Design Strategist (San Diego)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Strategist

Company: LINK

Location: San Diego, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design Strategy / Consulting / Government Support

Date Posted: 2025-10-24

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is centered around leveraging human-centered design principles to drive strategy, innovation, and communication for clients, primarily within the federal government and its adjacent industry partners.

• The Design Strategist will be responsible for leading and executing innovative design strategies, transforming complex challenges into clear, impactful visual stories.

• A key focus will be on client engagement, conducting research, synthesizing insights, and developing compelling narratives and visual products that align with client missions and goals.

• This position requires a blend of strategic thinking, creative execution, and strong collaboration skills to deliver high-quality, human-centered design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Strategist," the description heavily emphasizes its application within the federal government and client-facing consulting. This suggests a strong need for understanding government contracting environments, security clearances, and the unique challenges of public sector innovation. The role is less about pure graphic design and more about applying design thinking to solve complex strategic problems for organizations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Co-lead client and internal meetings, workshops, and strategic visioning sessions, facilitating discussions and driving towards actionable outcomes.

• Conduct and synthesize primary and secondary research using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to deeply understand client challenges and user needs.

• Uncover key insights from research and effectively frame problem statements that will guide and inform the overall design direction.

• Develop essential research artifacts such as personas, customer journey maps, empathy maps, and comprehensive insight summaries to communicate findings.

• Craft strategic messaging and written content for various deliverables, including reports, presentations, and visual storytelling products, ensuring clarity and impact.

• Identify content priorities and establish information hierarchies, supporting wireframing and content mapping exercises to structure information effectively.

• Contribute actively to prototype development and participate in iterative design processes to refine solutions based on feedback and testing.

• Collaborate closely with internal design teams to produce a range of visual products, including infographics, charts, diagrams, and presentations, effectively conveying both quantitative data and abstract concepts for print and digital use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of research, strategy, content creation, and visual design collaboration. The emphasis on "co-leading" and "supporting" suggests a role that is both independent and team-oriented, requiring strong facilitation and communication skills to manage client interactions and internal project workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 5-10 years of progressive experience in design strategy, user experience (UX) strategy, service design, or closely related fields.

Required Skills:

• Active Secret security clearance is mandatory; TS/SCI clearance is strongly preferred.

• Expertise in human-centered design and design thinking methodologies, with practical application in problem-solving.

• Proficiency in various design areas, including service design, experience design, brand development, information design, and graphic design, with the ability to select appropriate approaches for diverse projects.

• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating design thinking workshops and interactive research sessions with executive leaders and their teams.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, essential for client presentations, report writing, and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including clients, subject matter experts, and internal design and strategy teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with government contracting environments and the specific needs of federal agency clients.

• Experience with user research techniques beyond standard personas and journey maps, such as ethnography or diary studies.

• Advanced proficiency in data visualization tools and techniques for presenting complex information.

• Experience with content strategy, information architecture, and wireframing tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Understanding of change management principles and their application in organizational transformation projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory Secret clearance and preferred TS/SCI clearance are critical requirements for this role, indicating a significant focus on government contracts. The experience level and specific design disciplines mentioned suggest a need for a candidate who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence within client engagements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of design strategy projects, demonstrating a clear progression from problem identification to solution implementation.

• Case studies should highlight the candidate's ability to apply human-centered design and design thinking to solve complex organizational or user challenges.

• Evidence of transforming raw data (qualitative and quantitative research) into actionable insights and compelling visual narratives.

• Examples of facilitating client workshops, strategic visioning sessions, and interactive research, illustrating facilitation skills and client engagement effectiveness.

Process Documentation:

• The portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate an understanding of structured design processes, including research phases, synthesis, ideation, prototyping, and iterative refinement.

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to managing design projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring alignment between design solutions and client objectives.

• Examples of how data and insights were used to inform design decisions and measure the impact of implemented strategies are highly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Strategist role, especially one involving client-facing work and government contracts, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond a collection of visual assets to tell a story about the candidate's strategic thinking, research methodology, problem-solving approach, and ability to drive tangible outcomes for clients. The emphasis on "human-centered design" and "transforming data" should be evident in portfolio examples.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $86,000 - $116,000 annually.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is competitive for a Design Strategist with 5-10 years of experience in the San Diego, California area. Factors such as the specific security clearance level (Secret vs. TS/SCI) and the depth of experience with federal government clients could influence placement within this range. Market research for similar roles in San Diego indicates this range aligns with industry standards for mid-to-senior level design strategy professionals, particularly those with specialized government sector experience.

Benefits:

• $100 monthly internet/cell phone stipend.

• LINK-sponsored healthcare benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Company-paid Short Term Disability Insurance.

• 401K retirement plan with an employer contribution of up to 4%.

• 11 Federal Holidays observed annually.

• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.

• Paid Holiday Time Off, specifically from Christmas Eve through the New Year.

• Participation in an annual bonus plan.

• Annual profit-sharing participation.

• $2,000 annual reimbursement for a Learning and Development program.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• This position requires an on-site presence with the client approximately 2-3 days per week, following a hybrid work schedule.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work schedule, requiring 2-3 days on-site with the client, is typical for consulting roles that necessitate direct client interaction and collaboration within their specific environments. This balances the need for in-person engagement with the flexibility of remote work.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• The company operates within the Government & Public Sector, Creative & Media, Consulting, and Marketing industries. LINK specifically focuses on leveraging human-centered design for strategy, innovation, communication, change, and branding.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: As a Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), LINK likely emphasizes agility, client-centricity, and a mission-driven approach, particularly when working with federal government clients who often prioritize such partnerships. The focus on design strategy suggests a culture that values innovation, creative problem-solving, and clear communication.

Company Size:

Founded:

Team Structure:

• The Design Strategist will likely be part of a project-based team, collaborating with other strategists, designers, researchers, and potentially project managers.

• Reporting structure is not detailed but is expected to involve a manager overseeing design or strategy functions, with direct interaction with client stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design & Design Thinking: A core methodology, emphasizing understanding user needs and iterating on solutions.

• Visual Storytelling: Translating complex information and data into clear, compelling visual narratives.

• Research & Synthesis: Employing qualitative and quantitative methods to gather insights and inform strategy.

• Client Partnership: Working closely with clients to understand their challenges and co-create solutions.

Company Website:

• http://www.link.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The WOSB designation and "fast-growing" nature suggest a dynamic environment. The company's mission to "untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly with visual stories" indicates a culture that thrives on tackling challenging problems and delivering clarity through design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific design disciplines (e.g., service design for government agencies, complex information visualization for defense).

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior Design Strategist or Design Lead role, mentoring junior team members and leading larger, more complex client engagements.

• Client Management: Develop advanced client relationship management skills, potentially moving into roles with greater business development responsibilities.

• Skill Development: Leverage the $2,000 annual Learning and Development program for advanced training, certifications, or conference attendance relevant to design strategy, federal sector challenges, or emerging methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "co-leading" and client-facing responsibilities suggests a role with significant growth potential. The company's focus on federal clients and innovation provides a unique platform for developing specialized expertise and advancing within the government consulting space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role demands close collaboration with internal LINK teams (designers, researchers, strategists) and external client teams. This suggests an environment that values teamwork and open communication.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a LINK-owned technology package, including a MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse, and keyboard, indicates that employees are well-equipped for design and strategy work.

• Client Interaction: Significant time will be spent interacting with clients, both in meetings and workshops, requiring adaptability to different client environments and professional settings.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring on-site client presence 2-3 days per week. This structure allows for focused individual work and collaborative client engagement.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model, with client-site days, is typical for consulting roles. It requires strong time management and the ability to transition between independent work and client-facing activities seamlessly.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, clearance status, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into experience, skills, and approach to design strategy, human-centered design, and client engagement. Expect questions related to past projects and problem-solving methodologies.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A crucial step where candidates present their portfolio, detailing specific case studies, their role, the process followed, and the outcomes achieved. This will likely involve presenting to a panel of team members and potentially senior leadership.

• Skills-Based Exercise/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a design thinking exercise or a mini-case study, either before or during the interview, to assess their strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities in real-time.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader or client stakeholder, focusing on strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives. Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Process Focus: Detail the design thinking and human-centered design processes you employed. Explain why you chose certain methods and how they led to insights and solutions.

• Data & Insights: Emphasize how you used qualitative and quantitative data to inform your strategies and create impactful visual stories. Showcase specific examples of research synthesis and insight generation.

• Client Context: For government-focused roles, highlight any experience or understanding of working within federal agencies, security protocols, and mission objectives. Tailor your examples to demonstrate relevance.

• Visual Communication: While the role is strategic, ensure your presentation materials are visually clear, well-organized, and effectively communicate complex ideas, mirroring the company's emphasis on visual storytelling.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking Application: Be prepared to walk through a design thinking framework or apply it to a hypothetical problem relevant to government or innovation challenges.

• Research Synthesis: Practice synthesizing information from mock research findings and articulating key insights and strategic implications.

• Strategic Messaging: Prepare to articulate a clear strategic message or narrative based on a given scenario, demonstrating your ability to communicate complex ideas concisely.

• Facilitation Scenarios: Think about how you would design and facilitate a workshop for executive stakeholders to achieve specific strategic outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most critical stage for this role. Candidates should prepare to discuss their projects in detail, focusing on the strategic thinking, research methodologies, and client impact. Demonstrating an understanding of the federal government context will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD will be essential for creating visual products and supporting wireframing.

• Presentation Software: Expertise in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides is critical for developing reports, presentations, and visual storytelling products.

• Research & Synthesis Tools: Familiarity with tools for qualitative data analysis (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo) or quantitative data analysis (e.g., Excel, SPSS, R) may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly specified, but understanding how design strategy integrates with client relationship management and project management tools could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on design and strategy tools, with a particular need for strong presentation and visual communication capabilities. While direct analytics tool experience isn't a primary requirement, the ability to work with and interpret data is fundamental to the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered: A deep commitment to understanding and addressing the needs of users and stakeholders.

• Innovation: Constantly seeking new and creative ways to solve complex problems.

• Clarity & Impact: A drive to untangle complexity and communicate clearly through effective visual storytelling and strategic messaging.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and partnership, both internally and with clients.

• Agility: As a fast-growing WOSB, the company likely embraces adaptability and responsive problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamlessly working with diverse teams to bring different perspectives to projects.

• Client Partnership: Building strong, collaborative relationships with clients, acting as trusted advisors.

• Open Communication: Encouraging feedback and open dialogue to refine strategies and solutions.

• Shared Learning: Fostering an environment where team members can share knowledge and best practices, particularly around design thinking and strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply embedded in its mission and approach. Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values align with these principles, particularly in their approach to problem-solving, client engagement, and team collaboration.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Federal Client Needs: Understanding and adapting to the unique requirements, procurement processes, and stakeholder dynamics of federal government agencies.

• Translating Complexity: Effectively transforming highly complex information, data, and organizational challenges into clear, actionable strategies and visual narratives.

• Balancing Strategy and Execution: Ensuring that strategic design concepts are not only innovative but also practical and implementable within client constraints.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively engaging and aligning diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to a $2,000 annual reimbursement for learning and development, allowing for specialized courses, workshops, or certifications in areas like advanced design thinking, federal sector consulting, or new design methodologies.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced strategists and leaders within LINK, potentially gaining insights into client management and business development.

• Project Diversity: Exposure to a wide range of projects across different federal agencies and strategic challenges, fostering broad skill development.

• Industry Engagement: Potential opportunities to attend industry conferences or events related to government innovation, design strategy, or public sector transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a consulting role within the government sector. The growth opportunities, particularly the L&D budget, offer a clear path for candidates to continuously enhance their expertise and advance their careers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used human-centered design to solve a complex problem for an organization. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you approach translating large amounts of qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights and a clear strategic direction?"

• "Walk me through a challenging client engagement where you had to manage multiple stakeholders with conflicting priorities. How did you navigate this?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with federal government clients and on design strategy projects at LINK specifically?"

• "How do you see your skills in visual storytelling and research synthesis contributing to LINK's mission?"

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment and how you contribute to team success."

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Relevant Case Studies: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your strategic thinking, research skills, human-centered approach, and experience relevant to government clients or complex problem-solving.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, follow a clear story arc: the challenge, your role and responsibilities, the methodology used (research, design thinking), key insights and solutions, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Process and Data: Clearly explain how you arrived at your solutions, emphasizing the role of research, data, and iterative design. Use visuals to illustrate your process and findings.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics or concrete examples to demonstrate the success of your strategies. For government projects, consider impact on mission objectives, efficiency, or user satisfaction.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your decision-making process, challenges encountered, and how you would adapt your approach in different scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to deeply discuss your portfolio, focusing on your strategic decision-making, research methodology, and ability to translate insights into tangible outcomes. Demonstrating an understanding of the federal government context will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in design strategy, human-centered design, design thinking, research synthesis, visual storytelling, and any relevant experience with government clients. Use keywords from the job description.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate your portfolio to showcase 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate your strategic process, problem-solving skills, research capabilities, and client impact. Be ready to present these in detail.

• Understand LINK's Mission: Research LINK's work, values, and focus on human-centered design for government clients. Prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their specific mission.

• Prepare for Clearance Discussion: Be ready to confirm your active Secret clearance and discuss your eligibility or existing TS/SCI clearance.

⚠️ 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. The mandatory security clearance cannot be overlooked.