Senior Design Strategist (San Diego)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Strategist
Company: LINK
Location: San Diego, California, United States
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Design Strategy / GTM Strategy Enablement
Date Posted: February 11, 2026
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the conception and execution of human-centered design strategies to solve complex client challenges within the federal government and adjacent industry partners.
• Serve as a strategic partner to executive-level clients and internal teams, translating insights into compelling visual stories and actionable solutions.
• Drive innovation and strategy by deeply collaborating with engineering teams and subject matter experts, ensuring alignment between technical realities and human needs.
• Define and guide the creation of content strategy, information architecture, and experience frameworks that influence product, service, and program roadmaps.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Design Strategist," its emphasis on translating complex information into visual stories, informing product/service strategy, and working with federal government clients positions this role as crucial for GTM strategy enablement. The focus on "strategic bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders" and "decision-support tools" highlights its importance in aligning various departments towards a unified market approach and communicating value proposition effectively to government entities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and implementation of innovative, human-centered design strategies to address intricate client challenges.
• Lead deep collaboration with engineering teams and subject matter experts to shape strategy grounded in technical realities and human needs.
• Act as a strategic bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders, aligning perspectives and driving shared understanding at the program and portfolio levels.
• Inform product, service, and program strategy through research-driven insights that influence direction, prioritization, and decision-making.
• Define content strategy, information architecture, and experience frameworks, guiding wireframing and content mapping efforts across teams.
• Set direction for information designers and partner with strategists and designers to develop high-impact visual frameworks, journey maps, and decision-support tools.
• Translate complex systems, research findings, and trade-offs into visualizations that enable executive-level evaluation and confident decision-making.
• Elevate the clarity and rigor of research communication through compelling, accessible visual narratives.
• Design and lead high-stakes workshops, design sprints, and co-creation sessions that align diverse stakeholders and advance strategic outcomes.
• Develop human-centered facilitation approaches, agendas, and materials that enable government teams to collaborate, innovate, and navigate complexity.
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative inputs from workshops to surface critical insights, strategic opportunities, and alignment or decision gaps that inform next steps.
• Lead the planning and execution of mixed-method user research, including interviews, contextual inquiry, and stakeholder analysis, to inform strategy and design direction.
• Synthesize complex research into actionable insights, opportunity areas, and strategic recommendations that influence senior stakeholders.
• Translate technical and policy-heavy concepts into clear, human-centered narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
• Oversee and conduct primary and secondary research, integrating qualitative and quantitative findings into cohesive strategic perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are extensive and cover a broad spectrum of strategic design and client engagement. For a GTM Operations context, the emphasis on "informing product, service, and program strategy," "defining content strategy, information architecture, and experience frameworks," and "translating complex systems... into visualizations that enable executive-level evaluation and confident decision-making" are particularly relevant. These directly impact how go-to-market messages are crafted, how user journeys are mapped for customer acquisition, and how internal teams align on product value propositions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Communication, Sociology/Psychology, or related fields.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in design strategy or related roles.
• Active Clearance: Secret required, Top Secret preferred.
• Government contracting experience.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in human-centered design and design thinking methodologies.
• Proven ability to transform data into impactful visual stories.
• Extensive experience in various design areas (e.g., service design, experience design, brand development, information design, graphic design).
• Proficient in designing and facilitating design thinking and interactive research sessions with executive leaders and their teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients and cross-functional teams.
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud and professional design tools.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in developing and executing strategies for federal government clients.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical and policy information into clear, human-centered narratives.
• Experience in leading mixed-method user research and translating findings into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated success in designing and facilitating high-stakes workshops and co-creation sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of deep design strategy expertise, experience with government contracting, and the requirement for a Secret clearance suggests a role that requires not only creative problem-solving but also a strong understanding of complex organizational structures and security protocols. For operations professionals, this translates to understanding how to align GTM strategies within regulated environments and how to leverage design thinking for process optimization and stakeholder buy-in.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust design portfolio showcasing expertise in design strategy, human-centered design, and visual storytelling.
• Case studies demonstrating the ability to transform complex data and research findings into impactful visual narratives and actionable insights.
• Examples of leading and facilitating design thinking workshops, co-creation sessions, and interactive research with executive stakeholders.
• Projects that highlight experience in defining content strategy, information architecture, or experience frameworks.
• Demonstrations of translating technical or policy-heavy concepts into clear, human-centered communications.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and implementing human-centered design processes for a variety of projects.
• Examples of how research findings were synthesized into strategic recommendations and decision-support tools.
• Documentation of workshop design, facilitation, and post-session synthesis that led to strategic outcomes.
• Case studies showing the integration of qualitative and quantitative research into cohesive strategic perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Design Strategist role, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as direct evidence of the candidate's ability to execute on the core responsibilities. For potential candidates, it's crucial to highlight projects that demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but strategic impact, client collaboration, and the ability to influence decision-making through design. This aligns with operations' need for measurable outcomes and process-driven solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $112,000 - $145,000 per year.

Benefits:

• $100 monthly internet/cell phone stipend.
• LINK-sponsored healthcare benefits (medical, dental, vision).
• Company-paid Short Term Disability Insurance.
• 401K with an employer contribution of up to 4%.
• 11 Federal Holidays per year.
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.
• Paid Holiday Time Off (Christmas Eve through the New Year).
• Annual bonus plan participation.
• Annual profit sharing participation.
• $2,000 Learning and Development program reimbursement.
• Technology package including a LINK-owned MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse, and keyboard.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Occasional onsite presence may be required for client meetings, presentations, or working sessions, potentially involving local or national travel.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior-level strategic role in San Diego. The benefits package is comprehensive, with particular emphasis on professional development ($2,000 L&D reimbursement) and technology provision ($2,000+ value in tech package), which are attractive for roles requiring specialized tools and continuous learning. The hybrid nature with potential travel should be factored into the overall compensation expectation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consulting (Federal Government & Adjacent Industry Partners), Design, Innovation, Technology. Company Size: Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) - This often implies a more agile, collaborative, and potentially close-knit team environment where individual contributions are highly visible. Founded: Not specified, but described as "fast-growing."

Team Structure:

• The role involves close partnerships with engineering teams, futurists, thought leaders, information designers, strategists, and other designers.
• Collaboration extends to executive-level clients within the federal government and industry partners.
• There is a strong emphasis on cross-functional collaboration to "untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly."

Methodology:

• Human-centered design is the core methodology.
• Design thinking, innovation, and strategic visualization are key approaches.
• Emphasis on translating complex information into clear, visual stories.

Company Website: link.com

📝 Enhancement Note: As a WOSB, LINK likely fosters a culture that values diversity, innovation, and direct impact. The focus on human-centered design and partnering with federal clients suggests a mission-driven environment where strategic problem-solving and clear communication are paramount. This culture should appeal to operations professionals who thrive on driving tangible improvements and collaborating across diverse teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Lead. This role is positioned as a senior expert responsible for leading strategy development, client engagement, and mentoring junior team members (implicitly, by setting direction for information designers and strategists).

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, the role likely reports to a Design Director, Program Manager, or a similar senior leadership position within LINK, overseeing strategic initiatives. The individual will also be heavily client-facing, reporting progress and insights to executive-level clients.

Operations Impact: The Senior Design Strategist directly influences client strategy, innovation, and communication. Their work informs product roadmaps, service design, and program direction, which in turn impacts client success, efficiency, and adoption of new solutions. For a GTM context, this means shaping how LINK's services are perceived and adopted by clients, and how LINK itself innovates its offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific design strategy areas (e.g., service design for defense contracts, innovation strategy for federal agencies).
• Leadership: Moving into leadership roles such as Design Director, Principal Strategist, or Program Manager overseeing larger client engagements.
• Client Relationship Management: Becoming a key trusted advisor for major federal clients, driving long-term strategic partnerships.
• Mentorship: Guiding and developing junior designers and strategists within the LINK team.
• Business Development: Contributing to proposal development and client acquisition by showcasing LINK's strategic design capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential beyond traditional design, leaning into strategic advisory and client leadership. For operations professionals, understanding this trajectory can highlight how design strategy intersects with business development, program management, and strategic account growth. The emphasis on client impact and influencing decisions provides a strong foundation for leadership development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role requires occasional onsite presence for client meetings, presentations, or working sessions, which may involve local or national travel. This suggests a flexible work model where remote work is the norm, supplemented by in-person collaboration as needed.

Office Location(s): San Diego, CA, United States. While the primary location is San Diego, the "occasional onsite presence" and "local or national travel" indicate that the work is not confined to a single physical office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates frequent interaction with diverse teams (engineering, futurists, subject matter experts, designers) and executive-level clients. This implies a need for strong interpersonal and communication skills, and comfort with dynamic group settings.
• Technology & Tools: Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and professional design tools is required, indicating access to and utilization of sophisticated design software. The company provides a technology package including a MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse, and keyboard.
• Operations Team Interaction: While not a direct "operations" role, the Senior Design Strategist will interact with internal operations teams for project management, client onboarding, and resource allocation. Their work in defining strategies and frameworks will also inform operational processes for service delivery.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Flexibility is implied by the hybrid model, but occasional travel and onsite requirements necessitate adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with potential for travel aligns with many modern professional roles, offering a balance of flexibility and in-person engagement. For a design strategist, this balance is crucial for deep work (remote) and high-impact collaboration (onsite/travel). This structure requires strong self-management and communication skills, which are also highly valued in operations roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume, portfolio, and potentially a brief introductory call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Case Study: A significant portion of the interview process will likely focus on presenting and discussing the candidate's design portfolio. This may involve a specific case study presentation demonstrating their approach to a complex problem, their methodology, and the impact of their work.
• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions will assess leadership capabilities, collaboration style, problem-solving skills, and experience working with government clients.
• Technical/Methodology Deep Dive: Interviews may explore the candidate's depth of knowledge in human-centered design, design thinking, user research, and visualization techniques.
• Final Round: May involve discussions with senior leadership or key stakeholders to confirm strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio to tell a story. For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved.
• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your design strategy influenced decisions, improved processes, or solved client challenges, particularly highlighting data-driven insights and user-centric approaches.
• Showcase Process: Include artifacts that demonstrate your thought process, such as research summaries, journey maps, wireframes, information architecture diagrams, and workshop outputs.
• Tailor to LINK: Highlight projects that best align with LINK's focus on human-centered design, federal government clients, and complex problem-solving.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is visually appealing, well-organized, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to complex, ambiguous problems.
• Practice articulating your design strategy and decision-making rationale clearly and concisely.
• Be ready to explain how you translate technical or policy information into accessible narratives.
• Consider how you would approach a hypothetical workshop or research project for a federal government client.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior role will be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio as tangible proof of capability. Candidates should prepare to deeply articulate their strategic thinking, process, and impact, demonstrating not just design skill but also client management and problem-solving acumen relevant to complex, often government-facing, projects.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential for graphic design, illustration, and visual content creation (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Professional Design Tools: This could include tools for wireframing, prototyping, and user flow mapping (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Visualization Tools: Software or platforms for creating high-impact visual frameworks, journey maps, and decision-support tools. This might range from advanced diagramming tools to specialized data visualization software.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analyst role, the ability to interpret and visualize data from user research, market analysis, and client feedback is crucial. This implies familiarity with how data translates into strategic insights.

CRM & Automation:

• Not explicitly mentioned as a primary requirement for this role, but understanding how design strategies integrate with client management systems and operational workflows could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud is a baseline requirement. The emphasis on "professional design tools" suggests familiarity with modern UI/UX design platforms like Figma or Sketch. The ability to translate complex data into visualizations points to a need for strong information design skills, potentially leveraging tools beyond basic graphic design software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centered: A commitment to understanding and prioritizing user needs in all strategic and design decisions.
• Innovation: A drive to explore new ideas, approaches, and solutions to complex problems.
• Clarity & Impact: Focusing on clear communication and delivering tangible, meaningful results for clients.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and partnership across diverse disciplines and with clients.
• Integrity & Trust: Essential for working with government clients and handling sensitive information.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Deep collaboration with engineering, futurists, and subject matter experts to ensure strategies are technically feasible and human-centric.
• Client Partnership: Working as a trusted advisor and collaborative partner with executive-level clients, facilitating their engagement in the design process.
• Information Sharing: Elevating research communication and sharing insights through compelling visual narratives to ensure broad understanding and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: LINK's emphasis on human-centered design, innovation, and clear communication aligns with values that drive effective GTM strategy. Operations professionals can find common ground in the focus on process, clarity, and measurable impact, even within a design-centric context. The collaborative style is critical for breaking down silos and ensuring cohesive strategy execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complexity: Translating highly technical or policy-heavy concepts into understandable and actionable strategies for diverse audiences.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Facilitating consensus and driving decision-making among senior executives with potentially conflicting priorities.
• Government Contracting Nuances: Understanding the specific requirements, security protocols, and procurement processes within the federal government sector.
• Bridging Technical & Human Needs: Ensuring that innovative design solutions are grounded in technical realities and meet genuine user needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Strategy: Opportunities to work on high-profile, complex projects that push the boundaries of design strategy and innovation.
• Federal Sector Expertise: Deepening knowledge of federal government operations, challenges, and strategic initiatives.
• Leadership Development: Gaining experience in client relationship management, program leadership, and potentially team mentorship.
• Industry Conferences & Training: Leveraging the $2,000 L&D reimbursement for specialized training, workshops, or conferences related to design strategy, innovation, or government contracting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior strategic roles in complex environments. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path toward deep expertise in a specialized sector and leadership within a growing firm. For operations professionals, understanding these challenges and growth paths can illuminate how strategic design contributes to broader organizational success and how transferable skills can be developed.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated complex technical information into a clear, human-centered narrative. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, audience adaptation, and impact.)
• "How do you approach leading a design thinking workshop with senior government officials who may have limited exposure to design methodologies?" (Highlight facilitation skills, agenda design, and stakeholder management.)
• "Walk us through a project where your design strategy significantly influenced product or program direction. What were the key insights, and how did you present them?" (Emphasize research synthesis, strategic recommendation, and visualization of impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to LINK's mission and its focus on human-centered design for the federal government?" (Research LINK's WOSB status, mission, and recent projects.)
• "How do you foster collaboration between technical teams and design teams to ensure cohesive strategy development?" (Discuss your approach to bridging different disciplines and perspectives.)
• "Describe your experience working within government contracting environments. What are the key considerations for strategy development in this context?" (Prepare to discuss security, compliance, and stakeholder dynamics.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select High-Impact Projects: Choose 3-4 projects that best showcase your design strategy, human-centered approach, and impact on client objectives, particularly those relevant to government or complex problem-solving.
• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate:
  • The Challenge: What was the client's problem or opportunity?
  • Your Role: What was your specific contribution?
  • Your Process: How did you apply human-centered design, research, and strategy?
  • Key Insights & Solutions: What did you discover, and what solutions did you propose?
  • The Impact/Outcome: What were the measurable results or strategic influence?
• Visual Storytelling: Use compelling visuals (mockups, diagrams, research artifacts) to support your narrative.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback or pushback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, client-facing skills, and a deep understanding of human-centered design principles applied to complex, often government-related, challenges. The portfolio presentation is key – it needs to be a clear, concise, and impactful narrative of your strategic capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on greenhouse.io.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience in human-centered design, design strategy, visual storytelling, and work with government clients. Emphasize projects that demonstrate your ability to translate complex information into actionable strategies and compelling visuals.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 10+ years of experience, including specific achievements related to strategy development, client collaboration, and leadership. Use keywords from the job description, such as "human-centered design," "design thinking," "visual storytelling," and "government contracting."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic decision-making, and project outcomes. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to present a detailed case study from your portfolio. Research LINK's company culture and values.
• Clearance Readiness: Be prepared to discuss your security clearance status (Secret required, Top Secret preferred) and your understanding of government contracting environments.

⚠️ 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.