Senior Experience Strategist

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful and performative ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we craft powerful storytelling, design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering meaningful returns for our clients. The Senior Strategic Experience Strategist at AKQA Amsterdam leads complex, large‑scale projects that create exceptional brand experiences, meeting real human needs, driving measurable results, and pushing creative boundaries. As a strategic leader and trusted advisor to clients, you orchestrate experience direction, hold the vision, connect the dots across disciplines, and ensure the work is creatively ambitious yet grounded in human insight. Responsibilities Own the full strategic experience design process end‑to‑end: from brief interpretation and problem framing, through research and insight generation, to concept definition and experience vision, ensuring every decision is purposeful, connected, and human‑centred. Lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams across research, strategy, design and technology, creating conditions for ambitious, collaborative work while balancing output with team wellbeing. Frame client challenges with clarity and confidence, identifying the right questions before jumping to answers, and translating complexity into actionable strategic directions and experience concepts. Drive discovery and research, leading stakeholder interviews, user research, competitive analysis and synthesis, turning findings into sharp insights and compelling strategic narratives that guide creative and design execution teams. Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to senior clients, challenging perspectives where needed, building relationships grounded in empathy and expertise, and proactively identifying opportunities beyond the immediate engagement. Own the development of pitches, proposals and new business opportunities, independently and in partnership with client service teams, demonstrating a clear understanding of where AKQA can create the most value. Develop and communicate experience visions, strategic frameworks, concepts and recommendations with exceptional clarity, both visually and verbally, for internal stakeholders and client audiences at all levels. Establish and champion human‑centred design methodologies and best practices across the studio, contributing to the evolution of our processes, tools and point of view at a global level. Coach and develop mid‑level and junior team members through constructive feedback, on‑the‑job mentorship and by modelling intellectual curiosity, creative ambition and kindness under pressure. Contribute to shaping the overall culture of the Experience Design and Strategy, fostering an inclusive, intellectually ambitious environment where every voice is valued and great thinking is celebrated. Qualifications Experience within a consultancy, experience design agency or innovation environment where strategy, human‑centred design and digital innovation are central. A proven track record of leading end‑to‑end experience and service design projects across digital and physical touchpoints, from early‑stage discovery through concept definition to execution. Deep expertise in qualitative research methodologies (including ethnography, UX research, cultural analysis) and the ability to synthesise complex findings into clear, strategic direction. Experience developing growth strategies, defining new value propositions or shaping new digital products and services in response to shifting business and cultural landscapes. An entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating in ambiguity, able to self‑organise and bring structure to complexity, and confident in defining the path forward for yourself and your team. Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to inspire confidence in clients and motivate teams around a shared vision. Strong cross‑functional leadership skills, with experience guiding diverse teams and navigating senior client relationships with both authority and humility. A genuine passion for the intersection of business, culture and technology and a restless curiosity about what the future of experience design can and should look like. Benefits We believe great work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration and connection. We’ve adopted a hybrid approach that requires in‑office days; if you need accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Explore our extensive range of benefits. Equal‑Opportunity Employer AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. #J-18808-Ljbffr twentysix