Junior adviseur Strategic Foresight & Futuring

Are you a recent graduate or a student looking to contribute to the future of education and technology? In this role, you’ll delve into trends such as AI and digitalization, collaborate on innovative projects, and help shape solutions to strategic challenges. You’ll combine analytical skills with teamwork and have the opportunity to make an impact in a unique environment.

Where you will work

SURF is the cooperative ICT organization for Dutch education and research. More than 100 educational and research institutions collaborate through SURF to strengthen digital innovation, knowledge sharing, and future-proof infrastructure.

Within SURF, institutions collaborate on major societal and technological transitions, such as AI, digital sovereignty, open science, cybersecurity, digital learning environments, and emerging technologies. The ability to look ahead and adapt to change plays an increasingly important role in this context.

The team you will join

The Strategy, Futuring & Values team coordinates collaboration between SURF and its strategic partners on long-term strategic and governance issues, ensuring that policy and funding for the digital infrastructure for education and research are in order. The team identifies developments in education, research, and society that affect SURF and advises management on issues in a political, strategic, and/or governance context.

What you will do

• Support innovation and strategy projects in the field of education and research
• Contribute to organizing and creating workshops, co-creation sessions, and stakeholder dialogues
• Identify and analyze trends, developments, and (new) technologies, and formulate recommendations
• Collaborate on the development of future scenarios and concepts
• Helping to translate complex issues into clear insights and recommendations
• Collaborating with various stakeholders, such as universities, research institutions, and public organizations
• Supporting community building and knowledge sharing
• Contributing to project coordination and communication

Your skills and experience

You are a curious and driven master’s student (or recent graduate) with an interest in social and technological issues. You are proactive and enjoy thinking about the future and how organizations can prepare for it.

You enjoy working with others, aren’t afraid to ask questions, and aren’t intimidated by topics that don’t yet have clear answers.

We’re looking for someone who identifies with (and wants to further develop) the following competencies:

• Interest in innovation, strategy, and future-oriented thinking
• Strong communication skills
• Analytical skills and an interest in complex issues
• A curious and eager-to-learn attitude
• Organizational sensitivity and an understanding of stakeholder dynamics
• Ability to work in a dynamic and sometimes uncertain environment
• Affinity for digital developments and technology
• Team-oriented and comfortable in multidisciplinary environments
• Excellent command of Dutch and English (both spoken and written)

We welcome candidates from various fields of study, such as:

• Social sciences
• Innovation studies
• Public administration or policy
• Organizational sciences
• (Future) studies or sustainability-related programs
• Education or learning sciences

SURF takes pleasure in doing its recruitment itself; acquisition is therefore not appreciated.