Senior Design Strategist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Strategist (Experience Designer) Company: Thoughtworks Location: Lima, Peru Job Type: Full-time Category: Experience Design / Product Strategy / Service Design Date Posted: August 01, 2025 Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years implied) Remote Status: Remote OK (with potential hybrid expectation for client engagement)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic design of end-to-end customer journeys, from initial vision to product roadmaps, aligning business goals with user needs.
• Lead and collaborate within cross-functional teams to produce comprehensive experience design deliverables, including journey maps, service blueprints, and design systems.
• Develop, document, and test interface components using industry-standard tools like Storybook, ensuring adherence to accessibility (A11y) best practices.
• Facilitate workshops, craft unique product design strategies, and contribute to high-level strategic decisions within client portfolios.
• Measure and report on business outcomes and customer metrics, identifying key hypotheses for product experiments and customer testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job listing states "Remote OK," the nature of consultancy work often involves client site visits or hybrid arrangements for collaborative workshops and stakeholder management, especially in a role focused on client engagement and strategy. Candidates should clarify expectations regarding on-site client presence. The title "Senior Design Strategist" and the implied experience level suggest a need for independent work, leadership, and significant client-facing capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the strategic design and evolution of the complete customer journey, encompassing initial customer vision, product strategy formulation, and the development of actionable product roadmaps.
• Create and iterate on essential design artifacts such as wireframes, prototypes, journey maps, service blueprints, and design systems, ensuring a user-centered and business-aligned approach.
• Collaborate effectively within small, agile, cross-functional teams, integrating user research, service design, digital product design, and interface design principles.
• Maintain and champion accessibility (A11y) practices throughout the design and development lifecycle, ensuring inclusive product experiences.
• Develop, document, and rigorously test interface components using tools like Storybook, contributing to robust and reusable design libraries.
• Facilitate productive client and internal workshops, guiding participants to develop unique and effective design strategies for complex products.
• Participate actively in making strategic decisions at the portfolio level, influencing the direction and success of client initiatives.
• Define, plan, and measure key business outcomes and customer metrics across the entire customer journey, providing data-driven insights for continuous improvement.
• Identify and collaboratively develop customer hypotheses with Thoughtworks colleagues and clients to design and execute impactful product experiments and customer tests.
• Effectively manage client and internal stakeholder expectations by clearly articulating business outcomes and customer value propositions.
• Provide mentorship and support to less experienced designers within the team, sharing knowledge and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
• Advocate for the value of experience design within the broader tech community through speaking engagements, content creation, and participation in industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and strategic leadership. The emphasis on "end-to-end customer journey" and "product strategy" indicates the need for a holistic understanding of product development, not just UI/UX. The mention of "portfolio level" strategic decisions suggests involvement in higher-level client advisory.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in product and user experience design, with a strong track record of delivering successful digital products.
• Proven experience in leading discovery and research initiatives, employing a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative methods to generate actionable insights and demonstrate value.
• Demonstrated ability to translate research findings and strategic thinking into tangible design deliverables, including wireframes, prototypes, and user flows.
• Experience in developing, documenting, and testing interface components, preferably with tools like Storybook, and a strong understanding of design system principles.

Required Skills:

• Product & Experience Design: Expertise in user research methodologies, service design, digital product design, and interface design.
• User Research & Strategy: Proficiency in leading research initiatives, defining customer hypotheses, and developing product strategies that drive business outcomes.
• Prototyping & Wireframing: Hands-on experience creating wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize and test design concepts.
• Design Systems & Component Development: Familiarity with Design Systems and practical experience with tools like Storybook for component development and documentation.
• Communication & Storytelling: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate research approaches, insights, and outcomes to diverse stakeholders.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams and manage relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on identifying and addressing complex design challenges.
• Language Proficiency: Advanced Spanish language skills and intermediate English proficiency for effective communication in multicultural environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Leadership & Mentoring: Experience leading design teams or mentoring junior designers.
• Accessibility Practices (A11y): Familiarity with accessibility standards and implementation.
• Financial Sector Experience: Prior experience in the banking or financial services industry is a plus.
• Public Speaking/Community Engagement: Experience speaking at conferences, webinars, or meetups to share design knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation, combined with the responsibilities, strongly implies that candidates should have experience leading projects, mentoring others, and influencing client strategy. The required technical skills are centered around the user-centered design process and modern design tooling. The language requirement is critical for client interaction in Peru.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your involvement in the entire product development lifecycle, from initial discovery and strategy to final design and testing.
• Strategic Thinking: Clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the strategic decisions made, and how your design solutions addressed business objectives and user needs.
• Process Documentation: Illustrate your design process, including user research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping methods, and iteration cycles.
• Metrics & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your work by presenting key business outcomes and customer metrics that were influenced by your design contributions.
• Deliverable Variety: Include examples of various experience design deliverables such as journey maps, service blueprints, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and design system components.

Process Documentation:

• Research & Discovery: Provide documentation of how you conduct user research, define problem spaces, and uncover customer insights.
• Design & Prototyping: Demonstrate your approach to wireframing, prototyping, and iterating on designs based on feedback and testing.
• System Implementation & Testing: Showcase experience in developing and documenting interface components, ideally with examples using tools like Storybook, and your approach to accessibility testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role. It should not just display final designs but also the strategic thinking, process, and measurable impact behind them. Given the consultancy nature, demonstrating how you've managed client expectations and collaborated within diverse teams will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Experience Designers/Design Strategists in Lima, Peru, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is PEN 72,000 - PEN 120,000 (approximately USD 20,000 - USD 33,000).
• This estimate considers the cost of living in Lima, the demand for specialized design skills, and the seniority of the role. Thoughtworks, as a global consultancy, may offer competitive compensation aligned with international standards, potentially leaning towards the higher end of this range for exceptional candidates.

Benefits:

• Professional Development: Access to extensive learning and development programs, training, and opportunities for skill enhancement.
• Global Community: Membership in a supportive and inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration across geographies.
• Impactful Work: Opportunity to work on challenging projects with leading clients, driving significant business and customer impact.
• Flexible Work Environment: Support for remote work arrangements, promoting work-life balance.
• Career Growth: Clear pathways for career advancement and specialization within the organization.
• Competitive Compensation: As part of a global firm, expect a compensation package that reflects your expertise and contribution.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. However, the consultancy environment may require flexibility to meet client project deadlines and demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary figures are estimates based on general market data for Lima. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the outcome of the interview process. Benefits often include robust training and development, which is a significant draw for consultants.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting / Software Development / Digital Transformation. Thoughtworks operates at the intersection of technology and business, helping clients navigate complex digital challenges. Company Size: Global presence with thousands of employees worldwide, indicating a large, established, yet agile organization. This size provides access to diverse projects and a global network of expertise. Founded: 1993. With over 30 years of experience, Thoughtworks has a deep history in agile software development and digital transformation, establishing a reputation for innovation and quality.

Team Structure:

• Designers at Thoughtworks are integrated into multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams alongside developers, testers, and business analysts.
• Reporting structures typically involve a Design Lead or Principal Designer within the project team, with broader connections to the global Design practice.
• Cross-functional collaboration is fundamental, with designers working closely with client teams and other Thoughtworkers to deliver cohesive solutions.

Methodology:

• Agile & Lean Principles: Thoughtworks is a proponent of agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, continuous feedback, and rapid adaptation.
• User-Centered Design: A strong focus on understanding user needs and business context to drive product strategy and design decisions.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing metrics and experimentation to validate hypotheses and measure the impact of design solutions.
• Continuous Improvement: Fostering a culture of learning and refinement, both for individual skills and team processes.

Company Website: https://www.thoughtworks.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Thoughtworks is known for its strong engineering culture and commitment to agile principles. The company culture emphasizes continuous learning, collaboration, and making a tangible impact for clients. The global nature means exposure to diverse challenges and best practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Experience Designer / Design Strategist. This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor, expected to lead design efforts, influence strategy, and mentor others. It offers a path towards Principal Designer or Design Lead roles, or specialization in areas like Service Design, UX Research leadership, or Product Strategy. Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a Design Principal or Project Lead within a client engagement team. There's also a matrixed relationship with the broader Thoughtworks Design community, offering mentorship and guidance from more senior practitioners globally. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on client business outcomes by shaping product strategy, improving customer experiences, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality digital products. Success is measured by client satisfaction, business metric improvements, and the adoption of well-designed solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like service design, interaction design, user research, design systems, or product strategy.
• Leadership Development: Progress into leadership roles such as Design Lead, Principal Designer, or management positions within the Design practice.
• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in specific industry verticals (e.g., finance, healthcare) through client engagements.
• Community Contribution: Become a thought leader by speaking at events, writing articles, and contributing to the global Thoughtworks Design community.
• Global Mobility: Potential opportunities to work on projects in different regions or relocate to other Thoughtworks offices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thoughtworks actively invests in the growth of its consultants. The career path is not strictly linear but encourages exploration and specialization based on individual interests and business needs. The emphasis on community and knowledge sharing facilitates organic learning and development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is listed as "Remote OK," consultancy often requires engagement with clients, which may involve working from client offices, co-working spaces, or a hybrid model depending on project needs and client location. Thoughtworks also has physical offices that may serve as hubs for collaboration and client meetings. Office Location(s): The primary location mentioned is Lima, Peru. Thoughtworks has a global network of offices, and specific project needs might dictate engagement from various client sites within the region.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with developers, product managers, and clients, fostering open communication and shared problem-solving.
• Technology & Tools: Access to modern design and collaboration tools, including industry-standard software for wireframing, prototyping, design systems, and communication.
• Learning Culture: Opportunities to engage with peers for design reviews, knowledge sharing sessions, and skill-building workshops.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours are expected, but flexibility is often a requirement in consulting to meet project deadlines and client needs. This can include occasional evening or weekend work depending on project phases, though this is typically managed to maintain work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status should be investigated further regarding client-facing expectations. While remote work is supported, consultancy often involves client-site presence for strategic workshops and relationship building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and portfolio to assess your qualifications and experience.
• Technical Interview(s): Expect discussions focused on your design process, strategic thinking, user research methodologies, prototyping skills, and experience with design systems. You may be asked to walk through your portfolio case studies in detail.
• Cross-functional Team Interview: You might interact with other designers, developers, or project leads to assess your collaboration style and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
• Scenario/Challenge-Based Interview: You may be presented with a hypothetical design problem or business challenge to gauge your problem-solving approach and strategic thinking.
• Cultural Fit Interview: Assessment of your alignment with Thoughtworks' values, culture, and approach to consulting.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Strategy and Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your strategic approach, the user needs you addressed, and the measurable outcomes achieved.
• Showcase Your Process: Detail your design process, including research methods, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Explain the "why" behind your decisions.
• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you collaborated with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, managing expectations and communicating effectively.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: If relevant, show examples of your work with design systems, Storybook, or other key tools mentioned in the job description.
• Accessibility Integration: If possible, showcase how you incorporated accessibility considerations into your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Thoughtworks' Approach: Familiarize yourself with their emphasis on agile, user-centered design, and digital transformation.
• Practice Articulating Your Process: Be ready to explain your design methodology and decision-making process clearly and concisely.
• Prepare for Strategy Questions: Think about how you would approach designing a product or service from scratch, considering business goals, user needs, and market context.
• Review Financial Sector Trends: If you have experience in this area, be prepared to discuss relevant challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing heavily on your design process, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate value. Your portfolio is your primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision.
• Design Systems & Component Development: Storybook, Zeroheight, or similar documentation platforms.
• User Research & Analytics: UserTesting.com, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Miro, Mural, Slack, Microsoft Teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in interpreting data from analytics platforms to inform design decisions and measure impact.
• Experience creating reports and dashboards to communicate insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how design integrates with these systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for customer journey mapping and personalization is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Storybook indicates a need for experience with component-based design and development workflows. Familiarity with tools that support the entire product lifecycle, from research to analytics, is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: Commitment to delivering high-quality, impactful solutions for clients.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, cross-functional partnership, and knowledge sharing.
• Curiosity: A drive to learn, explore new ideas, and challenge the status quo.
• Impact: Focus on creating tangible business and customer value through technology and design.
• Agility: Adaptability and responsiveness to changing client needs and project requirements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral members of multidisciplinary teams, working closely with engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders.
• Open Feedback Culture: Encourages constructive feedback and peer reviews to continuously improve design quality and team processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in internal communities of practice, sharing insights, and mentoring colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thoughtworks fosters a culture of continuous learning and collaboration. Employees are encouraged to share their expertise and contribute to the collective knowledge base. The emphasis on "doing the right thing" and "making a difference" is central to their ethos.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Client Environments: Adapting to diverse client cultures, stakeholder needs, and existing technological landscapes.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Constraints: Finding optimal solutions that satisfy both user experience goals and business objectives, often with competing priorities.
• Driving Strategic Change: Influencing stakeholders and championing design-led strategies within client organizations.
• Staying Ahead of Technological Trends: Continuously learning and adapting to new design tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Internal Training Programs: Access to a wealth of internal training, workshops, and e-learning modules covering various aspects of design, technology, and consulting.
• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant industry events and pursuing professional certifications.
• Mentorship from Global Experts: Opportunities to be mentored by senior designers and leaders within the global Thoughtworks network.
• Project Variety: Exposure to a wide range of industries and project types, facilitating broad skill development and career exploration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in consultancy are also significant growth drivers. Successfully navigating these complexities builds resilience, strategic acumen, and strong client management skills.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you significantly influenced a product strategy based on user research." Prepare a case study that highlights your research process, insight generation, strategic recommendations, and the impact on the product roadmap. Focus on your role in driving the strategic decision.
• "How do you balance competing stakeholder demands and ensure buy-in for your design recommendations?" Be ready to discuss your stakeholder management approach, communication strategies, and how you build trust and consensus. Use examples from your portfolio.
• "Describe a complex design problem you solved. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" Choose a case study that best demonstrates your problem-solving skills, design methodology, and ability to deliver tangible results. Emphasize your thought process and the "why" behind your actions.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Thoughtworks and this role specifically?" Research Thoughtworks' values, recent projects, and their approach to design. Connect your skills and career aspirations to what you learn.
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" Provide examples of your teamwork, knowledge sharing, and how you support colleagues, especially junior designers.
• "How do you measure the success of your design work?" Discuss your approach to defining and tracking key metrics (business outcomes, customer metrics) and how you use data to inform design decisions and demonstrate value.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact. Use a consistent structure.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Highlight Strategic Thinking: Emphasize the strategic decisions you made and how they aligned with business goals and user needs.
• Showcase Process Artifacts: Include examples of your journey maps, service blueprints, wireframes, and prototypes to illustrate your methodology.
• Practice Your Delivery: Be prepared to present your portfolio concisely and engagingly, allowing time for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview is a two-way street; be prepared to ask insightful questions about the team, projects, and company culture. Demonstrating genuine interest and a strategic mindset is key.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Thoughtworks careers site.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant case studies, emphasizing strategic thinking, end-to-end product design, and measurable impact. Ensure it clearly showcases your process and deliverables like journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature keywords such as "Experience Design," "Product Strategy," "User Research," "Service Design," "Design Systems," "Storybook," and "Stakeholder Management." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and strategic decision-making. Prepare to walk through your portfolio case studies, focusing on the problem, your approach, and the outcomes. Rehearse answers to common behavioral and situational interview questions.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Thoughtworks, their values, their approach to consulting, and any recent projects or thought leadership relevant to design strategy and digital transformation. Understand their commitment to agile and user-centered design.

⚠️ 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.