerging trends, behaviours and innovations in the priority areas Nesta is focused on – Health, Education, Government Innovation, Arts and Creative Economy and Innovation Policy. Alongside an emphasis on horizon scanning, the researcher will play a key role in devising content for dynamic events (including for Nesta’s flagship event, FutureFest).  More info
• Unstudio, an international architectural firm, is looking for futurists for their Amsterdam office with a Master in Future Studies/Strategic Foresight/ Prospective studies/ Prognostics/ Futuribles and approximately 2-3 years similar experience. The candidate will research, investigate and forecast futures in relation to technology and built environment. More info
• Toyota’s Corporate Strategy & Planning, Business Insights team is looking for a passionate and highly-motivated Foresight and Trends Senior Analyst. The primary responsibility of this role is identifying, tracking, and analyzing societal and consumer trends, consulting and collaborating with client groups on business implications. Reporting to the Business Environment Manager, the person in this role will support Business Insights objective to drive strategic thinking, innovation, and confident decision-making within the organization. More info:
• School of International Futures (SOIF). SOIF is recruiting for two full time roles with a minimum term of 12 months. These roles are suitable for applicants with a wide range of experience including working in a start-up or remote team: SOIF Administrator and SOIF Foresight Researcher and Project Manager.They are also looking to expand our network of foresight researchers. We are interested in applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and with diverse skillsets. SOIF Foresight Researcher
• Hasbro. Designer, Futuring—Games. Hasbro (Providence, RI) has created a small task force at the Global Design & Development Organization to inspire future thinking and concept work throughout the company, identifying and acting on trends and insights. The position calls for a Games Imbedded Innovator “responsible for inventing viable, strategic, and game-changing play concepts.” [Thanks to AAI Foresight for the lead].  More info
  Coca Cola. VEB Marketing Strategist. Coca-Cola North America’s (Atlanta) Venturing and Emerging Brands unit seeks a futurist who will serve “both as a marketing expert and a voice of the future. Candidates should be highly strategic and analytic, with a proven experience of building brands and businesses.” [Thanks to AAI Foresight for the lead] More info
• City of  New York. Senior Futurist, The Senior Futurist will support the Deputy CTO of Industry Engagement. The role of Industry Engagement’s Senior Futurist is to create visions of plausible futures and articulate their applicability and actionability for New York City. This position will work cross functionally throughout the Industry Engagement Lab – as well as external partners in industry, technology, start-ups, governmental, and academia – to collect insights, identify patterns, design points of view, socialize concepts, and inform strategy for key projects and initiatives. More info
• HP. Hewlett-Packard seeks a senior futurist to lead its technology/vision team, part of the company’s Office of CTO, including HP Labs. The incumbent will lead research efforts to help define a long-term vision for the company. Learn more or apply online.
• Arup Foresight.  Senior Foresight Consultant, Asia-Pacific, located in either HK or Shenzhen, with responsibility for building relationships and delivering foresight projects and programs; identify, managing, planning and facilitating workshops and seminars; and writing report and delivering presentations. More info.
• Aquent.  Strategic Foresight Analyst, Pawtucket, RI, with responsibility, for providing analytical insights on key issues to support decision-making primarily in support of Marketing and Corporate initiatives. The candidate will assist decision-making through the collection, synthesis and analysis of data from a variety of sources and will provide actionable recommendations, as well as responsibility for tracking cultural and market trends.   More info.
• World Future Society Director of Community Strategy. You will work directly with the WFS Leadership to build an A+ global futurist ecosystem. Unlike other nonprofits, we move fast and iterate continuously. You will be a critical member of the team that feels confident owning a wide variety of education and impact programming through continuous growth. With your efforts, WFS will grow into a globally recognized brand solving some of the world’s most intriguing problems. More info
• Institute for the Future. The Learn and Work Futures group is looking to hire a new researcher with a bent towards action. Among the responsibilities are contributing •    Contribute to research and foresight publications in the area of learning, working, and living, building on IFTF’s current and historical practice areas. More info
• Electronic Arts Looking for a Trends and Cultural Strategist, who will be responsible for designing a trends framework for EA and partnering with studio, marketing and publishing team. Reports to the Director of Consumer Insights, the role will explore culture and analyze change signals and trendspotting intelligence, and get EA geared toward the future. More info
• Toyota  Corporate Strategy and Planning’s (CS&P) newly formed Business Insights group is looking for a highly motivated Scenario Planning Senior Analyst to lead business impact scenario planning activities. The primary responsibility of this role is to provide business scenarios as strategic inputs for key business decisions. This role will lead scenario planning and other activities in collaboration with enterprise team members to ensure data, scenarios, insights, financial frameworks and future trends are developed to support business plans, five and ten –year plans, and business decisions. More info
• Kantar Futures. Looking for a Senior Consultant to join the consulting practice at Kantar Futures. They use cultural foresight and futures techniques to help clients around the world to ‘Profit from change’.This role involves engaging regularly with clients, managing projects from brief through delivery, developing hard-hitting reports and presentations and guiding teams in the same, and communicating insights and foresights in a clear and compelling way. The role also involves collaborating with senior colleagues in their efforts to win new business by preparing and presenting proposals. More info
• UNICEF 6-month consultancy, Policy Specialist, Foresight. Under supervision of the Chief of the Policy Planning Unit and working with country and regional offices the Policy Specialist will provide forward-looking analysis and offer strategic guidance on emerging and long-term trends, their implications for child rights and wellbeing and relevant UNICEF’s strategic positioning. They will undertake strategic analysis and develop policy options drawing on latest research and expertise as well as field practical experience. The key results will strengthen the way that UNICEF undertakes scanning; debates emerging issues and their implications for its work; and integrates future thinking in its decision making and action as they relate to strategy, operations, and programming. More info
• CSIRO’s Data61 announces two Postdoctoral Fellowships in Strategic Foresight for Emerging Industries and Enabling Technology as part of launching an exciting new research team. The Data61 Strategic Foresight Team works across both the public and private sectors, including wide ranging industries, geographies and social issues to identify and examine trends, risks and scenarios relating to the future economy. The objective is to help companies, governments and communities make wiser choices and navigate a pathway through technology disruption in the information era. The Postdoctoral Fellowships will be focused on collaborative work with the Queensland Government on strategic foresight. More info
• Sparks Grove is looking for a Futures Strategy Manager to join their growing Futures practice. The candidate will be focused on helping clients imagine futures and making it practical for them, this is not a cookie cutter role. The candidate needs to be a leader and a team player, collaborating with strategy, user experience, creative and technology folks and – most importantly – clients, to create some amazing work. More info
• Stellenbosch University Institute for Futures Research (IFR) is looking for a Senior Futurist.  The IFR is the first and only institute of its kind on the African continent, offering a postgraduate diploma, MPhil and PhD in future studies. It also offers a range of commissioned research products and futures-based, strategic advisory services to the private sector and government in South Africa and abroad. The role will best suit a senior, creative, market-oriented thinker with a passion for the future of South Africa and the rest of Africa. The purpose of this position is to design and deliver strategic foresight interventions to corporate leadership. More info
• Alberta Health Service is looking for a Foresight Strategist, reporting to the Manager of Strategic Foresight and Planning, to  provide advanced technical support in strategic foresight project design, project management and delivery. The candidate will also lead and provide support with facilitation, systems mapping, research and corporate integration for critical projects that span the health system. He/she will develop recommendations and provide advice to senior leadership toward policy direction, strategic and business planning and raise awareness on emerging trends. More info
• The Stockholm Resilience Centre is looking for a postdoctoral Fellow on Social Ecological Scenarios under the Wallenberg programme. The goal of this two-year postdoc is to advance and integrate scientific understanding of how social-ecological scenario planning can integrate ecosystem service models. The successful candidate will working with an international team to (1) critically review and assess the effect of scenarios in building resilience, adaptive capacity, and transformative capacity across multiple case studies and (2) develop new ways of combing scenario planning methods with ecosystem service modelling in a social-ecological context. More info
• Evonik, a global leader in specialty chemicals, is looking for portfolio development manager for its  Corporate Foresight Team. Tasks include identification and assessment of new growth opportunities; In-depth analysis of selected fields; creation of trend reports and scenario analyzes, networking, and support and develop foresight process. Posting is in German (I used Google Translate) More info
• MForesight (the Alliance for Manufacturing Foresight) seeks Manageing Director to work with the Executive Director to achieve organizational objects as well as ensure that high quality events and workshops are successfully executed and that the goals of the events are met. More info
• Idea Couture, a design and foreight consultancy, is looking for aother Foresight Strategist for their Toronto office. Their foresight work “is not a trend shop…..don’t rearticulate the future..team gets energy from thinking beyond familiar trends and simple speculations….illustrating provocative future themes….invest in and prototype solutions, and activate the kinds of cultures and capacities required to sustain the exploration of disruptive futures: More info
• The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research in Karlsruhe (germany) is looking for an experienced foresight colleague for its competence center. Desired qualifications include a university degree in social sciences/humanities, economics or engineering as well as significant expertise in the field of Foresight. A PhD, publications in the Foresight field and experience with international Foresight processes are desirable. Your research interests should include the analysis of human-technology futures and the theoretical and practical examination of the future – in particular in scenario processes, roadmapping and visioning methods and processes. More info
• HP is seeking an “Innovation Product Manager for Office of the Future” at the Palo Alto, CA location. This position is with the Commercial PC business’s future solutions team. Candidate will be responsible for helping to define new product or services concepts and further incubation projects to realize the HP vision for Office of the Future. Responsibilities include defining the market opportunity, build out the use cases and pain points/desired experience, and determine the minimal viable product. You will be the master of customer insights relating to Office of the Future trends, working with the Insights team and external agencies. More info
  
• The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world’s largest humanitarian organization, is seeking a “Coordinator of Futures and Foresight” to lead the design, development and implementation of the strategy to enhance organisational capacity to engage with future thinking and foresight approaches to prepare the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for the future in terms of organisational strategy, policy and practice. More info
• World Future Society (Chicago) The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the strategy, development and implementation of all aspects of the organization’s operations and revenue streams including finance, human resources, membership, marketing / communications, development and all related systems and processes.  The ideal candidate is adept at agile project management to meet goals and objectives.  The COO reports to the Board Chair and recruits, manages and develops an internal staff and volunteer committees in a start-up environment.  More info
• NEXTEV (San Francisco) is “more than a car company.” They know the automotive industry is on the brink of profound change; but we also know that it may not be today’s car companies that make it happen. They are seeking a “Creative Lead: Foresight and Strategy,” who is a strategic thought leader comfortable at the intersection of a future facing cross functional team. Due to the novelty of both the company and the role, this creative should be very comfortable venturing into the ambiguous and the unknown. As a Design Researcher/ Innovation Strategist you will be at the forefront of these efforts and be directly responsible for decisions to form all of our innovations and visions. Info on applying.
• Idea Couture, a design and foreight consultancy, is hiring Foresight Strategists and Senior Foresight Strategists in their Toronto, London and San Fransisco offices. If you’re interested or know of anyone who’d be a good candidate, here are links to the postings: Foresight Strategist (2-3 years of client-facing experience); and Senior Foresight Strategist (7+ years of client-facing experience)
• The Canada Council for the Arts is seeking a Director of Policy Planning and Strategic Foresight, who is accountable for providing corporate leadership and management direction for the Council’s corporate policies and planning. Among the duties are analyzing and reporting on trends and developments, and providing strategic analysis and briefings. More info.
• GAO is seeking Strategic Planning and Foresight Analyst.GAO’s work is designed to address four goals (1) to help the Congress address current and emerging challenges to the well-being and financial security of the American people; (2) to help the Congress to respond to changing security threats and the challenges of global interdependence; (3) to help transform the Federal government to address national challenges; and (4) – to maximize the value of GAO by enabling quality, timely service to Congress and by being a leading practices Federal agency. More info.
• The Institute for Alternative Futures is seeking an early-in-career project consultant with strong research, writing and management skills to work on IAF efforts.  Working on a large scenario project on the future of human progress and human services will be a major part of the work. The person will do research and writing on trends and scenarios, organize and summarize meetings, write and edit reports. The person must be able to travel to the scenario workshops and related research meetings (up to 17 two- or three-day meetings) for the project in 2016 and 2017.  The person will additionally provide some research, writing and support for other IAF projects and communications.  To apply send an email to futurist at altfutures.org with: (1) a statement that summarizes your skills and experience, acknowledges your availability for the travel, and states why you would be excellent for this work (no more than 500 words); (2) your CV; and (3) a writing sample.
• Trendwatching is looking for a junior trend analyst for its New York office. The announcement says that “2015 was a heckuva year for the North American office: we tripled our revenue, worked with brand new Fortune 500 clients, expanded our Premium service, sold out a New York Trend Seminar, and had a blast doing it all. We have no plans of slowing down, so we need your help!”
• CSIR has a vacancy for a Foresight Specialist. The purpose of this role is to research Clarge security problems that span multiple stakeholders to reduce security risk and create opportunities. Examples of security problems at this level would be cyber security and rhino poaching. This position is based in Pretoria. More info.
• The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission is looking for a dynamic person that has foresight experience. The contract that can be offered is for a period between 3 to a maximum of 6 years. The candidate will have the opportunity to work on foresight projects that are supporting and contributing to the shaping of EU policy. If you are interested, or know someone that could be interested, please get in touch via email with: fabiana.scapolo at ec.europa.eu
• Pardee Center for International Futures. The Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies seeks a Director to begin in September, 2016.  The mission of the Pardee Center (pardee.du.edu) is to provide best possible long-term national, regional, and global quantitative forecasts and forecasting capability across multiple issue areas in sustainable human and social development.  Use and continued development of the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system are central to the work — more info.
• Government of Alberta. The Government of Alberta is looking for a foresight strategist. They are looking for a systems thinker who feels compelled to look beyond current reality and imagine future scenarios. The foresight Strategist will help them re-think the challenges and possibilities to impact Alberta’s healthcare environment — more info.
• UCB. UCB is a biopharmaceutical company seeking to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases. They are looking for a futurist at either its global headquarters in Brussels or US headquarters in Atlanta to “help them understand, anticipate, prepare for and gain advantage from coming changes in our ecosystem,” as part of their Foresight Center of Expertise — more info. They are also looking for what they are calling a quantitative foresight lead to leverage their quantitative expertise to assist with key issues to support decision-making and scenario building — more info.
• Arup. Arup’s Global Foresight + Research + Innovation [FRI] team is currently seeking a Foresight + Innovation Consultant to join the global team. The qualified candidate will be based in San Francisco and report to the Global Director of the FRI team. Among the responsibilities are project management; reports, articles, and presentations; brochures, flyers for events; working on Drivers of Change; curation of insights, and supporting business development relating to foresight and innovaiton team. More info (search Arup.com careers, Americas, foresight & innovation consultant)
• Global Automotive Industry Leader. The Strategic Planning Department of an auto company in Torrance, CA is looking for a senior Foresight & Innovation Strategist. The primary responsibility of this role is identifying, tracking….[to see the listing and apply: link]
• The Futures Company. It’s always good to know the organizations are looking for futurists! A few of my former colleagues are at The Futures Company now and they are working on building up the foresight practice. The asked me to make sure the Houston foresight community was aware of the positions. There positions can be found by following the link — from internships to advisory services (supporting syndicated research) and consulting team as well. Here’s the link: http://thefuturescompany.com/careers/
• TechCast Sales Representatives. TechCast is seeking sales representatives with demonstrated success in technology/ and futures-related business to work on commission. This is a high-potential opportunity for a few enterprising people who can grow sales for a subscription service offering forecasts and strategic insights from a global network of experts. We intend to gain a small share of the $5-billion market going to Gartner, Forrester, and others. (Contact – william.halal@techcastglobal.com) More info
• Senior/ Assistant Director (Strategist, Futures Group), Futures & Strategy Division: The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) seeks to transform Singapore into a leading global city of talent, enterprise and innovation. Our mission is to promote economic growth and create jobs so as to achieve higher standards of living for all. You will be part of a team responsible for identifying and analyzing future trends and strategic issues in the local and international environment and presenting these at key fora and platforms to inform economic strategy development and policy response. This involves conducting regular environmental scans and applying appropriate futures methodologies to determine key trends and driving forces that may affect Singapore’s economy in the future and developing strategies to seize opportunities and counter threats. More info
• One of the UK’s leading cancer charities, has just advertised for a full time/permanent “innovation scout/horizon scanner.” We are looking for an Innovation Scout / Horizon Scanner to identify, research and report on any market trends or changing market conditions that can be maximised  to boost our performance. The role will involve scanning, filtering, evaluating and reporting on cutting-edge digital developments, world-wide innovations and start-ups as well as monitoring competitor fundraising activity to highlight opportunities and threats. You will be encouraged to establish and build relationships externally with forward-thinking individuals or organisations that can help us achieve our fundraising goals.” Reasonable salary too. More info:
• Bond (the UK membership body for NGOs working in international development) are recruiting a Head of Development Futures: “Bond is seeking a dynamic and authoritative individual to develop our Futures initiative. Using futures tools and approaches you will help NGOs to adapt, innovate and make better strategic decisions…” Closing date Monday, 2 March. More info
• Fast Future is looking for one or two full-time research associates. The roles could be conducted from anywhere in the world. The tasks will be very varied and include: researching content in support of our client presentations; developing draft presentations; research in support of our client studies; working on our irregular newsletter; participating in or special projects; contributing to our social media activity; undertaking a variety of marketing tasks; other stuff that comes up as required; generally being a bright sort and imaginative egg. The relevant individuals will be working from their own premises with regular skype contact and the occasional face to face meeting if possible. I am also open to the idea of people working with us on a part time basis. Contact Rohit Talwar <rohit@fastfuture.com>
• Imperial College of London is looking for a foresight practice research analyst to will be producing science, technology, market and business quick study briefings, examining prevailing trends and engaging with key opinion leaders to transform information into foresight. The goal is to help the College to look ahead at how breakthrough lab discoveries today could shape the next 20 years of innovation. More info
• The UK Government Office for Science is looking for a futures researcher to play a crucial role in embedding long-term strategic thinking in government policy. The candidates will lead on developing horizon scanning capability across government, ensuring futures analysis is improved by leading-edge evidence and insight, and building networks of expertise within and outside government that support high quality long-term analysis. More info.
• The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is looking for a candidate to fill the position of Foresight and Targeting Specialist in Mexico. The position focuses on developing and using applied social science foresight and targeting tools to help prioritize, guide and target research-for-development (R4D) investments -see the descriptioon
• KnowledgeWorks has just posted a job opening for a director, strategic foresight, to work in helping education stakeholders engage with and plan for the future of learning. See description. [Note: Houston Foresight alum Jason Swanson got this position]
• Forum for the Future US is hiring. Here’s what they are looking for: The position(s) we have available would be responsible for delivering strategic sustainability advice to leading US and international businesses as well as managing consortia funded projects. These role(s) are externally facing and highly visible – the expectation is that approximately 60% – 65% of time is spent on delivery of sustainability advice, with the remaining time divided between business development (with an annual target ranging from $115K to $160k depending on experience), communications and contributing to internal discussions and processes at Forum. Specialties include detailed knowledge of futures techniques and systems thinking and systems mapping skills. Click here for more details.
• Hershey’s is looking for a Senior Manager, Foresight Activiation in Hershey, PA. Check out the details here.
• Disney’s Future Workforce Insights is recruiting a student for a paid, professional internship in futures work. Foresight students are welcome to apply directly for the role here. The requisition ID and official name are: 163360BR.
• Trendwatching.com is looking for a Senior Trend Analyst/Trend Thinker to join their team in London. They note that “this role is fundamentally focused on creating brilliantly-written, compelling content for our tens of thousands of readers and hundreds of Premium clients around the world.”
• The New York office of Forum for the Future is looking to hire a sustainability advisor in the futures group. View the posting.
• Futures Cities Catapult is posting a position for a Design Futures Researcher in London. They already have a Futures Researcher on the futures team — this new role will complement that with a focus on design futures, and the role of this emerging area in city development. Read the job description.
• Advisor for Crisis Anticipation for the Start Network is needed in London.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI in Karlsruhe, Germany is looking for a PhD holder with experience in foresight.
• A post for an Executive Director: Futures and Best Practice with responsibility for “line management of team of approximately 20 staff, management of projects and of consultants.” The position is offered by Future Cities Catapult, a global centre of excellence on urban innovation, based in London.
• The Futures Company (London) is currently looking to hire a senior level person (about ten years of futures and related experience). The lion’s share of the role is about winning and doing fairly large projects with private sector clients. The company positioning is about using foresight and futures knowledge to help clients improve strategy, innovation and sometimes marketing. For more info email  <andrew@thefuturescompany.com>
• Shaping Tomorrow currently is looking for Horizon Scanner in India (more info)
• Lowe’s posted and opening for a Trends Insight Manager, to help create and synthesize actionable insights and trends across STEEP, consumer, retail, industry and brand related factors.
• The Futures Company posted an opening for a senior consultant with a foresight focus, to manage client projects that include multiple perspectives and approaches, (e.g., futures and foresight)
• Forum for the Future posted an opening for a Research Intern, with responsibility for researching global trends, summarising and communicating findings, and blogging on weak signals.
• In May, the Institute for the Future posted an opening for a Research Manager in the Technology Horizons program.