The GFF : Job Opportunities

GFF are currently looking to grow our team of researchers and associates – we want to recruit a head of research, project managers, consultants and researchers to work on a range of futures research studies and assignments. We are also looking to fill a variety of other marketing, creative and IT / web design roles. These roles are detailed below.

GFF is a strategic futures think tank formed in September 2006 by futurists Rohit Talwar and David Smith. GFF works with clients to develop critical, powerful insights and pragmatic responses to the trends and forces shaping the future. GFF also undertakes its own programme of research studies. GFF draws on a global network of specialist researchers and consultants to provide practical and actionable insight and advice on future trends and opportunities.

The response to our proposition and approach has been very positive and we have already developed an excellent portfolio of clients, projects, partners, associates, prospects and opportunities. To help us grow and develop, we are keen to recruit a team of outrageously well motivated, self starting, innovative, communicative, passionate people with curiosity and a real interest in the future and helping to shape it. Everyone we recruit will be expected to take an interest in all aspects of GFF and make an active contribution to strategic development and day to day operations. We are committed to displaying the highest ethical and environmental standards and to creating a vibrant, respectful, creative, inspiring and supportive culture for all our staff and associates.

All members of the team receive a competitive package combining salary, bonus, regular performance and salary reviews, 25 days holiday plus public holidays, 5 days training per year plus attendance at a variety of conferences and events, 12 days per year to work for the charitable cause of your choice and the company also donates 10% of profits to charitable causes.

The ideal candidatewill be experienced in a wide range of futures and strategy research methods, be capable of developing innovative approaches to client needs, have excellent research management skills, and be an innovator, motivator and good communicator. You will have managed at least 4 people and ideally you will have experience of managing virtual teams. You will have excellent writing skills and a proven ability to coach and mentor researchers.

This a critical role for the strategic development of GFF –leading our research activities, helping to write proposals, generating ideas for new services and client offerings, helping to maximise the talents and development of our team and contributing to the overall strategic direction and operational management of GFF.

These roles will take responsibility for running projects from proposal through to delivery and will have full responsibility for the project team, quality, methodology, timely delivery and project budget – revenue and costs. The ideal candidate will have experience of a range of futures and strategy research methods and projects. You will be capable of developing innovative approaches to client needs, have excellent research management skills, be an innovator, motivator and good communicator. You will have managed at least 4 people and ideally you will have experience of working in and / or managing a virtual team.

The ideal candidates will have experience of more than one futures research approach, be innovative, a good team player, have excellent writing and communications skills, a willingness to learn and a deep interest in the future.

Ideally a graduate, you will have experience of working in a commercial environment and of working to strict deadlines. You will have experience of searching for information in multiple reference sources, a clear writing style and good oral communication skills. Critical characteristics are energy, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn fast and an interest in researching the future.

We are looking for imaginative strategic thinkers, you will be an excellent communicator capable of working with clients to help translate futures insights into strategic innovation and change. You will have experience of a wide range of futures and strategy tools and frameworks and of working with experts from a wide range of disciplines. Ideally you will have experience of workshop facilitation and of using large group techniques and participative approaches to change.

This role will combine working on client engagements and managing the operational development of the business. You will make us tick, ensure we operate to the highest HR, ethical, environmental and CSR standards and embed these in everything we do. A prime role will be to ensure our internal processes are constantly evolving to support the next stage of growth. You will help us engage with critical external communities and manage our charitable giving program.

This is a wide ranging role ideal for a truly creative and imaginative individual. You will be a fantastic communicator responsible for developing and implementing our marketing / branding / PR / events strategies. You will play a key role in business development - generating and following through on opportunities for research, consulting and speaking. You will also be responsible for development of strategies for commercializing our content and developing and deliver our planned events programme.

This is a wide ranging role and licence to thrill. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a world class web presence, testing out and implementing new ideas, managing a web enabled community, integrating research tools and databases, building electronic relationships with partners, delivering an ecommerce solution and constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries of our online presence. You will also have responsibility for managing and maintaining our evolving IT infrastructure.

This role is designed to take us beyond PowerPoint, develop presentations, design reports and visual experiences and be responsible for our overall look and feel covering everything from the web through reports and presentations to company stationery.

GFF’s approach seeks to integrate views from these multiple perspectives to help clients understand the future context in which they must make business decisions today. GFF’s current clients include Reed Exhibitions, Glaxo Smith Kline, Shirlaws and the Association of Exhibition Organisers.

GFF’s studies make extensive use of a wide range of futures tools and techniques. GFF also undertakes electronic future surveys – tapping into the views of a global network of over 10,000 future thinkers in business, government, NGOs, professional services and academia. This network enables GFF to take a truly global and long term perspective on all topics and provides access to experts in every sector and domain. Current GFF projects include:

Ø A recently completed study on the future of China’s economy to 2020 - to be published in March 2007 drawing on views from over 60 countries (see enclosed diskette)

Ø Our annual Pulse survey looking at global trends and scenarios for the next five years drawing on views from 60 countries – currently being documented (see attached example of raw survey outputs)

Our team comprises a mix of internationally recognised professional futurists, respected futures researchers and highly capable graduates. The team brings experience from across the horizon scanning and futures research spectrum encompassing:

The team is currently four full time employees and eleven associates who we draw on according to the needs of particular projects. In addition we partner with research teams in China and India. Over the course of the next two years we also plan to recruit further team members at all levels in line with our growth and development plans.

The extended team includes graduates, faculty and current students of the internationally renowned futures programmes at both the University of Houston and the University of Hawaii / Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies. The people involved represent a unique array of academic and professional expertise, with experience ranging from scholarly, theoretical work in futures methodology through applied techniques of evidence-based policy research to bottom-line business foresight applications.

Rohit is an experienced futurist and futures researcher, he has spoken, consulted and undertaken research internationally on five continents. He has worked across a wide range of industries and his expertise lies in helping industries understand and address the forces that will shape their Future. Rohit ran the UK government’s largest futures research programme for two years and delivered three major studies on global trends to 2050 for Defra and the Office of Science and Technology. He also facilitated the expert consultation for the MoD’s Strategic Trends programme.

His clients include ABN Amro, BBC, BT, BAT, BAe, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Cargill, Chloride, Citibank, DeutscheBank, Diamond Trading Corporation (De Beers), DHL, EADS, Electrolux, Ernst & Young, GSK, IBM, Intel, Linklaters, Marks and Spencer, Morgan Stanley, Nokia, Nomura, Orange, Panasonic, Playtex, PwC, Shell, Thames Water, Yellow Pages and government in the UK, USA, Dubai, Finland and Singapore.

David is an experienced international speaker and authority on futures issues. In his 30 year business career he has held senior management positions in many organizations and has been involved in public sector, commercial and financial markets. He has held sales, marketing and general management positions in companies such as the UK based DRG group and the US global IT services company, Unisys Corporation. Whilst at Unisys he held the position of Strategic Marketing Director for their $2bn global financial services business. He co-founded and led Unisys’ global future forum for four years prior to the creation of the full service strategic futures organization, Global Futures and Foresight, with Rohit Talwar.

He has advised the UK and EU governments on strategic research investment decisions. Over the last five years he has worked on futures research with organisations such as Henley Management Centre, Reckitt Benckiser, Bausch & Lomb, SAS, Siemens, O2, Shirlaws, Royal Mail, KRAFT, LTSB, RBS, Royal&SunAlliance, More Th>n and many other banks, insurance companies and industry associations such as the VMA, PIRA and the Association of Exhibition Organisers (AEO).

He leads GFF’s annual Pulse research project. This series of researched reports highlights issues likely to impact business in the next five years. Throughout his business career David has regularly commissioned and led research projects looking at the future of markets around the world. He led a five year benchmarking and best practice series of studies looking at construction industry processes on behalf of the UK and European Union governments.

Tim is a graduate in international relations who has worked internationally. Since joining GFF has worked on a range of studies including Pulse, future business challenges and the future of China. He is currently working on a client study looking at the future of China and India over the next 25 years.

Tessie is a graduate in International Relations with Spanish who has worked internationally as a journalist and futures researcher. Since joining GFF she has done extensive research on the future of China, India and Dubai. She has also worked on the future of travel, the Pulse survey, the future of Exhibitions, the Future of Transport, social change programmes and the future of project management. She is currently working on a client study looking at the future of China and India over the next 25 years.

Wendy is a highly experienced futures researcher and programme leader who has taught and studied on the major futures programmes in Houston, Hawaii and Finland. She has worked on a number of futures assignments for the Home Office, OSI and Health and Safety Executive.

Michelle is a GFF research associate who is an experienced trends researcher, analyst and journalist. She has extensive experience in researching social trends, industries and markets. She is currently working with GFF on a study on the future of Travel in the Middle East.

Simeon is a GFF research associate. He is a recent graduate in International Affairs and Modern Languages who has experience of working in Japan and for Apple Corporation in the USA. He is currently undertaking a part time MSc degree in future studies at the University of Houston. He is working with GFF on a study on the future of social networks and virtual worlds.