Lead Experience Design Strategist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Experience Design Strategist

Company: Kyndryl

Location: India (Manyatha Embassy Business Park, Non-SEZ)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Experience Design & Strategy (GTM Enablement)

Date Posted: May 12, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (15+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead innovative, customer-facing projects within Kyndryl Vital, focusing on transforming ambiguous business challenges into human-centered, co-created solutions.

• Drive the application of design thinking, service design, and co-creation methodologies to envision and prototype breakthrough experiences that go beyond traditional screens.

• Act as a key ambassador for human-centered design, influencing and empowering technical and business colleagues, partners, and customers.

• Contribute to the growth and refinement of Kyndryl Vital's global practice by identifying high-potential customer projects, developing best practices, and sharing learnings.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Lead Experience Design Strategist," the responsibilities strongly align with Go-To-Market (GTM) enablement through design innovation and customer engagement. The role's focus on co-creation with customers and translating business challenges into tangible solutions positions it as a strategic driver for Kyndryl's service offerings and client partnerships. The emphasis on bridging physical and digital worlds and working with complex systems suggests a deep involvement in defining and shaping client engagements, which is a crucial aspect of GTM strategy execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead cross-disciplinary teams (designers, researchers, technologists) through the end-to-end design process, from problem definition to visualized proof-of-concepts and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Translate complex user needs, business objectives, and technological possibilities into desirable, viable, and feasible solutions, utilizing a range of visualization tools and techniques.

• Develop and present compelling design rationale and narratives to effectively communicate design decisions and strategic vision to clients and internal stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with Kyndryl business leaders, account managers, technical strategists, and alliance partners to identify strategic opportunities and define innovative solutions and service blueprints.

• Champion and model human-centered design principles and co-creative behaviors, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration within project teams and with clients.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of Kyndryl Vital's global practice by documenting case studies, sharing best practices, and participating in new business development activities like pitches and proposals.

• Mentor and guide junior team members, fostering their growth in design craft, strategic thinking, and client engagement.

• Explore and integrate emerging technologies and methodologies (e.g., VR, AI/ML, fabrication processes) into the design and co-creation process to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for strategic leadership in client engagements, directly impacting GTM by shaping how Kyndryl's capabilities are presented and delivered to customers. The emphasis on co-creation, service blueprints, and experience roadmaps is critical for defining and articulating value propositions in client proposals and engagements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in experience design, with a significant focus on human-centered design, service design, and co-creation methodologies.

• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams through complex user experience engagements.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A robust portfolio showcasing successful design projects, demonstrating expertise in craft, strategic thinking, leadership, human-centered customer engagement, integrated technology solutions, and inventive problem-solving across diverse contexts.

• Design Methodologies: Deep expertise in human-centered design, service design, co-creation, and user-centric design processes.

• Systems Thinking: Proven ability to approach complex problems from multiple perspectives (business, people, technology, sustainability) and integrate insights into innovative solutions.

• Visualization & Prototyping: Proficiency in translating concepts into visualized proof-of-concepts using a mix of mediums: diagrams, wireframes, sketches, animated visualizations, and 3D studies.

• 2D Design Tools: Expert proficiency in tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects), Figma, InVision, and Sketch.

• 3D Design Tools: Proficiency in 3D CAD design tools like Rhino and SOLIDWORKS.

• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional skills in collaborating with clients and internal stakeholders, articulating design rationale persuasively, and building strong relationships.

• Business Acumen: Ability to understand and articulate business objectives, develop high-level business cases, and communicate effectively in business language.

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and manage design teams, foster collaboration, and drive project success.

• Adaptability: Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in ambiguous environments and tackle novel challenges.

• Technology Acumen: A strong interest and understanding of technology, including IT infrastructure and emerging tech trends.

Preferred Skills:

• Industry Vertical Experience: Prior experience working within specific industry sectors.

• Diverse Organizational Experience: Experience in various organizational settings (start-up, corporate, agency/consultancy).

• Participatory Design & Research: Experience with participatory design techniques and user research methodologies.

• Technical Applications: Knowledge and hands-on experience with IT infrastructure or other complex technical applications.

• Applied Social Sciences: Background in human behavior, change management, or other applied social sciences.

• Data Science & AI/ML: Experience or working knowledge in data science, AI/ML, or algorithm design.

• Rendering & Fabrication: Working knowledge in rendering programs, VR platforms, and fabrication processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 15+ years of experience, combined with a strong portfolio and expertise in both 2D/3D design tools and business acumen, positions this role as a senior individual contributor and potential team lead. The emphasis on "entrepreneurial mindset" and "thrive in ambiguity" indicates a need for someone comfortable with nascent processes and strategic direction, aligning with a GTM enablement function that often operates in evolving market conditions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Impact: Showcase projects that clearly illustrate successful design outcomes, strategic contributions, and measurable impact on business objectives or user experience.

• Human-Centered Process: Detail the application of human-centered design principles, including research, ideation, prototyping, and testing phases, highlighting how user needs informed the final solution.

• Service Design & Co-creation: Provide examples of service design projects, demonstrating an ability to map complex service ecosystems, identify touchpoints, and facilitate co-creation workshops with stakeholders.

• Visualization & Storytelling: Include examples of visualizations, wireframes, prototypes, and presentations that effectively communicate design concepts, rationale, and strategic vision.

• Technology Integration: Showcase projects where technology was seamlessly integrated into the user experience, demonstrating an understanding of technical feasibility and application.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Highlight instances where you led design teams or collaborated effectively with cross-functional partners (technical, business) to deliver solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in designing and optimizing end-to-end user journeys and service blueprints, detailing how processes were mapped and improved.

• Co-creation Frameworks: Provide examples of frameworks or methodologies used to facilitate co-creation sessions with clients and internal teams, ensuring active participation and alignment.

• Prototyping & Simulation: Document the process of creating and utilizing prototypes (from low-fidelity sketches to high-fidelity interactive or simulated experiences) to validate concepts and gather feedback.

• Metrics & Measurement: Outline how the success of design interventions was measured, including any relevant KPIs or qualitative feedback mechanisms used to demonstrate value and ROI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are extensive, emphasizing not just the final output but the strategic process and collaborative approach. For a role like this, the portfolio must articulate how design thinking directly translates into viable business solutions and client value, a critical component for GTM strategies focused on innovation and client partnership.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Well-being Programs: Access to programs supporting mental, physical, social, and financial health.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for certifications with major cloud providers (Microsoft, Google, Amazon), ongoing learning, and career coaching.

• Hybrid Work Environment: Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to work on mission-critical technology systems and shape innovative solutions.

• Global Community: Connection to a global design community and diverse teams.

• Career Growth Pathways: Clear opportunities for career advancement and specialization within Kyndryl.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. However, the hybrid work arrangement and the nature of client-facing strategic roles may necessitate flexibility to meet project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior design leadership roles in India. Specific compensation will vary based on Kyndryl's internal grading, the candidate's precise experience, and negotiation. The listed benefits align with corporate offerings for senior positions, emphasizing well-being and professional growth, which are attractive to experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology Services & Consulting. Kyndryl operates at the forefront of mission-critical technology systems, providing essential services and driving innovation for global enterprises.

Company Size: Kyndryl is a large enterprise, employing tens of thousands of people globally. This scale offers stability, extensive resources, and broad career opportunities. For operations professionals, this means exposure to complex, large-scale projects and established processes, alongside opportunities to influence and shape evolving practices within specialized units like Kyndryl Vital.

Founded: Kyndryl was established in November 2021 as a spin-off from IBM's IT infrastructure services business. This relatively new independent identity means it's building its own culture and brand, with a focus on agility, innovation, and customer-centricity, especially within newer offerings like Kyndryl Vital.

Team Structure:

• Kyndryl Vital: This is a designer-led, global co-creation offering. The immediate team will be part of the Kyndryl Vital India unit, likely comprising a mix of design strategists, researchers, experience designers, and creative technologists.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role inherently requires close collaboration with Kyndryl's core technical experts, alliance partners, business leaders, and account management teams.

• Reporting: The Lead Experience Design Strategist will likely report to a senior leader within Kyndryl Vital India, potentially a Head of Design or a similar leadership role, with matrixed reporting or strong partnerships with global Kyndryl Vital leads.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: The core methodology, focusing on understanding and addressing user needs and business challenges.

• Co-creation: Engaging customers and stakeholders collaboratively to envision and build solutions.

• Systems Thinking: Analyzing complex interconnected systems to develop holistic solutions.

• Agile & Iterative: Employing flexible, iterative approaches to design and development, especially within the "startup mode" of Kyndryl Vital.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Kyndryl's recent establishment as an independent entity, combined with the specialized nature of Kyndryl Vital, suggests a dynamic environment where individuals can have significant influence. The company's focus on "running and reimagining mission-critical technology" positions Kyndryl Vital as a key innovation arm, directly impacting GTM by developing and articulating new service offerings and client solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role within the design and strategy domain, specifically focused on client-facing innovation and GTM enablement. It represents a high level of expertise and influence, requiring strategic vision, deep domain knowledge, and the ability to lead complex engagements. It is beyond a standard individual contributor role and implies leadership in shaping client solutions and internal practice.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the leadership of Kyndryl Vital India, likely a Director or VP level. There will be a strong need to collaborate upwards with global Kyndryl Vital leadership and outwards with various business units, technical teams, and account managers across Kyndryl.

Operations Impact: The "operations" aspect here is in how Kyndryl designs, articulates, and delivers its client services. This role directly impacts GTM by:

• Shaping Service Offerings: Co-creating solutions that form the basis of new or enhanced Kyndryl services.

• Client Engagement Strategy: Defining how Kyndryl engages with clients on complex challenges, influencing the sales cycle and partnership development.

• Value Proposition Articulation: Translating technical capabilities into compelling, human-centered value propositions that resonate with business leaders.

• Innovation Pipeline: Feeding new ideas and validated concepts into Kyndryl's innovation and business development pipeline.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into a leadership position within Kyndryl Vital, managing larger teams or expanding the practice in India.

• Global Practice Influence: Opportunity to shape global design strategies and methodologies for Kyndryl Vital.

• Client Relationship Management: Deepen relationships with key clients, becoming a trusted advisor.

• Specialization: Further develop expertise in specific industry verticals or emerging technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, sustainability).

• Cross-functional Leadership: Transition into broader strategic roles within Kyndryl, leveraging design thinking to drive business transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for GTM strategy execution by translating Kyndryl's technical capabilities into tangible, client-focused solutions that drive revenue and market differentiation. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path to leadership and strategic influence within a major IT services organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid-friendly," implying a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. The specific location mentioned, "Manyatha Embassy Business Park (INMANNZ) Non-SEZ," is a prominent business district in Bangalore, India, suggesting a modern, well-equipped office environment conducive to client meetings and team collaboration.

Office Location(s): Manyatha Embassy Business Park, Bangalore, India. This location is a hub for technology and business, offering accessibility and a professional setting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office space will likely be designed to facilitate collaborative work, including co-creation workshops, brainstorming sessions, and client presentations.

• Technology-Enabled: Expect access to advanced tools and technologies necessary for design, prototyping (including VR platforms), and presentations.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow designers, strategists, technologists, and business stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the hybrid nature and client-facing responsibilities suggest flexibility may be required. This could involve occasional evening work for international calls or extended hours during critical project phases or client pitches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model and the location in a major business park indicate a professional and modern work environment. For a role focused on GTM enablement through design, the ability to seamlessly switch between remote ideation and in-person client engagements or team workshops is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience alignment, and cultural fit, with a focus on understanding your portfolio and overall career trajectory.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a leader within Kyndryl Vital India) to explore your experience in leading design strategy, co-creation, and client engagements. Expect questions about your approach to ambiguity and systems thinking.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A crucial stage where you will present selected case studies from your portfolio. This will likely involve detailing the problem, your approach (methodologies used), your role, the collaborative process, the solution, and the impact. Be prepared to discuss your design rationale and how you translated technical capabilities into client value.

• Team/Peer Interviews: Meetings with other designers, strategists, or technologists on the team to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and fit within the Kyndryl Vital culture.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader (e.g., Head of Kyndryl Vital Global) to discuss strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with Kyndryl's overall business objectives.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 projects that best demonstrate your leadership in design strategy, human-centeredness, co-creation, and ability to translate complex technical challenges into tangible business solutions for clients.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate:

  • The Challenge: The client's business problem or opportunity.
  • Your Role & Team: Your specific responsibilities and the collaborative dynamics.
  • The Process: The methodologies (design thinking, service design, co-creation) and tools used.
  • The Solution: The visualized concepts, prototypes, or service blueprints developed.
  • The Impact: Quantifiable results or qualitative improvements achieved for the client and Kyndryl's GTM.

• Highlight GTM Relevance: Emphasize how your design work directly supported client acquisition, retention, or value articulation. Showcase how you bridged technical capabilities with client business needs.

• Showcase Visualization Skills: Be ready to walk through your visual artifacts (diagrams, wireframes, prototypes, presentations) and explain your design choices and rationale.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about how you handle ambiguity, manage stakeholders, lead teams, and integrate technical constraints into design solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design thinking or service design challenges, either as a take-home exercise or a live workshop simulation, focusing on a hypothetical client problem relevant to Kyndryl's services.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, demonstrating your ability to think strategically and collaboratively under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes the portfolio and the ability to articulate the strategic impact of design on client solutions and business outcomes. This is crucial for a role that bridges design innovation with GTM enablement, requiring candidates to demonstrate how their work drives client value and differentiates Kyndryl's offerings.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 2D Design & Visualization:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects for graphic design, illustration, motion graphics, and presentation materials.
  • Figma/Sketch/InVision: For collaborative UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system development.

• 3D Design & Modeling:

  • Rhino / SOLIDWORKS: For complex 3D modeling, product design, and visualization of physical or integrated experiences.

• Prototyping & Simulation:

  • VR Platforms: Experience with virtual reality environments for immersive prototyping and client demonstrations.
  • Rendering Programs: Tools for creating realistic visualizations of 3D models.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms can be helpful for contextualizing client business needs and understanding sales processes, though direct management is not expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is comprehensive, covering a wide range of tools from graphic design and 3D modeling to VR and simulation. Proficiency in these tools, especially Figma, Adobe Suite, and at least one 3D CAD tool, is essential. The ability to integrate these tools into a cohesive design and co-creation process is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs and the needs of Kyndryl's clients.

• Co-creation & Collaboration: Valuing collective intelligence, open communication, and working alongside clients and colleagues to build solutions.

• Innovation & Invention: A drive to push boundaries, explore new possibilities, and create breakthrough solutions.

• Impact & Purpose: Focusing on delivering meaningful outcomes that power human progress and drive business advantage for clients.

• Empathy & Belonging: Fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and valued, creating a strong sense of kinship.

• Restless Learning: A commitment to continuous personal and professional development, staying curious and adaptable.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamlessly working with technical experts, business leaders, and account teams to ensure solutions are desirable, viable, and feasible.

• Client Partnership: Engaging clients as active partners in the design and problem-solving process.

• Global Connectivity: Connecting with and contributing to the global Kyndryl Vital community, sharing knowledge and best practices.

• Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative improvement of processes and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a blend of innovation, client focus, and strong interpersonal values. For a GTM enablement role, this translates to a collaborative approach that builds trust with clients and internal stakeholders, driving successful adoption and execution of new service offerings.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The role operates in a dynamic "startup mode" within a large enterprise, requiring comfort with ill-defined problems and evolving processes.

• Bridging Worlds: Effectively translating complex technical capabilities (IT infrastructure, cloud services) into human-centered experiences and clear business value for diverse clients.

• Global Alignment: Ensuring consistency and effective knowledge sharing across geographically dispersed Kyndryl Vital teams while adapting to local market needs.

• Client Engagement at Scale: Managing multiple high-stakes client engagements simultaneously, each with unique challenges and stakeholders.

• Measuring Design Impact: Quantifying the value and ROI of design interventions, especially in the context of large-scale IT services.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Deepen expertise in specialized areas like service design, interaction design for complex systems, or emerging technology integration.

• Industry & Technology Certifications: Access to certifications from major technology partners (Microsoft, Google, Amazon) to enhance technical credibility.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities for formal leadership training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in managing teams and client relationships.

• Cross-Domain Exposure: Gain insights into Kyndryl's core IT services, business operations, and client industries, broadening your strategic perspective.

• Global Practice Contribution: Influence and shape the methodologies and best practices of a growing global design offering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in innovative, client-facing functions within large organizations. They present significant opportunities for growth, particularly in strategic leadership, client management, and shaping new service offerings for Kyndryl.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Problem Solving: "Describe a time you transformed an ambiguous, multi-faceted business problem into a clear, human-centered solution. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on systems thinking, user research, and visualization).

• Collaboration & Leadership: "How do you lead and influence diverse, cross-disciplinary teams (including technical experts and clients) through a co-creation process? Provide an example." (Highlight facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management).

• GTM Impact: "How have your design strategies directly contributed to a client's business objectives or a company's Go-To-Market efforts? Discuss a project where you translated technical capabilities into compelling client value." (Emphasize business acumen and ROI articulation).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Cultural Fit: "What does 'human-centered design' mean to you in the context of large-scale enterprise technology services?" and "How do you foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity within a design team?" (Align with Kyndryl's values of empathy and kinship).

• Adaptability: "Kyndryl Vital is in a 'startup mode.' How do you approach working in environments with ambiguity and evolving processes?" (Showcase your entrepreneurial mindset).

• Vision: "Where do you see the future of experience design in enterprise technology, particularly beyond the screen?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking and alignment with Kyndryl Vital's mission).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (challenge), middle (process & collaboration), and end (solution & impact).

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects, especially in relation to business outcomes (e.g., improved client engagement, efficiency gains, new revenue streams).

• Highlight GTM Connection: Explicitly link your design contributions to how they enable Kyndryl to win clients, articulate value, and deliver differentiated services.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Pixels: Walk through your thinking, your decision-making process, and how you collaborated with technical and business stakeholders.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions on your methodologies, tool choices, and specific design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation emphasizes demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to connect design outcomes directly to business value and GTM success. Candidates must be ready to articulate their process, rationale, and impact in a way that resonates with Kyndryl's focus on mission-critical technology and client solutions.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Experience Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the Kyndryl careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 3-5 projects that best exemplify your experience in leading human-centered design, service design, and co-creation for complex enterprise technology challenges. Emphasize projects that demonstrate direct impact on client business objectives or Kyndryl's GTM strategies.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 15+ years of experience, leadership in design strategy, proficiency with relevant tools (Figma, Adobe Suite, 3D CAD), and your ability to thrive in ambiguous, client-facing environments. Use keywords such as "Human-Centered Design," "Service Design," "Co-creation," "Systems Thinking," and "GTM Enablement."

• Prepare Your Narrative: Develop a compelling story for each portfolio piece, clearly outlining the business challenge, your strategic approach, your collaborative process, the solution, and measurable impact. Practice articulating how your design work translates technical capabilities into client value and supports Kyndryl's business development.

• Research Kyndryl Vital: Understand Kyndryl's mission, its focus on mission-critical technology, and the value proposition of Kyndryl Vital. Be ready to discuss how your skills and experience align with their goals and culture.

⚠️ 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.