Senior Consultant – Strategic Research & Technology Insights EA-1383

NAXCON GmbH, headquartered in Weil am Rhein with additional offices, including Stuttgart, is one of Germany's leading engineering and IT service providers.

Our experts possess extensive expertise in software and hardware development, modern electronics, and cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In addition to delivering high-quality engineering solutions for our customers, we are passionate about driving our own innovation projects as well as research and development activities. Renowned companies from a wide range of industries place their trust in our expertise, reflecting the outstanding knowledge, professionalism, and commitment of our engineers.

Position: Senior Consultant – Strategic Research & Technology Insights

Location: Berlin, Bonn, München, Meckenheim (You can choose one of these locations)

Field: Defence

Type: Full-time/80% Remote

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Senior Consultant specializing in Strategic Research, Market and Technology Analysis, Innovation Management, and Strategy Consulting.

The role focuses on identifying, analyzing, and developing strategic topics that support business strategy and the development of new business areas. The position requires continuous monitoring of national and international market, technology, and innovation trends and the ability to translate these developments into actionable strategic recommendations for management, specialist teams, and customer projects.

The successful candidate will manage and continuously develop several strategic topic portfolios, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Defence, Cloud Technologies, Digitalization, Data & Analytics, and other Emerging Technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Research & Consulting

• Conduct in-depth research and analysis of complex strategic topics.
• Identify and evaluate relevant market, technology, innovation, and future trends.
• Assess the strategic relevance and potential business impact of emerging technologies.
• Develop strategic recommendations and actionable insights for management and stakeholders.
• Take ownership of selected strategic topic areas as a senior subject-matter specialist.
• Support the identification and development of new business opportunities.

Technology & Market Intelligence

• Continuously monitor national and international technology and market developments.
• Conduct technology scouting and technology foresight activities.
• Analyze current and future developments in areas such as:
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Defence technologies
• Cloud technologies
• Digitalization
• Data & Analytics
• Emerging Technologies
• Evaluate technological developments in terms of their strategic relevance, opportunities, risks, and potential applications.
• Translate research findings into clear strategic recommendations.

Strategic Topic Portfolio Management

• Develop and manage multiple strategic topic portfolios.
• Define research priorities and continuously develop strategic themes.
• Identify emerging issues and technologies at an early stage.
• Build structured perspectives on future developments and their potential impact.
• Connect technology trends with business, market, and customer requirements.

Executive Decision Support

• Prepare executive summaries, management briefings, whitepapers, strategic analyses, and decision-making documents.
• Prepare complex research findings for management decision-making bodies.
• Present strategic insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Translate complex technological and economic topics into clear, audience-appropriate messages.

Project Management & Customer Support

• Conceptualize, plan, and lead one or more consulting or research projects.
• Support complex consulting, innovation, and transformation projects through strategic research and analytical services.
• Coordinate project activities while ensuring defined objectives and requirements are met.
• Contribute to presentations and workshops for internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide research-based insights and recommendations to customer projects.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in:
• Computer Science
• Business Informatics
• Business Administration / Economics
• Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• or a comparable discipline.
• A PhD in one of the relevant disciplines is desirable.
• Proven professional experience in Strategic Research, Market Analysis, Technology Analysis, Innovation Management, or Strategy Consulting.
• Strong analytical and research capabilities.
• Ability to evaluate complex economic and technological relationships.

Required Professional Experience

• At least 8 years of professional experience in:
• Strategic Research
• Market Analysis
• Technology Analysis
• Strategy Consulting
• or comparable fields.
• At least 5 years of experience developing and managing strategic topic portfolios and future-oriented topics.
• At least 5 years of experience preparing executive summaries, management briefings, whitepapers, or strategic decision documents.
• At least 5 years of experience analyzing and evaluating technological developments, particularly in areas such as:
• AI
• Cybersecurity
• Defence
• Cloud Technologies
• Digitalization
• Data & Analytics
• Emerging Technologies
• At least 3 years of experience supporting complex consulting, innovation, or transformation projects through strategic research and analysis.

Technical & Research Expertise

Strong knowledge in several of the following areas:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Defence Technologies
• Cloud Computing
• Digital Transformation
• Data & Analytics
• Emerging Technologies
• Technology Scouting
• Technology Foresight
• Market Intelligence
• Strategic Research
• Innovation Management
• Strategic Analysis
• Competitive Intelligence
• Research & Evaluation Methodologies

Research & Analytical Skills

• Strong knowledge of established research and analytical methodologies.
• Ability to structure and analyze complex strategic questions.
• Ability to evaluate market and technology trends systematically.
• Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise strategic insights.
• Ability to develop management-ready decision-making materials.
• Strong capability to derive actionable recommendations from research findings.

Language Requirements

• German: C1
• English: B2
• Language proficiency should correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical thinking and ability to evaluate complex economic and technological relationships.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to identify relevant trends and translate them into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for management, specialist teams, and customers.
• Independent and responsible working style, with the ability to manage several strategic topics simultaneously.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills within interdisciplinary teams.
• Strong innovation orientation and willingness to continuously develop new strategic topics.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly and appropriately to different target audiences.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel for business purposes, up to 20% of working time.
• Approximately 80% mobile/remote working.
• Candidate profiles must include nationality information.
• The position operates in a security-sensitive environment and applicable nationality and travel restrictions may need to be considered.

What we offer:

• International Working Environment: Join a diverse and multicultural team where people from different backgrounds and cultures collaborate to achieve outstanding results.
• German Language Development: Whether you are a beginner or an advanced speaker, we provide a supportive environment to help you improve your German language skills.
• Dedicated Point of Contact: You will have a personal contact within the company who will support and guide you throughout your employment.
• Professional Growth: Our engineers have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different industries, continuously expanding their expertise and developing new skills.
• Regular Team Events: We organize regular company events to strengthen team spirit, encourage collaboration, and create a positive working atmosphere.
• Competitive Compensation: We value our employees and offer an attractive compensation package that reflects your qualifications, experience, and performance.