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Strategic Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

They understand how to translate those strategies into testable prototypes and evaluate them ... They pollinate design thinking within the organization through practical design methodologies ...

Leads strategic design program management and creative operations to drive performance, brand consistency, and business impact. This role bridges high-level operational excellence with hands-on ...

They understand how to translate those strategies into testable prototypes and evaluate them ... They pollinate design thinking within the organization through practical design methodologies ...

They understand how to translate those strategies into testable prototypes and evaluate them ... They pollinate design thinking within the organization through practical design methodologies ...

Leads strategic design program management and creative operations to drive performance, brand consistency, and business impact. This role bridges high-level operational excellence with hands-on ...

Design Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$125K - $155K/yr

This role embraces sound business strategy to ensure design solutions align with project goals and client value. Responsibilities Leadership Responsibilities * Define and champion the design ...

Sr. Director, Design

El Segundo, CA · Hybrid

$170K - $220K/yr

You will own the creative and strategic design agenda, managing and mentoring a high-performing team while collaborating with cross-functional executives to drive innovation, margin, and market share.

Sr. Director, Design

El Segundo, CA · Hybrid

$170K - $220K/yr

You will own the creative and strategic design agenda, managing and mentoring a high-performing team while collaborating with cross-functional executives to drive innovation, margin, and market share.

Sr. Director, Product Design

New York, NY · On-site

$169K - $208K/yr

Translate insights from qualitative research and strategic design into clear, engaging, and actionable product design - actively shaping user-centered concepts, systems, and interaction models that ...

This role embraces sound business strategy to ensure design solutions align with project goals and client value. Responsibilities Leadership Responsibilities * Define and champion the design ...

Sr. Director, Product Design

New York, NY · On-site

$203K - $265K/yr

Translate insights from qualitative research and strategic design into clear, engaging, and actionable product design - actively shaping user-centered concepts, systems, and interaction models that ...

Sr. Director, Product Design

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$170K - $210K/yr

Translate insights from qualitative research and strategic design into clear, engaging, and actionable product design - actively shaping user-centered concepts, systems, and interaction models that ...

This role combines strategic vision with hands-on execution-fostering human-centered design, guiding creative and brand strategy, interpreting customer feedback and user insights, and enabling modern ...

Sr. Director, Design

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

You will own the creative and strategic design agenda, managing and mentoring a high-performing team while collaborating with cross-functional executives to drive innovation, margin, and market share.

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Strategic Design information

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$37K

$119K

$189K

How much do strategic design jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic design in the United States is $119,028.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,000.00 and $149,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Strategic Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Strategic Designer, you need a strong foundation in design thinking, business strategy, and user research, often supported by a degree in design, business, or related fields. Proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro, and familiarity with frameworks such as Lean Startup or Agile is typical. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills help in aligning multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. These skills ensure that innovative, user-centered solutions are developed and successfully integrated with organizational goals.

What is strategic design?

Strategic design is the practice of using design principles to solve complex business challenges and shape organizational strategy. It goes beyond traditional design by integrating research, creative thinking, and business objectives to create solutions that align with a company's long-term goals. Strategic designers work collaboratively across disciplines to innovate processes, products, services, and systems, helping companies adapt to change and remain competitive. This approach often involves user-centered research, prototyping, and testing to ensure that solutions are both practical and effective.

What is the difference between Strategic Design vs User Experience Designer?

AspectStrategic DesignUser Experience Designer
FocusHolistic business and brand strategy, aligning design with organizational goalsDesigning user interfaces and interactions to enhance user satisfaction
SkillsDesign thinking, business strategy, branding, researchWireframing, prototyping, user research, usability testing
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with marketing, branding, and product teamsWorks closely with developers, product managers, and users
CertificationsDesign thinking, strategic planning, UX certificationsUX certifications, UI design courses

While both roles involve design, Strategic Design focuses on aligning design with business strategy and brand goals, whereas User Experience Designers concentrate on creating intuitive and satisfying user interfaces. Understanding these differences helps organizations assign the right roles for their project needs.

How does a Strategic Designer typically collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams during a project?

Strategic Designers often work closely with a variety of stakeholders, including product managers, engineers, marketers, and executives, to align design solutions with business objectives. They facilitate workshops, lead design sprints, and use research-driven insights to ensure everyone has a shared understanding of project goals. Effective communication and the ability to synthesize diverse perspectives are crucial, as Strategic Designers act as a bridge between creative and business teams. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and ensures that proposed solutions are both user-centered and strategically viable.
More about Strategic Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Strategic Design jobs? Cities with the most Strategic Design job openings:
What states have the most Strategic Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Strategic Design jobs include:
Infographic showing various Strategic Design job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,028 per year, or $57.2 per hour.
Innovation Design Senior Manager

Innovation Design Senior Manager

PepsiCo

Manhattan, NY

$123K - $206K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


PepsiCo rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 841 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

126th of 380 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Director, Global Design Innovation, the Senior Innovation Design Manager works in collaboration with cross functional team members to effectively develop and deliver business & design strategies and compelling designed experiences (brand, product, packaging, retail, merchandising) that have strategic business value.

Seasoned Innovation & Design Thinking Practitioner: The Design Innovation Senior Manager is responsible for the delivery of effective design thinking & innovation projects for PepsiCo's businesses.  Successful candidates will demonstrate superior ability to partner with teams in delivering strategies that can identify new opportunities, new products, and new experience that deliver against business goals.  They understand how to translate those strategies into testable prototypes and evaluate them against desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability.  They are adept at managing highly complex assignments and concurrent initiatives across varied project types.  They are driven to 'crack the code' on corporate innovation.

They are comfortable managing the ambiguity, inherent in innovation & design processes. The Senior Manager understands innovation & design methodologies (tools, techniques) and can provide input into innovation & design proposals, in order to execute against creative engagements and visualize the desired creative output.

They understand and are expert at design thinking, which underpins all our engagements. They pollinate design thinking within the organization through practical design methodologies, solving complex business problems and uncovering transformation opportunities to help brands & regional businesses get the most out of their resources. They apply design thinking broadly - thinking about the needs across the entire system - consumers, customers, business, supply chain, manufacturing, environment.

Strategic Project Manager & Collaborator: Working on projects that have critical business significance you will demonstrate the agility to lead strategy, planning, project management. You will be familiar with working in a multi-disciplinary environment, leading interdisciplinary teams.

Partnering with the Design Innovation Director and working alongside the cross functional innovation team, they are expected to lead projects and engage with a variety of stakeholders to get input and assess options. They work across all aspects of strategic design development leading opportunity identification projects to design strategies for new brands or product opportunities. They will synthesize research and business needs to ensure identified opportunities & design strategies result in sustainable growth and returns for the business.

  • Be a great practitioner & coach
  • Champion design thinking across the organization, educating while collaborating
  • Draw on diverse perspectives to solve design problems and drive effective solutions
  • Articulate design vision through prototyping, scenario modeling, strategic roadmaps, etc.
  • Collaborate closely with researchers, marketers, media teams to cross-pollinate ideas, methods, and approaches
  • Build and evolve methodologies, nurture the maturity of the design & innovation capabilities
  • Provide mentorship and support the professional development to junior team members
  • Work collaboratively to build relationships and get things done through formal and informal channels
  • Proven ability to incorporate research (including primary and secondary research) in strategic design processes

Compensation and Benefits:

  • The expected compensation range for this position is between $123,500 - $206,750.
  • Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
  • Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 15% of annual salary paid out annually.
  • Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
  • In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.
Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of experience, with a minimum of 6 years (recent) in a strategic design role
  • Bachelors degree in Product Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Engineering, and/or Business or equivalent years of experience
  • MBA preferred but not required

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in Brand Strategy, Design Strategy, Innovation & Product Development.
  • Proven track record of strong leadership, team management skills and a strategic acumen
  • Superior project management and design management skills; attention to detail
  • Compelling presentation and proposal skills
  • Proven ability to multi-task, work in ambiguous and dynamic work environment; is comfortable with risk and uncertainty
  • Must be willing and able to travel 20% of the time
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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

Please view our Pay Transparency Statement

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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About PepsiCo

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Industry

Food and drink manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Purchase, NY, US

Year founded

1965