Future Needs is a Cyprus-based SME which helps Tech-innovators get their R&D funded and overcome the “death valley curve” for their new products. We do so in 3 ways: 1) by helping our clients apply for funding and develop sustainable business models, 2) by optimizing the design of our clients’ services to achieve maximum user acceptance and consumer uptake, and 3) by ensuring compliance of their products and services with EU security standards.

Either in the role of a consultant or a consortium partner, we help our clients -innovative companies and leading researchers- in securing funding for and implementation of ambitious R&D projects in the Transport and Mobility sector, by taking research results from the stage of experimentation to the stage of commercialization.

We use the broad range of social and political research methods to:

• Understand mobility and the transport system and its role in, and influence on people’s lives and vice versa.
• Appraise transport measures including social and distributional impact assessment, health impact assessments and equality impact assessment.
• Assess the overall business case for transport investment from a demand and supply side.
• Understand policy and governance of mobility and transport – how are agendas set and policy formed?
• Investigate ways of steering policy and changing mobility to improve its social, environmental and economic impacts
• Investigate functions of, and interrelations between, public participation, institutional collaboration, mobility measure selection and evaluation, and assessing the potential for relational and collaborative planning and co-design in mitigating uncertainty.

To strengthen our team, Future Needs is looking for a Researcher in Transport Economics and Business, to work on a European level on the definition and rollout of U-space (drone traffic management) and Urban Air Mobility (aviation inside cities) and build together with us a future where drones benefit both business and society.

The researcher will be performing and coordinating research in EU research projects such as ImAFUSA and RefMap and in particular working on assessing the social, economic and environmental impacts of drone technology deployment in urban and rural areas and training relevant stakeholders in this technology uptake.

• Investigate transport and mobility from perspectives of the economic, social and political sciences studies with the aim of delivering effective, fair and environmentally sustainable mobility systems by use of tools such as Impact Assessment, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Willingness-to-pay;
• Market analysis assessing the demand for drone-powered solutions and business model development based on market insights;
• Analyse transport policy and practice locally, nationally and globally, and contribute to the wider economy and society with Policy Recommendations;
• Work collaboratively in a team and create an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization;
• Communicate effectively and fluently, both verbally and in writing, in English. All additional languages will be a plus.

Over the course of each project, you will gather and analyse information, formulate and test hypotheses, and develop and communicate recommendations. You’ll also structure and write reports aimed at different audiences, from public authorities to technical experts and general public. In some cases, you will be asked to travel to your client site (within Europe).

• Post Graduate degree in Urban/Regional Development, or Transport Economics or Public Administration, or Engineering/Science, from an accredited institution;
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills proven by portfolio of reports, research papers, proposals/tenders and studies;
• 2 years of experience in a similar position (Transport Research ideally in an EU project) ;
• 2 years of experience in leading teams (consultants, experts, partners);
• Experience with and affinity for technology applied to urban environments;
• Project-related management experience;
• Experience in grant writing for public-private partnerships and larger consortia (such as Horizon 2020, EIC Accelerator, Eurostars, Erasmus+) and understanding of the R&D grant landscape.

• A company with flat hierarchies;
• A professional and dynamic working environment that values independence, entrepreneurship, and self-development;
• Opportunities to work on large, complex, long-term projects which make impacts at the local, national and global levels;
• Engagement with a strong global network of experts enabling you to work and learn alongside leading industry professionals;
• A company with a solid reputation and strong client focus;
• A competitive salary with excellent secondary conditions;
• Active support for training and career development;
• A growing, ambitious, and diverse team;
• Work from home.

Please apply by sending us to info@futureneeds.eu:

1. your CV in English
2. your portfolio (relevant publications and or deliverables you authored and a list of projects you worked in) in a separate file
3. An answer to the question how is your experience relevant to the topic of Urban Air Mobility.

If you have any questions, please contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

At Future Needs, we value bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.