Applied Research & Innovation Specialist

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.

R&D @ JLL

Research & Development (R&D) at JLL manage the structured exploration and creation of new ideas, processes, technologies, and solutions that help drive the future of real estate and property services. Our R&D efforts are designed to address market trends, client needs, and emerging technologies, ensuring JLL not only keeps pace with industry evolution, but leads it. As part of our Global Insight team, we work across all business lines at JLL and are responsible for the ‘Future Vision’ research program, in which we routinely prepare foresight and scenario driven insights publications throughout the year.

The Job

We’re looking for a researcher who thrives in the intersection between science and design, and has demonstrated expertise in bringing innovation to life. Day to day you will be responsible for designing experiments and leading research studies with JLL employees, clients and partners. You’ll publish JLL research papers, peer-reviewed journal articles and translate findings into practical frameworks, tools, and other forms of intellectual property that advance JLL’s capabilities across business lines. Your role will work closely with R&D program management and JLL business line leadership to validate research insights and business model assumptions with JLL clients. The role will be a part of the Global Research & Development team, reporting to Global Head of R&D and Partnerships.

About You

You are the epitome of a ‘hybrid mind’ - professionally curious with the mind of a scientist and the heart of a designer. You are equally comfortable with rigorous quantitative methods and design-led qualitative approaches and excited to push the boundaries of what research can do in real-world workplace and organisational settings. You are experienced in all forms of creative communication and multimedia formats including video / podcasting. You are comfortable presenting complex findings to a range of audiences including c-suite executives through various forms of storytelling. Experience in preparing scientific research reports and academic journals will be an advantage.

Requirements for the role:

• Problem Framing and Research Design: You can define complex organisational challenges and translate them into clear research questions, hypotheses, and experimentation frameworks.
• Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning: You have a strong capability to evaluate claims, test assumptions, and create insights from multiple data sources.
• Systems Thinking: You can understand and model the interaction between people, technology, processes, environments, and organisational systems.
• Insight Generation and Sensemaking: You have the capability to convert large volumes of information into meaningful insight and strategic direction.
• AI and Technology Orchestration: Ability to leverage emerging technologies, including AI, as force multipliers for research, analysis, and innovation.
• Learning Agility and Intellectual Curiosity: Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and exploration of emerging ideas.

What you’ll do:

• Design and execute research: Conduct literature reviews, design and manage end-to-end primary research studies (recruitment through analysis), and lead external studies with clients while managing ethics approvals, consents, and IP agreements.
• Analyse and synthesise: Perform statistical and qualitative analysis to generate clear insights and visualizations, using AI-assisted techniques responsibly for literature reviews, data coding, and hypothesis development.
• Publish and disseminate: Author research papers and translate findings into accessible formats and intellectual property (frameworks, tools, assessments) for both academic and business audiences.
• Collaborate and deliver: Work across global teams and with external partners to support R&D programs while managing timelines and ensuring data ethics, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Build Impact and Capability: Develop internal resources and repeatable protocols to scale evidence-based practices across the organization.

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!