Design Strategy Lead

Our practice in New York is growing and we are looking for workplace and design strategists to focus on our broad range of services including workplace strategy, experience strategy, real estate portfolio strategy, change management, and design guidelines. We are looking for emerging leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit who will help us develop and strengthen our client relationships and evolve our practice in its use of data analytics and digital tools.

Your Role

As a Lead Strategist, you will lead a multi-disciplinary team working closely with some of the most innovative companies across a wide range of data driven projects from imagining the future of work to optimizing global real estate portfolios. You’ll define the project approach and process from designing the methodologies for research and data analysis to the approach for engaging stakeholders and the client on getting input, developing solutions, and assessing options. You will be responsible for leading the analysis and content creation, encouraging and supporting original thinking of the team, ensuring the quality of the insights and recommendations, and developing the overall project narrative.

What You Will Do

• Lead project delivery and content creation including
  • Analyze quantitative data from multiple sources using leading digital tools and software and translate findings into meaningful insights for our clients.
  • Plan and perform user research and data collection activities, as well as create and help facilitate engaging stakeholder workshops.
  • Develop and illustrate a range of relevant strategies for user experience, workplace, portfolio, and service and operational models that meet client objectives and can articulate trade-offs.
  • Translate complex analysis and recommendations into clear and compelling narratives through a variety of traditional, i.e. presentations, and interactive formats, such as dashboards.
• Team Leadership
  • Encourage and support original thinking by the team.
  • Provide day-to-day direction, ongoing feedback to team members, and maintain the strategic direction and expectations set by Strategy and Project Director.
  • Work closely with Strategy and Project Managers to ensure client satisfaction and project profitability.
  • Collaborate with Gensler design studios to ensure the seamless transition from strategy to design.
• Client Relationships
  • Lead and facilitate client engagements with Strategy Directors.
  • Become a trusted advisor to clients by learning their business, culture and desired outcomes.
• Business Development
  • Identify opportunities to grow the practice through engagements with new and existing clients, bringing potential business leads to Studio Leadership.
  • Support the development of proposals that clearly articulate process, scope, and fee.
  • Develop pitch materials with internal teams and participate in presentations.

Your Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Undergraduate or master’s degree in architecture, interior design, environmental design, urban design, real estate, design strategy, organizational development, organizational psychology, or similar fields.
• Proficient with data analysis , visualization and management including workplace performance data and survey data.
• Excellent communicator and storyteller including writing and presenting persuasively as well as visualizing complex information.
• Enthusiastic collaborator able to successfully work with multiple disciplines.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and move projects forward successfully that can be ambiguous and continue to evolve.
• Expertise in relevant software including Adobe Creative Suite, Office 365, and digital collaboration as well as data analysis tools such as Excel with Power Query, Power BI, and Google Sheets with App Script.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating excellent command of fundamental communication design including composition, information graphics, and persuasive writing.

To be considered - Please include 2-3 project examples and a cover letter with your submission.

The base salary range will be estimated between $100k-130k plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for