Senior Design Strategist

Who We Are: 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. At LINK, we partner with engineers, futurists, and thought leaders to untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly with visual stories. Let us be your partners in change. Location: We are actively hiring in the Charleston, SC area. About the Opportunity LINK is actively seeking a Senior Design Strategist to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries. You will be responsible for leading and executing innovative design strategies, collaborating with both internal teams and executive-level clients, and driving impactful visual storytelling to meet client objectives. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to bring a combination of creative and strategic expertise to elevate LINK’s business growth and deliver high-quality, human-centered design solutions. You will work closely with clients to understand their challenges, develop compelling narratives, and implement design strategies that align with their mission, goals, and brand identity. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record of designing impactful visual experiences, utilizing data-driven insights, and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver exceptional client results. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Design, Communication, Sociology, Psychology, Human-Centered Design, or a related field. 10+ years of experience in design strategy, service design, user experience, research, consulting, communications, or a related field. Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. Strong expertise in human-centered design, design thinking, systems thinking, facilitation, and strategic storytelling. Well-versed in a variety of design strategy disciplines and able to select the appropriate approach for a given challenge. Experience designing and facilitating workshops, stakeholder engagements, and collaborative working sessions that drive alignment and informed decision-making. Demonstrated ability to lead complex research efforts and translate findings into actionable insights, strategic recommendations, and organizational outcomes. Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with clients and cross-functional teams. Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and guide stakeholders through complex challenges and decision-making processes. Demonstrated ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality and client service. Capable of mentoring and coaching others. Approaches work with optimism, openness to new ideas, and a collaborative mindset. Portfolio that demonstrates both design execution and strategic decision-making Responsibilities Client Partnership & Design Strategy Leadership Serves as a trusted advisor to clients by framing complex challenges, identifying opportunities, and applying human-centered design approaches to inform strategic decision-making. Partners directly with client stakeholders to understand organizational priorities, user needs, operational constraints, and desired outcomes. Leads the development of design strategy approaches that align stakeholder needs, business objectives, and mission requirements. Guides cross-functional teams through ambiguity, helping stakeholders build alignment and make informed decisions. Identifies opportunities to create tangible business value and support long-term client success. Research, Insight Development & Systems Thinking Leads mixed-method research efforts, including stakeholder interviews, contextual inquiry, observations, journey mapping, ecosystem analysis, and systems mapping activities. Synthesizes qualitative and quantitative findings into actionable insig…