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Design Thinking Strategist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Eaton

Design Thinking Co-Op

PA · On-site

$19.38 - $34/hr

Essential Functions: • Listen to strategy conversations and provide input to problem solving and ... The design thinking team is highly collaborative with lots of opportunity to work with other design ...

Product Ventures

Design Strategist

Fairfield, CT · On-site

$123.90K - $160.10K/yr

We are looking for a Design Strategist, with a specialization in design thinking and consumer research, to join our interdisciplinary team. This influential role is to provide strategic guidance for ...

Product Ventures

Design Strategist

Fairfield, CT · On-site

$123.90K - $160.10K/yr

We are looking for a Design Strategist, with a specialization in design thinking and consumer research, to join our interdisciplinary team. This influential role is to provide strategic guidance for ...

Product Ventures

Design Strategist

Fairfield, CT

$123.90K - $160.10K/yr

We are looking for a Design Strategist, with a specialization in design thinking and consumer research, to join our interdisciplinary team. This influential role is to provide strategic guidance for ...

IA Interior Architects

Strategist

Seattle, WA · On-site

$138.30K - $178.70K/yr

... design thinking. We work together to facilitate a more sustainable and inclusive experience, inspiring meaningful change for clients that harmonizes people and place. We are looking for a Strategist ...

IA Interior Architects

Strategist

Seattle, WA · On-site

$138.30K - $178.70K/yr

... design thinking. We work together to facilitate a more sustainable and inclusive experience, inspiring meaningful change for clients that harmonizes people and place. We are looking for a Strategist ...

Kimball International

Design Strategist

Jasper, IN · On-site

$73.20K - $84.30K/yr

Lead cocreation sessions while using a design thinking mindset. * Assists with identifying and ... Design Strategist team. * Coach sales team, dealers, and outsource specifiers on product ...

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Design Thinking Strategist information

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$29.5K

$92.1K

$136K

How much do design thinking strategist jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for design thinking strategist in the United States is $92,126.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,000.00 and $94,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Design Thinking Strategist, you need a deep understanding of user-centered design, problem-solving techniques, and a background in fields like design, business, or innovation. Familiarity with tools such as Miro, Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping platforms, as well as certifications like IDEO or LUMA, is often expected. Exceptional communication, facilitation, and empathy are critical soft skills for guiding teams and stakeholders through creative processes. These capabilities ensure effective collaboration, innovative solutions, and alignment with user needs, driving successful project outcomes.

How does a Design Thinking Strategist typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation?

A Design Thinking Strategist works closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, marketers, and user researchers, to facilitate creative problem-solving and user-centered design processes. They often lead workshops, guide brainstorming sessions, and help teams empathize with end-users to identify unmet needs. By fostering open communication and encouraging diverse perspectives, they ensure solutions are both innovative and aligned with business goals. This collaborative approach not only enhances team synergy but also increases the likelihood of delivering impactful, user-driven products and services.

What is a Design Thinking Strategist?

A Design Thinking Strategist is a professional who applies design thinking methodologies to solve complex business challenges and foster innovation. They lead teams through structured processes—such as empathy mapping, ideation, prototyping, and testing—to create user-centered solutions. Their role combines creativity, strategic planning, and collaboration to drive organizational change and improve products, services, or processes. Design Thinking Strategists often facilitate workshops, guide cross-functional teams, and ensure that solutions are both desirable for users and feasible for the business.

What is the difference between Design Thinking Strategist vs User Experience Designer?

AspectDesign Thinking StrategistUser Experience Designer
Primary FocusApplying design thinking methodologies to develop innovative solutions and strategiesDesigning and improving user interfaces and experiences for digital products
Skills & CertificationsDesign thinking, strategic planning, problem-solving, workshops facilitationUser research, wireframing, prototyping, UI/UX tools
Work EnvironmentCross-functional teams, strategic planning sessions, workshopsDesign studios, product teams, digital agencies
Industry UsageConsulting firms, innovation labs, corporate strategy departmentsTech companies, digital agencies, product companies

The main difference is that a Design Thinking Strategist focuses on applying design thinking principles to develop innovative strategies across various projects, while a User Experience Designer concentrates on creating and optimizing user interfaces and experiences for digital products. Both roles require creative problem-solving skills, but their core responsibilities and work environments differ.

More about Design Thinking Strategist jobs
What cities are hiring for Design Thinking Strategist jobs? Cities with the most Design Thinking Strategist job openings:
What states have the most Design Thinking Strategist jobs? States with the most job openings for Design Thinking Strategist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Design Thinking Strategist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Design Thinking Strategist jobs are:
Design Thinking Strategist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Thinking Strategist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 81% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 7% Physical, and 93% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,126 per year, or $44.3 per hour.
Design Thinking Strategist -- Charlotte NC (Hybrid)

Design Thinking Strategist -- Charlotte NC (Hybrid)

smart folks inc

Charlotte, NC • On-site

$60 - $70/hr

Contractor

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Hi  

Greetings from Smart Folks…!!!

My name is Kumar we have a job opportunity for you as Design Thinking Strategist one of our client based at Charlotte NC find the Job description below, if you are available and interested, please send us your word copy of your resume with following detail to  Or please call me on 469 888 5467 to discuss more about this position.  

Job Title: Design Thinking Strategist

Location:  Charlotte NC

Duration: 12+ Months

Start Date: ASAP

Required Qualifications

  • 4-6 years of experience within at least 1 of the following: design thinking facilitation, user research activities & implementation, human-centered value-driven prioritization techniques.
  • Proficient public speaking skills, written and verbal communication.
  • Education/Degree - Graduation from a four-year college or university.
  • Strong facilitation skills.
  • Openness, approachability, collaborative nature, and enjoyment working with passionate people.
  • A learner mindset - naturally curious to learn more.

Related Experience:

  • Experience supporting a product team through research, problem identification, value mapping, solution definition, prototyping and testing.
  • Experience planning and conducting the appropriate user research studies, synthesizing findings, and packaging actionable next steps from key insights, mapping research findings back to business value.
  • Experience collaborating with other experts including product leads, UX designers, Business Analysts, Engineers, Developers, and Researchers.
  • Experience working in ambiguous multi-faceted problem spaces, helping business partners bring clarity to opportunity areas and priorities.

Day to Day:

90%: Delivering Human-Centered Design

As a Design Thinking Strategist, you will be expected to support the intake process to identify the business needs, desired outcomes, and identify the appropriate design strategy services needed.

  • Services that you will be expected to deliver may include but are not limited to design thinking workshop planning and facilitation, user research strategy and implementation, and general consulting.
  • Pair with experienced subject matter experts from across IT to achieve project goals and deliver business results.
  • Work with product teams and clients to deliver valuable outcomes by facilitating collaborative human-centered design workshops, events, and activities.
  • Partner to facilitate teams through aspects of the human-centered design process such as stakeholder analysis, problem framing, value definition, user research, UX, opportunity prioritization, assumption mapping, light prototyping and storytelling.
  • Proactively manage assumptions, dependencies, and risks.
  • Support the product teams and influence clients to maintain focus on the evidence-based customer needs.
  • Package and communicate findings and design decisions to team leads and business stakeholders, along with clear actions and next steps.
  • Demonstrate and encourage an environment that supports an organizational core value of safety, integrity, ethics, and customer mindset.

PLEASE PROVIDE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (required to include per the manager)

  • At least 1 of the following:
    • design thinking facilitation
    • user research activities & implementation
    • human-centered value-driven prioritization techniques
  • Education/Degree -
  • Experience supporting a product team through research, problem identification, value mapping, solution definition, prototyping and testing.
  • Experience planning and conducting the appropriate user research studies/findings
  • Collaborating with product leads, UX designers, Engineers, Developers, and Researchers

If you are interested in the position, please fill the details:  

Full Name

Contact Number 

Email Id 

DOB (MMDD) 

Current location 

Visa status 

Relocation 

Availability for new project  

Interview Availability

Highest degree / Completion Year 

LinkedIn Id

Rate 

Shravan Kumar Kataboina

Team Lead – Talent Acquisition
E-mail: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shravan-kumar-68452513a/

 

A: 

McKinney, Texas (USA. INDIA. Mexico, UK)

P: 

(+1) 469-888-5467 Ext - 104 F: (940) 461-5979

 

 

Smart Folks Inc (A Certified MBE & WBE): Work with the folks, Who are Smart

 
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About Smart Folks

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Smart Folks Inc. (SFI) is a global IT Staff Augmentation and Consulting Services that discovers handpicked smart talent and routes them to the right path. Smart Folks Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in McKinney, Texas. We have global operations with localized detail to meet the high caliber needs of our clients.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

McKinney, TX, US

Year founded

2011

Social media

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