Location: We are actively hiring in select geo-flexible (remote) locations. Candidates across the U.S. are encouraged to apply.
Who We Are: LINK is a fast-growing Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) that leverages human-centered design to support strategy, innovation, communication, change, and branding within the federal government and adjacent industry partners. At LINK, we partner with engineers, futurists, and thought leaders to untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly with visual stories.
Let us be your partners in change.
About the Opportunity:
LINK is actively seeking a Director, Design Strategy Manager to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries. In partnership with the VP of Brand & Design Strategy, you will be responsible for leading and executing innovative design strategies while managing a high performing design strategy team.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to bring a blend of creative vision, team leadership, and strategic expertise to elevate LINK’s business growth and deliver high-quality, human-centered design solutions. In this role, you will lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team—guiding their development, fostering a collaborative culture, and ensuring the delivery of impactful design work. You’ll also work closely with clients to understand their challenges, craft compelling narratives, and implement design strategies that align with their mission, goals, and brand identity. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record of designing impactful visual experiences, utilizing data-driven insights, and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver exceptional client results.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in design strategy or related fields, with a strong emphasis on people leadership—managing and developing medium to large-sized teams, fostering talent, and building high-performing, collaborative environments
- Bachelor’s degree in Design, Communications, Sociology, Psychology, or a related discipline
- Deep expertise in human-centered design and design thinking, with a track record of turning insights into compelling visual stories and strategic outcomes
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with HR and key organizational stakeholders to align design strategy with broader business and workforce goals
- Broad experience across multiple design disciplines—such as service design, experience design, brand development, information design, and graphic design—with the ability to recommend and apply the most effective approach for each project
- Skilled in planning and facilitating design thinking workshops and interactive research sessions with executive leaders and cross-functional teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to engage effectively with clients, partners, and internal teams
Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and mentor a high-performing Design Strategy team.
- Provide regular constructive feedback and career development through one-on-ones and performance reviews.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture aligned with LINK’s values and growth goals.
- Set clear goals and expectations; support team development based on individual strengths.
- Manage successful implementation of and ROI on our Learning and Development program for all strategists.
- Work directly with the VP of Brand & Design Strategy to continuously assess and improve employee experience and competency health.
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Collaborate with other Directors, VPs, and the Executive Leadership team to foster a positive employee culture.
- Partner with People/HR to recruit top-tier, diverse talent and support a strong candidate experience.
- Anticipate future talent needs and build a strategic hiring pipeline.
- Contribute to refining hiring processes to support organizational growth.
- Cultivate and maintain strong internal and external relationships and identify additional business opportunities.
Design Strategy Expertise
- Advancing Human-Centered Design (HCD) by leading client meetings and visioning sessions
- Designing and facilitating HCD workshops and research activities, including primary research mechanisms
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships
- Working iteratively by proactively seeking feedback from internal teams and clients to enhance solutions
- Managing project deadlines and balancing workloads effectively
Work Schedule:
- Full time, 40 hours per week
- Some travel required to meet with prospects/clients, attend relevant events and conferences, and participate in LINK team events
Salary
We're committed to offering competitive compensation. While the salary range for this position is $140,000-$150,000, your final offer may be adjusted based on factors like experience and location.
Benefits:
- $100 monthly internet/cell phone stipend
- Healthcare reimbursement up to $450/month for the individual employee premium
- Company-paid Short Term Disability Insurance
- 401K with employer contribution of up to 4%
- 11 Federal Holidays per year
- 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year
- 5 days of 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, prorated based on start date
- Technology package that includes a LINK-owned MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse and keyboard
EOE
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