Senior Strategist or Design Strategist; Deputy Program Manager

<p><strong>This role is open to Strategy or Design Strategy candidates. </strong></p> <p><strong>Who We Are:</strong>&nbsp;LINK is a fast-growing Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) that leverages human-centered design to support strategy, innovation, communication, change, and branding within the federal government and adjacent industry partners. At LINK, we partner with engineers, futurists, and thought leaders to untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly with visual stories.&nbsp;</p> <p>Let us be your partners in change.</p> <p><strong>About the Opportunity: </strong></p> <p>The <strong>Senior Strategist or Senior Design Strategist; Deputy Program Manager (DPM)</strong> supports program execution and delivery while providing a consistent layer of leadership across client programs. Partnering closely with the Program Manager (PM), the DPM ensures strategic alignment, smooth execution of deliverables, and clear visibility into project progress. This role strengthens cross-functional coordination, facilitates responsive communication with clients and teams, and enables the PM to focus on business growth and strategic initiatives.</p> <p>The DPM also ensures project teams are resourced, supported, and working toward shared goals. Depending on program structure, the DPM may serve as a Team Lead on specific projects, complementing the PM’s expertise and filling functional gaps as needed.</p> <p>Note: The DPM role is designed to complement the PM's specific skills and experience, filling functional gaps as needed. DPMs may also serve as Team Leads on specific projects depending on program structure and requirements.</p> <p><strong>Qualifications:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, Design, Business, or a related field</li> <li>10+ years of experience in strategic communication, public affairs, design strategy, program management, or strategy development</li> <li>4-6 years of program or project coordination experience including familiarity with Agile methodologies and project delivery best practices.</li> <li>Experience in government contracting or client services preferred</li> <li>Ability to build and maintain robust client relationships and foster positive interpersonal connections</li> <li>Interest in visual storytelling, including data visualization and conceptualizing abstract ideas</li> <li>Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining a strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail</li> <li>Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate in a clear, approachable, and knowledgeable manner</li> <li>Active Clearance: Secr