Job Description
Shape the future with Horizon Labs, Austin's premier innovation incubator. We're seeking a visionary Lead Futurist to architect our 2026 roadmap and beyond. Join our multidisciplinary team at the intersection of AI, biotech, and sustainable technology. This pivotal role demands strategic foresight, cross-industry collaboration, and the ability to transform speculative concepts into actionable blueprints.
As Austin's tech ecosystem accelerates, you'll pioneer methodologies for anticipating societal shifts, technological disruptions, and market evolution. Your work will directly influence product development, investment strategies, and long-term organizational resilience. We offer unparalleled autonomy, competitive equity, and the opportunity to define tomorrow's landscape today.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain 2026+ strategic foresight frameworks using horizon scanning, scenario planning, and trend analysis
- Lead cross-functional innovation sprints to prototype solutions for emerging challenges in climate resilience, human augmentation, and decentralized systems
- Author high-impact futurist reports and whitepapers for C-suite stakeholders and venture partners
- Curate and manage Horizon's proprietary futures intelligence database with real-time global trend monitoring
- Facilitate stakeholder workshops to align organizational strategy with predicted technological and societal shifts
- Represent Horizon Labs at global innovation forums and academic symposia on future studies
Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Futures Studies, Strategic Foresight, or related field with 8+ years of applied experience
- Proven expertise in emerging technologies (quantum computing, synthetic biology, AGI governance)
- Published thought leadership in futurism or innovation strategy with demonstrable industry impact
- Mastery of foresight methodologies (Delphi, STEEP, causal layered analysis)
- Experience advising Fortune 500 or high-growth startups on long-term innovation roadmaps
- Exceptional storytelling abilities to translate complex futures into actionable business strategy
- Portfolio showcasing 3+ major future-shaping projects delivered to market