Design Thinking Strategist

Description

Hybrid 3 days on-site in Charlotte, NC

Our client seeks a product and service design leader to drive discovery, research, and facilitation that produces solutions people value and the business can measure. The role will frame opportunities, structure and run research, plan and facilitate collaborative workshops, translate insights into actionable artifacts, and validate solutions through testing. Candidates should demonstrate strategic thinking, discovery capability, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to connect work to measurable outcomes. Portfolios and a short video submission are required per the client’s prescreen process. Local presence is required with three days per week in the office.

Due to client requirements, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $60.00 to $70.00/hr. w2

Duration: 12+ month contract

Responsibilities

• Partner with clients to build shared understanding, align to business needs, and articulate the value of a human-centered approach. Coach product leadership in strategic decision-making.
• Scope and design research plans based on business requirements and technical feasibility.
• Plan, conduct, and interpret research including stakeholder and user interviews, usability evaluations, and concept validation to inform interaction, visual direction, and feasibility.
• Plan and facilitate cross-functional workshops to support ideation, decision making, and requirements gathering.
• Guide teams in communicating complex concepts through clear written and visual formats and serve as the central point of design direction.
• Translate insights into actionable outcomes and artifacts such as personas, journeys, and service blueprints as solutions move into build.
• Collaborate with change management from definition through testing to assess impacts and shape change strategies and training.
• Demonstrate consultant mindset, creative problem solving, and a bias toward action in ambiguous environments.

Experience Requirements

• 3 to 5 years in design research, product strategy and design, and/or service design with portfolio covering the full product lifecycle.
• Experience aligning product strategy to business objectives through business strategy and value assessment is a plus.
• Ability to leverage business value to drive research and outcomes.
• Extensive experience planning and facilitating cross-functional workshops with varying leadership levels in a corporate setting.
• Strength in narrative development and storytelling to influence and guide stakeholders.
• Experience designing AI solutions is a plus. Consulting experience beneficial.
• Local presence required with three days per week in office. Portfolio and 2 to 3 minute video submission required per prescreen process.

Education Requirements