Research Director, Advisory Services
Research Director, Advisory Services
We want you to join our team! We’re seeking a dynamic, mid-to-senior level Research Director with a depth of content knowledge, analytical skills and expertise in a particular domain (preference for higher education, labor economics, or public health) but with an ability to lead advisory projects and teams to help catalyze long-term futures thinking among our partner organizations. The successful candidate will join our advisory services team and lead projects and initiatives that support the success of IFTF’s strategic foresight research that will shape the next decade across business,
social, and civic spheres.
IFTF offers a creative environment and the opportunity to work with partners and stakeholders of all kinds, from hackers and activists, journalists and startups, to governments and multinational corporations. Think of this position as your opportunity to actively shape the future!
The IFTF Research Director will:
- Demonstrate content expertise and leadership in one or more areas: higher education, labor economics or public health.
- Practice futures thinking with an open mind and lead strategic foresight projects and teams
- Design advisory work projects and processes with an eye toward strategic outcomes
- Communicate in ways that inspire and facilitate strategic insight
- Be entrepreneurial with a high networking IQ
- Bring leadership to the mission of catalyzing change with foresight and having real-world impact
- Work collaboratively with distributed teams on ongoing research and project-based work
DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES
Foresight Research + Strategy
- Design and conduct small to large scale strategic foresight projects
- Develop and facilitate workshops and immersive partner engagements
- Learn and teach IFTF’s foresight tools and methods to partners and communities
- Communicate key research findings both in writing and in live presentation to peers and partner organizations
Client + Partners + Teams + Project Management
- Effectively multitask and lead multiple projects, teams, clients, deadlines, and deliverables
- Proactively manage project implementation, including coordination with our network of affiliates
- Maintain and deepen key relationships with partner organizations and research networks
- Work with other Research Directors to curate content and develop strategic insights
Business Development + Outreach
- Contribute to building a healthy and active pipeline by responding to project opportunities
- Work with IFTF sales team and others to reach sales and fundraising targets
- Write updates for clients, partners, and IFTF’s public media channels such as the FutureNow blog, website, newsletters, and social media
EDUCATION + DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in a related field plus 3-5 years of work experience, or bachelor’s degree plus 5-7 years of experience in a related field
- Skilled writer and communicator
- Demonstrated commitment and passion for the future
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to work across multiple projects
- Ability to learn quickly, listen, accept feedback, and work with diverse teams
- Comfortable in a creative, experimental, distributed work environment
- Self-starter with flexibility and openness to new ideas and methods
TERMS OF POSITION
This position is open until filled, is full-time, and may include domestic and some international travel. IFTF is based in Palo Alto, CA, and is currently working in a distributed virtual environment. The position requires communicating presence and the ability to collaborate remotely.
HOW TO APPLY
Send a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Please submit a two-page writing sample of your work as well. Candidate applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Please Note: Applications without all three items —
- cover letter,
- resume, and
- writing sample — will not be considered.
Institute for the Future values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages people of color, LGBT individuals, women, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. IFTF is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Institute for the Future is the world’s leading futures thinking organization. For over 50 years, businesses, governments, and social impact organizations have depended upon IFTF global forecasts, custom research, and foresight training to navigate complex change and develop worldready strategies. IFTF methodologies and toolsets yield uncommonly coherent views of transformative possibilities across all sectors that together support a more sustainable future. Institute for the Future is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Palo Alto, California.