Design Thinking Strategist IV

Hybrid schedule – 3 days per week onsite in Charlotte, NC 12-month contract with potential for extension or full-time hire Compensation: $73-$80/hour

ABOUT THE ROLE

Brooksource is seeking a Design Thinking Strategist to support our Fortune 500 Energy & Utilities client. In this role, you will serve as a leader in the product and services space, helping teams discover innovative solutions that deliver meaningful user experiences and measurable business value. This position will partner closely with business and technology stakeholders to frame opportunities, lead discovery and research efforts, facilitate collaborative workshops, and guide teams through problem definition and solution exploration. The ideal candidate will bring a human-centered approach to product and service design, helping teams translate insights into impactful solutions that can be tested, validated, and successfully delivered. Success in this role requires strong facilitation, strategic thinking, research expertise, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while building alignment across cross‑functional teams and leadership groups.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Partner closely with clients and stakeholders to establish shared understanding, alignment, and clarity around business challenges and opportunities Foster a culture of curiosity, creativity, and human-centered design throughout the product development lifecycle Coach and support product leaders in strategic decision-making and opportunity prioritization Scope and design research plans based on business objectives, user needs, and technical feasibility Conduct and synthesize qualitative and quantitative research, including stakeholder interviews, user interviews, usability evaluations, and concept validation activities Translate research findings into actionable recommendations that inform product and service direction Plan and facilitate cross-functional workshops focused on ideation, problem definition, requirements gathering, decision-making, and concept exploration Guide teams in effectively communicating complex concepts through written, visual, and presentation formats Serve as a central point of contact for design direction and research-driven recommendations throughout project engagements Collaborate with product, business, and technology teams to bring solutions from discovery through implementation Create and maintain key design artifacts such as personas, customer journeys, service blueprints, and related documentation Partner with change management teams to identify organizational impacts and support adoption, training, and transition planning Drive research efforts that help teams better understand users, customers, and business environments Structure and lead workshops that align customer insights with business goals, priorities, and strategic outcomes Analyze and synthesize research findings into clear recommendations that support informed decision-making

WHAT YOU BRING

3–5 years of experience in design research, product strategy, product design, service design, or related disciplines Demonstrated experience guiding products and services through the full lifecycle, from concept through delivery and deployment Strong background in human-centered design methodologies and research practices Experience planning and facilitating workshops with cross-functional teams and leadership stakeholders Ability to connect business objectives, customer needs, and research insights to drive meaningful outcomes Experience conducting stakeholder interviews, user research, usability testing, and concept validation Strong storytelling, presentation, and communication skills Ability to influence decision-makers through compelling narratives and evidence-based recommendations Experience creating service blueprints, customer journeys, personas, and other strategic design artifacts Ability to navigate ambiguity and bring structure to complex business challenges Strong collaboration skills with product, technology, business, and change management teams Experience supporting strategic planning and value assessment initiatives is a plus Portfolio demonstrating product strategy, design research, and service design experience required Experience designing AI-enabled solutions or leveraging AI within product and service design processes is a plus Consulting experience strongly preferred

WHO YOU ARE

A strategic thinker who enjoys solving complex problems in ambiguous environments A consultant-minded professional who can quickly build trust and credibility with clients and stakeholders A collaborative facilitator who creates engaging and psychologically safe workshop environments A creative problem solver who balances innovation with practical business outcomes A strong communicator capable of influencing stakeholders at multiple levels of an organization A curious and adaptable learner who embraces new ideas, tools, and technologies A hands‑on contributor who is willing to roll up their sleeves and help move work forward A team‑oriented partner who promotes alignment, transparency, and shared success A proactive leader who coaches teams toward a product-focused mindset and drives action through insight and collaboration Eight Eleven Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, citizenship, disability, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr Brooksource