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Design Thinking Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Innovation Lab Strategist

Washington, DC · On-site

$137K - $177K/yr

Job duties and responsibilities Contribute to the Innovation Lab's vision by applying design thinking methods within the law firm context Execute innovation projects from planning through ...

Graphic Design Tutor

Rockville, MD · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Graphic Design Tutor

Laurel, MD · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Graphic Design Tutor

Fairfax, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Graphic Design Tutor

Leesburg, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Graphic Design Tutor

Bowie, MD · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Ability to explain design thinking process, grid systems, and visual communication theory while preparing students for design careers and portfolio development. * Conceptual Teaching & Problem ...

Web Design Specialist - 3648212

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

$108K - $108K/yr

Leads sessions with clients that include design-thinking principles to identify the content relevant to different user goals and desired outcomes. * Curates large amounts of content and sections it ...

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Design Thinking information

See Washington, DC salary details

$60.6K

$131.4K

$169.3K

How much do design thinking jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for design thinking in Washington, DC is $131,399.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,900.00 and $131,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a design thinking?

A Design Thinking job involves applying human-centered design principles to solve complex problems creatively and collaboratively. Professionals in this role use empathy, ideation, prototyping, and iterative testing to develop innovative solutions in various industries. They often work in roles such as UX designers, product managers, or innovation strategists, helping organizations create user-friendly products or services. These roles require strong problem-solving, collaboration, and customer research skills.

What are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in a design thinking role?

In a Design Thinking role, your daily responsibilities may involve facilitating workshops, conducting user research, and synthesizing insights to define problems clearly. You’ll often collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including product managers, engineers, and marketing staff—to ideate and prototype potential solutions. Preparing and presenting findings or prototypes to stakeholders and iterating on feedback are also common tasks. This hands-on, interactive environment encourages continuous learning and creative problem solving while keeping the user's needs at the center of every project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a design thinking position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Design Thinking role, you need a solid understanding of user-centered design principles, problem-solving abilities, and often a background in design, business, or related fields. Familiarity with prototyping software (such as Figma or Sketch), collaborative tools (like Miro or MURAL), and, in some cases, Design Thinking certification can be advantageous. Exceptional communication, facilitation, and empathy help professionals engage stakeholders and foster creative collaboration. These skills are essential for effectively guiding teams through innovation processes and delivering human-centered solutions.

What careers use design thinking?

Design thinking is used in a variety of careers including product design, user experience (UX) design, innovation consulting, and service design. Professionals in these fields apply human-centered problem-solving methods to develop creative solutions, often utilizing tools like prototyping and user research to improve products, services, and processes.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC are:

What are popular job titles related to Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC?

For Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Thinking jobs in Washington, DC are:

Infographic showing various Design Thinking job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,399 per year, or $63.2 per hour.

Senior Consultant - Design Thinking

Rockwood Company

Washington, DC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 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 insuranceEmployee Funded Health Savings Account (HSA)Unlimited Sick LeaveGenerous Paid Vacation Time and Eight (8) Federal Holidays, and one (1) floating holiday401(k) Retirement Program, Rockwood provides a 100% match on employees contributions, up to 4% of their salary deferralsEmployer-Paid Parental LeaveEmployer-Paid Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance and AD&DContinuous Learning and Tuition ReimbursementBonuses and incentives for high-impact workMonthly Cell Phone ReimbursementMonthly Internet ReimbursementMonthly Wellness ReimbursementCompany 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