Design Consultant - Economic and Community Development, Sports & Major Events

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Consultant - Economic and Community Development, Sports & Major Events

Company: Steer (in partnership with Fourth Economy)

Location: Cleveland, Ohio, United States (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design & Communications / Economic Development Consulting

Date Posted: February 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years Professional Experience

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for translating complex economic development and community revitalization strategies into compelling visual narratives and client-ready deliverables.

• The Design Consultant will be instrumental in enhancing the firm's visual communication capabilities, ensuring data-driven insights are easily understood by diverse stakeholders, including clients, partners, and leadership.

• Leveraging expertise in visual design and technical communication, the role will support both client-facing project work and internal business development efforts, including proposal creation and marketing materials.

• The position offers a unique opportunity to influence the design foundation of a global consultancy, Steer, and its North America Sports and Major Events practice, elevating the firm's overall visual quality and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Consultant," the description heavily emphasizes the strategic application of design within the context of economic and community development consulting. This role is not purely aesthetic; it requires a deep understanding of how to communicate complex data, analysis, and strategy effectively to drive decision-making. The integration with Steer, a global consultancy, suggests a need for adaptability to a larger organizational structure and potentially international project exposure.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and produce high-quality visual materials for economic development and sports/major events client projects, including presentations, reports, executive summaries, and marketing collateral.

• Translate quantitative and qualitative analysis, including economic data and spatial information, into clear, accurate, and accessible data visualizations, charts, infographics, and diagrams.

• Collaborate closely with project teams (analysts, economists, planners, project managers) to ensure visual consistency, storytelling effectiveness, and audience-tailored communication across all client deliverables.

• Develop and design proposals for economic development and sports-related pursuits, significantly contributing to the firm's business development and competitive positioning.

• Maintain and evolve internal design templates, toolkits, and visual standards to ensure brand consistency across Fourth Economy and Steer's North America Sports and Major Events practice.

• Support marketing and leadership initiatives by designing materials for conferences, business development pitches, and digital platforms (website content).

• Manage multiple design priorities independently, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality work in a fast-paced consulting environment with evolving timelines.

• Proactively identify and adopt new design tools and approaches to enhance design quality and improve workflow efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "translating quantitative and qualitative analysis" and "data visualization" highlights the analytical rigor required. This is not a graphic designer role in a traditional sense but a strategic visual communicator within a consulting framework. The split between client work (70-75%) and business development/internal support (25-30%) is clearly defined.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in design, visual communications, or technical communications, with a proven track record of producing client-ready materials.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced consulting environment with shifting timelines.

• Experience supporting or contributing to economic development, community development, or place-based strategy initiatives is highly valuable.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design & Communication: Proficiency in creating compelling presentations, reports, one-pagers, and branded materials that effectively communicate complex information.

• Data Visualization & Infographics: Ability to translate data, analysis, and technical content into clear, accurate, and impactful visual representations.

• Presentation Software Mastery: Strong, demonstrated experience producing executive-level presentations using PowerPoint and Google Slides.

• Design Software Proficiency: Working proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).

• Collaborative Design Tools: Experience with Canva and Figma for collaborative design and layout.

• Web Content Management: Familiarity with Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace for client-facing and internal web content.

• Project Management: Strong skills in managing multiple priorities, timelines, and deliverables independently.

• Storytelling: Ability to craft narratives through visuals that support decision-making and engage diverse audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with economic development or place-based strategy projects.

• Experience supporting sports or major events initiatives.

• Videography and/or photography skills.

• Copywriting and editing skills.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required tools are specific and indicate a need for hands-on, practical design skills across various platforms, from professional design suites to web content management and collaborative tools. The emphasis on translating "data, analysis, and technical content" underscores the analytical and strategic nature of the design work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong track record in visual storytelling, data visualization, and creating client-ready design materials.

• Examples should showcase the ability to translate complex data, economic analysis, and strategic concepts into clear, compelling visuals.

• Include case studies or project examples that highlight your role in developing presentations, reports, infographics, and branding for clients.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, including how they approach understanding project requirements, collaborating with stakeholders, translating complex information, and iterating on designs.

• Highlight experience in maintaining visual consistency across various project deliverables and platforms.

• Be ready to explain how you ensure accuracy and clarity in data visualizations and technical diagrams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component of the application, serving as direct evidence of the candidate's ability to meet the core requirements of translating technical content into effective visual communication. It should clearly illustrate the candidate's design process and their impact on project outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60,000 - $80,000 USD per year (This is an estimated benchmark; actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and internal equity.)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with a 3% automatic company contribution of salary

• Monthly Phone Stipend

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 days annually

• 9 Paid Holidays

• 3 Floating Holidays annually

• 10 Sick Days annually

• Paid Parental Leave

• Workplace Ergonomic Assessment and resulting accommodations

Working Hours:

• Full-time position, typically around 40 hours per week.

• The remote nature of the role offers flexibility in structuring the workday, provided project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided for specific locations, and the description notes that compensation may vary. The benefits package is robust, offering significant support for employee well-being and professional growth, which is attractive to experienced professionals in consulting roles. The inclusion of professional development funds is particularly relevant for a role that requires staying current with design tools and methodologies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Management Consulting (Specializing in Transportation, Infrastructure, Urban Development, Economic & Community Development, Sports & Major Events)

Company Size: Steer is a global consultancy. Fourth Economy, its North America division, likely operates with a size that allows for close-knit project teams but benefits from the resources of a larger international firm.

Founded: Fourth Economy was founded in 2010; Steer is a global entity. The merger in 2021 signifies a strategic expansion and integration of capabilities.

Team Structure:

• The Design Consultant will be embedded within project teams alongside analysts, economists, planners, and project managers.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a direct manager within the Fourth Economy or Steer North America leadership, with project-specific reporting to Project Managers.

Methodology:

• Fourth Economy and Steer emphasize a collaborative, data-driven approach, combining research, analytics, planning, and strategy development with community engagement.

• The firm prioritizes creating practical, creative, and equity-grounded solutions.

• Design is integrated as a critical component for translating insights and shaping communication strategies.

Company Website: steergroup.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of Fourth Economy's specialized consulting with Steer's global reach in infrastructure and urban development suggests a dynamic, forward-thinking environment. The culture likely values analytical rigor, collaborative problem-solving, and a commitment to tangible, community-focused outcomes. The design role is positioned as integral to this methodology.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role, requiring significant professional experience and the ability to work autonomously. It's a "Design Consultant" position, indicating a focus on specialized expertise.

Reporting Structure: The Design Consultant will report to a hiring and reporting manager, likely within Fourth Economy's leadership in North America. They will also work closely with Project Managers on specific client engagements.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the success of client projects by enhancing the clarity, persuasiveness, and professionalism of deliverables. It also contributes to the firm's business development success through strong proposal design and strengthens the overall brand perception and market positioning through consistent, high-quality visual communications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in design for economic development, sports, and major events, becoming a go-to specialist within the firm.

• Leadership: Over time, take on more significant design leadership responsibilities, guiding junior designers or shaping design strategy for larger initiatives.

• Skill Expansion: Develop skills in areas such as motion graphics, advanced data visualization techniques, or UX/UI design for digital platforms.

• Cross-Practice Influence: Contribute to elevating the design standards across Steer's broader North America operations.

• Business Development: Grow into a role with more direct involvement in client strategy and business development pitches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path emphasizes deepening specialized design expertise within the consulting context and potentially moving into more strategic or leadership roles. The integration with Steer offers a broader canvas for impact and development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company supports remote work, with specific location requirements for candidates.

Office Location(s): Candidates must be based in or near Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Providence, RI; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; and Syracuse, NY. Travel may be required 2-3 times per month for client meetings and project work.

Workspace Context:

• The role operates within a remote, collaborative consulting environment.

• Access to necessary design software and online collaboration tools is expected.

• Opportunities for interaction with colleagues will occur through virtual meetings, project team collaborations, and potential in-person gatherings for client work or firm events.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week.

• While remote, adherence to project deadlines and availability for team meetings and client interactions during core business hours (likely Eastern Time Zone given location preferences) is essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific geographic restrictions for remote work suggest a need for candidates within a certain time zone cluster or proximity for potential in-person collaboration or client meetings. The company's commitment to ergonomic assessments indicates a focus on employee well-being in a remote setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Initial Interview (30 mins, Zoom): Focus on background, interest in the role, and alignment with the position's core functions and the company's mission.

• Stage 2: Team Interview & Portfolio Review (60 mins, Zoom): In-depth discussion of experience, and a walk-through of relevant portfolio examples with team members. This is where your ability to communicate your design process and impact will be assessed.

• Stage 3: Design Exercise (Short Assignment & Blind Review): A practical test of design skills on a representative problem. The blind review ensures objective assessment of the design output.

• Stage 4: Final Conversation (30 mins, Zoom or in person): Discussion with leadership regarding role expectations, team fit, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your ability to translate complex data and strategy into compelling visuals for consulting clients. Prioritize projects relevant to economic development or major events if possible.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process, the creative solution, and the impact or outcome. Use concise text and highlight key visual elements.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in the required tools (Adobe Suite, PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, Figma).

• Highlight Data Visualization: Include examples of charts, infographics, and diagrams that effectively communicate data and analysis.

• Demonstrate Client-Readiness: Present materials that look polished, professional, and ready for client review or executive consumption.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared to discuss how design supports consulting objectives, especially in economic development and community revitalization.

• Practice Translation: Mentally prepare to explain how you would translate a given piece of data or a strategy into a visual.

• Time Management: For the design exercise, plan your approach and allocate time effectively to deliver a complete, albeit brief, solution.

• Communicate Your Process: Be ready to articulate your thought process during the design exercise review.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured and emphasizes a skills-focused approach, with the portfolio review and design exercise being critical evaluation points. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process and demonstrate their ability to solve problems visually within a consulting framework.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional graphic design, including Illustrator (vector graphics, diagrams), InDesign (layout, reports), and Photoshop (image editing, manipulation). Expect to use these extensively for client deliverables.

• Microsoft PowerPoint & Google Slides: Critical for creating executive-level client presentations. Proficiency in advanced features, template design, and ensuring visual consistency is expected.

• Canva & Figma: Valued for collaborative design, rapid prototyping, and potentially for creating more accessible or interactive design components.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Web Content Management:

• Wix, WordPress, Squarespace: Required for contributing to and managing client-facing and internal web content, indicating a need for basic web content updating and design implementation skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is robust and specific, requiring a blend of advanced graphic design software and more accessible/collaborative tools. Proficiency in translating data into visuals using these tools is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Partnership & Collaboration: A strong emphasis on genuine partnership with clients and internal teams, working collaboratively to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Strategy: Commitment to developing strategies grounded in thorough research and analytics, with design serving to make these insights actionable.

• Equity & Inclusion: Designing solutions that are practical, creative, and grounded in equity, reflecting a commitment to inclusive development.

• Resilience & Thriving Futures: A focus on building resilient communities and creating positive, lasting impact.

• Innovation: Encouragement to explore new ideas and adopt new tools and approaches to enhance work quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers working closely alongside analysts, economists, and planners on project teams.

• Expectation of proactive communication and a willingness to adapt designs based on feedback from technical experts and project managers.

• A culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages cross-functional learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be mission-driven, focusing on tangible community impact through collaborative and data-informed consulting. The design role is expected to embody these values by creating visuals that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also ethically sound and strategically impactful.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complexity: The primary challenge will be effectively translating highly technical economic data, analysis, and complex strategies into clear, accessible, and engaging visuals for diverse audiences.

• Balancing Multiple Demands: Managing a workload that includes demanding client projects alongside business development and internal design needs requires strong prioritization and time management skills.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring visual consistency across two distinct but integrated entities (Fourth Economy and Steer) requires a keen eye for detail and strong adherence to brand guidelines.

• Adapting to Evolving Tools: The consulting and design landscape is constantly changing; staying current with new tools and methodologies will be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Expertise: Gain deep experience in designing for specific sectors like economic development, community revitalization, and major events.

• Industry Exposure: Work on a variety of impactful projects that address critical societal and economic issues.

• Tool Mastery: Become proficient in a broad range of design and collaboration software.

• Strategic Communication: Develop a sophisticated understanding of how design influences strategic decision-making in a consulting context.

• Professional Development Funds: Utilize company-provided funds for courses, workshops, or certifications to enhance design skills or learn new technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior consulting design role, requiring strategic thinking and adaptability. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path for specialization and professional advancement within a reputable consultancy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex data or technical information into a visual format for a non-technical audience. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio.)

• "How do you ensure visual consistency across multiple deliverables for a single client or project?" (Discuss your approach to style guides, templates, and collaborative workflows.)

• "Imagine you are given a dense economic report. What would be your first steps in designing a compelling executive summary or presentation based on it?" (Outline your process from understanding the core message to visual execution.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Fourth Economy and Steer's work in economic and community development?" (Research their recent projects and mission.)

• "How do you see design contributing to equity and inclusion in community development projects?" (Relate this to the company's stated values.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each portfolio piece, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Impact.

• Highlight Your Process: Don't just show the final product; explain how you got there. This is crucial for a consulting role.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, mention any measurable outcomes or positive feedback received on your designs.

• Be Concise: Respect the time allocated. Focus on the most relevant aspects of each project.

• Practice Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure smooth delivery and clear articulation. Be ready for follow-up questions on any aspect of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and an understanding of the consulting context. The portfolio review is a critical part of the interview process, so thorough preparation is essential.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your resume and a portfolio of your work through the application portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of data visualization, complex information translation, and client-ready presentation/report design. Tailor your selection to highlight projects relevant to economic development, community planning, or strategic communications.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 5+ years of professional design experience, specifically mentioning proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva, and Figma. Use keywords from the job description, such as "visual design," "technical communication," "data visualization," and "client presentations."

• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on explaining your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how you translate complex information into clear visuals.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fourth Economy's mission and recent projects, as well as Steer's global presence and areas of expertise. Understand their commitment to equity and community development.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.