Senior Design Strategist

The role

You will lead and execute design strategies by collaborating with internal teams and executive-level clients. You will use design thinking to frame problems, prototype ideas, and develop narratives that align with client missions.

What you will do

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients by framing complex challenges and applying design thinking.
• Partner with client stakeholders to understand organizational priorities and user needs.
• Lead teams through the full design thinking arc from ideation to iteration.
• Lead mixed-method discovery efforts including stakeholder interviews and journey mapping.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable insights.
• Develop visual frameworks, concept prototypes, and strategic narratives.
• Design and facilitate design thinking workshops and design sprints.
• Mentor teammates through coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the evolution of the design strategy practice.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Communication, Business, Architecture, Engineering, Innovation, Sociology, Psychology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in design strategy, innovation, strategic consulting, facilitation, service design, communications, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Deep fluency in design thinking, including problem framing, divergent and convergent thinking, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing.
• Strong expertise in systems thinking, facilitation, and strategic storytelling.
• Ability to select appropriate design strategy approaches for given challenges.
• Experience designing and facilitating workshops, design sprints, and stakeholder engagements.
• Ability to lead complex discovery and research efforts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and guide stakeholders.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Portfolio that shows problem framing, strategic decisions, and iteration.

Nice to have

• Current Secret level clearance or higher
• Familiarity with human-centered design

Benefits

• $100 monthly internet/cell phone stipend
• $150 monthly commuter stipend for eligible participants
• LINK sponsored healthcare benefits including medical, dental, vision
• Company-paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 401K with employer contribution of up to 4%
• 11 Federal Holidays per year
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year
• Paid Holiday Time Off (Christmas Eve through the New Year)
• Annual bonus plan participation
• Annual profit sharing participation
• $2,000 Learning and Development program reimbursement
• Technology package including MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse and keyboard

Before you apply

• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

About the company

LINK is a fast-growing Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) that leverages human-centered design to support strategy, innovation, communication, change, and branding within the federal government and adjacent industry partners.