Description

Job Summary

This position, along with the group that they manage, provides support to the IEEE Organization Units to remain current, forward looking, and visible in terms of new technology coverage, global challenges, and new approaches for working with technology professionals. The Future Directions team drives continuity in strategic thinking and anticipating, identifying and planning in these new areas,and provides coordination across the various IEEE OUs and functions. In addition to assuring the IEEE remains on the forefront of Future technologies, challenges, and approaches, this group assist in spawning of new technology communities within IEEE, assists in the transition of these new communities and/or their activities (e.g., conferences, pubs) to a sustainable state, and assists in making these new efforts visible/usable/attractive to a larger technical audience, in particular practicing engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Management of the technology and applications directions within IEEE.
• a. Provide overall coordination for new technology and new approaches across IEEE
• b. Assess timing of activities for new technologies and their applications
• c. Lead horizon scanning efforts through literature review, review of upcoming funding opportunities, industry reports and road maps, etc.
• d. Partner with societies, councils to align society and councils' technical interest with potential emerging technologies
• e. Support volunteers in leading the development of roadmaps and white papers and other deliverables
• f. Design and implement a robust framework for starting, continuing, transitioning and sunsetting of FDC initiatives.
• g. Assess timing of activities for new technologies and their applications within and across Societies and Councils
• h. Provide for market assessment of new areas to be considered within TA and coordinates their coverage across the various Societies and Councils
• Manage a small but technically deep department that supports
• a. The introduction of New Technologies by organizing new communities, supporting new conferencing events, transitioning groups to a sustainable long term state within IEEE, coordinating and increasing the visibility of IEEE efforts in these areas.
• b. IEEE participation in global endeavors termed Grand Challenges or Prizes, such as the Humanitarian Technology Challenge, XPrize etc.
• c. The introductions of New Approaches, such as social networking tools, new collaborative efforts (some specifically targeted to corporate involvement), video content application, and simulation application integration into other IEEE Intellectual Property activities.
• Form Partnerships
• a. Assess opportunities for interaction with technical professionals inside and outside of IEEE through driving experimentation and competitions.
• b. Form partnerships with outside organizations to increase the impact of FDC initiatives
• c. Partner on innovative approaches to integrate machine learning and AI into existing Technical Activities infrastructure and across other organizational units.
• d. Work with Societies and Councils and Educational Activities to identify new IEEE learning opportunities that would be useful to the Society and Council members
• e. Work with Society and Councils and TA programs and Technical Activities Committee on Standards to identify new leading edge standards opportunities.
• f. Support the industry advisory board and the MegaTrends report
• Serve as the technical advisor to Managing Director, Technical Activities
• a. Drives comprehensive content coverage and effective delivery, ensuring all areas are supported in a coordinated, timely, and thorough manner across IEEE.
• b. Assesses opportunities for interaction with technical professionals by enabling experimentation, for example working with the TAB VP and leading the technical content of the annual Tech Summit.

Travel Information

• 30% Domestic and International

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience Req
• Master's or other advanced degree Pref
• Ph.D. Technical Area relating to IEEE fields of Interest Pref

Work Experience

• 15-20 years relevant technology management experience, preferably in a technology focused company, Req
• Management experience in a multi-million dollar business Req
• Experience in growing new revenue streams Req
• Supervision and development of technical staff in emerging areas ( at least 4 or more staff) Req
• Association experience will be helpful. Pref
• Experience demonstrating a tendency to successfully drive new technology efforts, to provide insights into applying technology to real work applications, to address large scale systems engineering problems, and to successfully manage highly educated technical staff. Req
• Experience in developing and presenting technical talks to large professional audiences Req

Licenses and Certifications

• Nust possess a valid passport and a valid driver's permit. Req

Skills and Requirements

• Qualifications & Skills
• Strong persuasive and communication skills, with the ability to influence diverse audiences
• Prior knowledge of IEEE technical domains preferred; deep insight into multiple IEEE fields of interest required
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn emerging technologies and respond with agility
• Technologically savvy, with a proactive approach to identifying and applying technology solutions to business challenges
• Ability to monitor and analyze the technology landscape to identify trends and opportunities relevant to IEEE
• Proficiency in business tools (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite and related business applications)
• Willingness to travel 25-50%, including international and occasional weekend travel
• Communication & Engagement
• Fluent in business English, with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to effectively engage with individuals for whom English is not a first language
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with experience interacting across diverse groups including volunteers, members, industry leaders, academics, and government officials
• Develops and delivers compelling presentations and briefings to audiences ranging from small groups to large forums (up to 1,000 attendees)
• Serves as a technical advisor/ sounding board in both one-on-one and group settings to IEEE volunteers and leadership
• Writing & Analytical Capability
• Produces high-quality written materials including white papers, reports, correspondence, web content, and strategic documents
• Develops position descriptions, performance plans, incentive goals, and training/development plans
• Strong command of English grammar, syntax, and professional writing standards
• Ability to read, interpret, and synthesize technical papers, governance documents, contracts, legal/regulatory materials, financial reports, and trend analyses
• Foreign language proficiency is a plus but not required
• Relationship Management
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, IEEE leadership, industry and academic leaders, and external partners
• Collaborates effectively with vendors, consultants, and cross-functional teams
• Demonstrates exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, particularly in volunteer-driven environments
• Strategic Awareness
• Maintains awareness of key external factors impacting IEEE, including:
• Emerging and converging technologies
• Applications of technology to global challenges
• Evolving collaboration models among technical professionals
• Shifts in global political, economic, and demographic trends
• The accelerating pace of change in the technology marketplace
• Supports the growth of IEEE revenue streams and fosters alignment across IEEE entities (Societies, Councils, Boards, Committees, Sections, and staff)
• Navigates a dynamic volunteer leadership environment, ensuring continuity and sustained progress

Other Requirements:

As defined in IEEE Policies, individuals currently serving on an IEEE board or committee are not eligible to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is not budgeted for employer-sponsored immigration support, this includes all persons in F (both CPT and OPT), J, H, L, or O status.

For information on work demands and conditions required for this position, please consult the reference document, ADA Requirements. This position is classified under Category II - Mobile Positions.