Principal Manager, Strategic Foresight (FO)

About the role

The Principal Manager, Strategic Foresight supports the Chief Futures in developing, adapting and applying practical foresight methods for the Futures Office (FO) and conducting horizon scanning and evidence synthesis. The role also supports the production of futures briefs, working arguments, discussion memos and other analytical products, so that FO outputs are methodologically sound and useful for leadership deliberation, strategic planning and institutional response design.

Key responsibilities

• Horizon scanning and signal gathering: monitor developments across Work, Workers, Workforces and Workplaces to identify signals relevant to the mandate and strategic choices.
• Scenario and futures framing: turn weak signals, trends and uncertainties into scenarios, strategic questions, working arguments and institutional options.
• Futures product support: help prepare briefs, decks, podcasts, consultation materials and leadership-facing notes.
• Consultation and facilitation: design and run internal and external consultations, cross-divisional workshops and deliberation sessions.
• Method design: develop and adapt practical methods, templates and analytical routines for FO products.
• Capability building: build futures literacy and practical foresight capability among officers.
• Maintain the concepts log, signal register and reference infrastructure.

Required profile

• Qualifications in public policy, economics, social sciences, futures/foresight, strategy, organizational development, analytics, systems thinking, design, technology or related fields.
• Experience in foresight, strategic planning, policy design, organizational transformation, systems analysis, facilitation or research methods.
• Advantageous: experience designing workshops, analytical frameworks or executive-level facilitation; exposure to public sector workforce, skills, employment or economic policy.

Required skills

• Strategic foresight methods, scenario thinking and uncertainty framing.
• Strong facilitation and workshop design skills.
• Systems thinking and ability to connect issues across domains.
• Ability to turn ambiguous signals into practical decision questions and analytical products.
• Use of AI-supported horizon scanning and evidence synthesis tools responsibly.
• Executive writing and visual structuring of complex methods.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence across policy, planning, research and operational functions.

Successful candidates will be offered a contract until 31 December 2028. Candidates are encouraged to create a Careers & Skills Passport account and include their public profile in their resume.