Design Strategist - Senior

Description:

At Gensler, we design for people. We leverage our global perspective and local presence to innovate at every scale. We’re not just designers. We’re tinkerers, craftspeople, visionaries, innovators and thought leaders. Fueled by passion and entrepreneurial spirit, our people bring new ideas to solve challenging problems. Whether you’re into sketching new ideas, hacking a building or growing client relationships in global markets, there’s something here for everyone.

Our depth of expertise spans disciplines—from aviation and transportation to education, hospitality, retail, technology and more. At our core we embody an entrepreneurial spirit, always looking ahead for new ways to innovate and add to our clients' success. We share the belief that design has the power to transform organizations and change lives; whether we’re refreshing a retailer’s brand, planning a new urban district or designing a super tall building.

Our work reflects an enduring commitment to sustainability, and we believe that a diversity of voices and cultures is one of the most powerful strategic tools for securing lasting competitive advantage.

As the world’s largest design firm, Gensler has a unique obligation and opportunity to focus on sustainability in the built environment. We deepened our commitment to combat the impact on climate change in the built environment when we launched Gensler Cities Climate Challenge (GC3) in 2019. This is our pledge to meet an ambitious goal: the elimination of all greenhouse gases from our work by 2030.

Your Role

As a Senior Design Strategist, you will be a core member of our multi-disciplinary teams working with a wide range of clients across industries and sectors to evaluate their current conditions, define their goals, and develop integrated strategies for how their environment, technology, policies, and services can support their objectives. Projects span a wide range of scales, from pilot projects that test new ideas to global strategies and programs. You’ll manage project teams and the process to conduct rigorous research efforts, synthesize data and feedback into meaningful insights, and develop innovative future state concepts and solutions. Working with your teams, you’ll help guide the engagement with our client’s stakeholders to get input, co-develop solutions, and assess options.

What You Will Do

On projects, you will:

• Lead projects, responsible for content creation and directing the team with guidance from Design Directors/Practice Area Lead
• Encourage and support original thinking
• Plan and perform user research and data collection activities
• Design and support engaging workshops with internal teams, clients, and other stakeholders
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources to determine impact on business goals, organizational culture, or performance criteria for spatial design
• Guide the synthesis of information and data into meaningful insights and narratives told through presentations, reports, posters, videos, websites, etc
• Articulate and represent scenarios (with plans, data, feedback, relevant precedents, etc) to illustrate a range of relevant solutions (e.g. design concepts, work styles, program, service models, etc) based on the research that meet the client’s objects and expresses the tradeoffs associated each option
• Use interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration to ground all ideas in research insights and design constraints
• Define and develop concepts and prototypes of experiences, programs, services, and spaces to test with users and stakeholders
• Provide day-to-day direction, ongoing feedback to team members, and maintains the strategic direction and expectations set by Design Director/Practice Area Lead
• Work closely with the Design Director/Practice Area Lead to ensure project success.
• Manage day-to-day operations for projects including staffing, fee tracking and forecasting, and client meetings
• Support the interface with Gensler design studios to ensure the seamless transition of design strategy into the design implementation phase

With clients, you will:

• Lead and facilitate client presentations and meetings with Design Director/Practice Area Lead
• Focus on learning their business, culture and desired outcomes
• Share relevant precedents for context and inspiration
• Assist in building client relationships as a trusted advisor

As a business developer and thought leader, you will:

• Identify opportunities to grow the practice through engagements with new and existing clients, bringing potential business leads to Studio Leadership
• Support the development of proposals that clearly articulate process, scope, and compensation
• Develop pitch materials with internal teams and participate in presentations
• Mentor future Strategy Leads, along with others in the Studio

In general, you will:

• Support and be involved in project works across practice areas/typologies where your skillset is relevant
• Be an advocate for Gensler sustainability commitments internally and externally.
• Make sustainability an integral part of every project.
• Define project sustainability targets in collaboration with the client and the project team at the start of each project.
• Understand clients ESG goals and work with project teams towards achieving them.
• Support and encourage team members to pursue sustainability learning.
• Contribute to office initiatives, activities and learning program

Your Qualifications

Who You Are – You’re passionate about the built environment and its impact on individuals and organizations. You...

• are a self starter and quick learner

• thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and open environment

• have the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously

• have excellent organizational and time management skills

• can drive accountability and clear structure on projects that may have vague parameters or frequently change/evolve

• are a natural at connecting with people

• are a quick tactical thinker, able to see the big picture and chart a path forward

• are a clear communicator and presenter of ideas, findings and/or point of view

• are an enthusiastic collaborator and are able to work successfully with a range of other disciplines

• are familiar with research methodologies and activities and the design process

• are a strong and persuasive writer, able to clearly and succinctly describe work process, options for consideration, findings, recommendations, communications, memos, etc.

• are driven by curiosity and action with acute attention to detail

Your background and experience:

• 8-15 years of relevant professional experience

• Undergraduate or master’s degree in a relevant field

• Experience in any of the following fields is a plus – social science, architecture, interior design, environmental design, urban design, real estate, design strategy, organizational development, or organizational psychology is a plus

• Demonstrated experience as project manager, leading consulting/strategy engagements

• Strong team management, client relationship and account management experience

• Familiarity reviewing and responding to RFQs and RFPs

• Experience negotiating project scope, fees, managing project financial performance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for projects

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign required), and Microsoft Office 365 (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook), and other visual communication tools

• Fluency with digital collaboration tools such as Miro, Mural, Microsoft Teams etc.

Life at Gensler

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life.

As part of the firm’s commitment to professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional qualifications and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programmes or classes. We view our professional development programmes as strategic investments in our future.

Gensler is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community. If you would like to be considered for employment opportunities with Gensler and you are a person with health conditions or impairments, please provide details in your application and we will seek to accommodate for your interview.