Job Description
Shape the future at NextGen Horizons. We're seeking a visionary 2026 Futurist to decode tomorrow's landscape today. This pivotal role demands strategic foresight to anticipate technological, societal, and market shifts that will redefine industries by 2026. You'll architect innovation roadmaps, lead cross-functional future labs, and transform insights into actionable blueprints that position our company as a 2026 industry pioneer.
Join our Austin-based hub where cutting-edge thinking meets execution. We empower strategists with resources to explore exponential technologiesâfrom quantum computing to neuro-interfacesâwhile collaborating with Nobel laureates and Silicon Valley disruptors. Your work will directly influence $2B+ in R&D investments and shape products used by 100M+ users.
Competitive compensation includes equity, unlimited PTO, and a $20K annual innovation stipend. Embrace the future with us.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute 2026 innovation roadmaps using trend analysis, scenario planning, and horizon scanning
- Lead cross-functional future labs to prototype solutions for emerging challenges/opportunities
- Partner with C-suite to align strategy with exponential technologies (AI, biotech, quantum)
- Deliver executive briefings on disruptive forces reshaping 2026 business landscapes
- Manage $5M+ innovation portfolio with ROI-focused prioritization frameworks
- Build external ecosystem through partnerships with MIT Media Lab, Singularity University, and 2030-focused accelerators
- Pioneer ethical frameworks for future technologies to ensure sustainable deployment
Qualifications
- 10+ years in strategy/innovation with proven 5+ year horizon planning experience
- Expertise in exponential technologies (quantum, AI, synthetic biology) and adoption curves
- Published thought leadership on future trends (Harvard Business Review/MIT Press preferred)
- Advanced degree in Futures Studies, Systems Thinking, or equivalent certification
- Executive presence with experience influencing C-suite boards and global stakeholders
- Portfolio showcasing delivered future-proof strategies with measurable impact
- Fluency in foresight methodologies (Delphi, causal layered analysis, systems dynamics)
- Track record of scaling innovation from concept to $100M+ revenue streams