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Design Thinking Consultant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hybrid standard in Charlotte, NC Our client seeks a Design Thinking Strategist IV to lead discovery ... For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision ...

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How much do design thinking consultant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for design thinking consultant in the United States is $29.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $31.25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Design Thinking Consultant?

A Design Thinking Consultant is a professional who helps organizations solve complex problems and innovate by applying the principles of design thinking. This human-centered approach encourages empathy, creativity, and collaboration to better understand user needs and develop effective solutions. Design Thinking Consultants typically facilitate workshops, guide teams through the design process, and help implement strategies that foster innovation and continuous improvement. They often work with diverse industries, including business, technology, education, and healthcare.

How does a Design Thinking Consultant typically facilitate collaboration between cross-functional teams during a project?

A Design Thinking Consultant plays a key role in bridging gaps between departments by organizing and leading workshops, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative activities that involve stakeholders from various backgrounds. They use structured frameworks and creative exercises to ensure that all voices are heard, encourage empathy for end users, and drive alignment on project goals. This collaborative approach often leads to innovative solutions that are more effectively tailored to user needs and business objectives. Consultants also document and communicate findings to keep everyone on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Design Thinking Consultant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Thinking Consultant, you need expertise in human-centered design, problem-solving, and facilitation, often supported by a degree in design, business, or a related field. Familiarity with prototyping tools, user research methods, and frameworks like the Double Diamond or Stanford d.school process is typically expected. Strong communication, empathy, and collaboration skills help consultants engage stakeholders and drive innovation. These skills are crucial for creating effective solutions and fostering a culture of creativity in client organizations.
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Infographic showing various Design Thinking Consultant job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,236 per year, or $29.4 per hour.

Senior Consultant - Design Thinking

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

About Rockwood:

Welcome to Rockwood Company, LLC - where innovation meets impact in the heart of the DC Metropolitan Area. As a rapidly growing, woman-owned change management consulting firm, we pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled value to our clients.

At Rockwood, we foster a team-oriented learning environment that encourages our consultants to push boundaries and reach new heights. The work we do is impactful and our clients are trusted partners. Our consultants take ownership of their success and partner with leadership to achieve their professional development goals and our clients' mission outcomes.

About the Position:

Our Design Thinking Consultants use human-centered design methodologies to help clients solve complex business, organizational, and operational challenges. They partner with clients to advise, and train leaders and teams on design thinking frameworks, enabling them to develop innovative, practical, and human-centered solutions. Design Thinking consultants lead the design and delivery of client engagements by managing project teams, applying design thinking methodologies, and ensuring project outcomes meet client goals.

Responsibilities may include:

  • Apply design thinking and human-centered design methodologies to solve complex organizational, operational, workforce, and mission challenges.
  • Advise clients and project teams on applying design thinking frameworks and methodologies within their organizations.
  • Lead project teams through effective planning and execution, including defining project approaches, assigning roles and responsibilities, managing team performance, monitoring progress, mitigating risks, and coordinating client needs and decisions.
  • Efficiently design, develop, and produce high-quality deliverables using proven change management methodologies and frameworks.
  • Lead data collection and analysis efforts (e.g., interviews, surveys, empathy mapping, persona creation, or other quantitative and qualitative data collection/analysis) and stakeholder engagement activities.
  • Plan and facilitate design thinking workshops, innovation sessions, strategic planning events, customer journey mapping, and collaborative working groups.
  • Conduct outstanding analyses and write concise reports to synthesize the outputs of offsites and assessments.
  • Support proposal development, thought leadership, innovation initiatives, and business development efforts.
  • Develop relationships with clients and stakeholders to support project outcomes and inform follow-on work or new work opportunities.
  • Identify future needs of existing clients (beyond current project outcomes) and work with Rockwood leadership to develop approaches for securing work.
  • Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development guidance to junior consultants, fostering their growth and consulting capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

  • Must currently hold an active DoW Secret clearance or higher.
  • Six (6) plus years as an external management consultant.
  • Bachelor's degree in Organizational Development, Human-Centered Design, Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Organizational Leadership or a related field.
  • Design Thinking training from a recognized organization (e.g., LUMA Institute, IDEO U, Design Thinkers Academy, or equivalent).
  • Experience applying design thinking methodologies to solve organizational, strategic, operational, or business challenges.
  • Experience coaching, mentoring, and training individuals and teams on design thinking frameworks and facilitation techniques.
  • Proven experience developing project approaches, designing critical paths, and defining and measuring success criteria.
  • Experience leading complex projects; prior experience leading strategy development, organizational design, and workforce readiness alignment sessions.
  • Strong project management skills and ability to coordinate multiple engagements simultaneously and prioritize demands.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking with an innate ability to solve complex problems creatively.
  • Experience with federal government agencies or DoW organizations.
  • Willingness to commute regularly to client locations in and around the Washington Metropolitan area; occasional travel outside of the Washington, D.C. area may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Holds an active Top Secret Clearance with SCI.
  • Master's degree.
  • Certification in change management or Lean-Six Sigma.
  • Business development experience in a consulting environment, including supporting capture efforts, contributing to proposals, and cultivating client relationships to expand engagement opportunities.

Our Unique Benefits:

  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
  • Employee Funded Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Unlimited Sick Leave
  • Generous Paid Vacation Time and Eight (8) Federal Holidays, and one (1) floating holiday
  • 401(k) Retirement Program, Rockwood provides a 100% match on employees contributions, up to 4% of their salary deferrals
  • Employer-Paid Parental Leave
  • Employer-Paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance and AD&D
  • Continuous Learning and Tuition Reimbursement
  • Bonuses and incentives for high-impact work
  • Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement
  • Monthly Internet Reimbursement
  • Monthly Wellness Reimbursement
  • Company Teambuilding Events (i.e.: Nationals Games, Bowling, and more)

Salary Range:

The annual salary range for this position is $100,000 - $150,000.00. Your salary may vary within this range depending on a wide range of factors, including (but not limited to) your qualifications, skills, experience, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

EOE/Vets/Disabled