Senior Strategist or Design Strategist; Program Manager

Location: We are actively hiring in Washington D.C. or San Diego, CA.

 

About the Opportunity

LINK is actively seeking a Senior Design Strategist or Strategist; Program Manager to join our dynamic team, where we leverage strong partnerships and a robust portfolio of clients across diverse industries. You will be responsible for leading and executing innovative design strategies, collaborating with both internal teams and executive-level clients, and driving impactful visual storytelling to meet client objectives.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to bring a combination of creative and strategic expertise to elevate LINK’s business growth and deliver high-quality, human-centered design solutions. You will work closely with clients to understand their challenges, develop compelling narratives, and implement design strategies that align with their mission, goals, and brand identity. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record of designing impactful visual experiences, utilizing data-driven insights, and collaborating cross-functionally to deliver exceptional client results.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communication, English, Business, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in strategic communication, public affairs, program management, or strategy development
• 7+ years program/project management experience including familiarity with Agile methodologies and project delivery best practices
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining a strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate in a clear, approachable, and knowledgeable manner
• Government contracting experience
• PMP certification preferred
• Current TS/SCI clearance level required.
• Experience with human-centered design and design thinking principles
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously

 

Responsibilities

Senior Strategist/Design Strategist responsibilities include:

Client Partnership & Design Strategy Leadership

• Serves as a trusted advisor to clients by framing complex challenges, identifying opportunities, and applying human-centered design approaches to inform strategic decision-making.
• Partners directly with client stakeholders to understand organizational priorities, user needs, operational constraints, and desired outcomes.
• Leads the development of design strategy approaches that align stakeholder needs, business objectives, and mission requirements.
• Guides cross-functional teams through ambiguity, helping stakeholders build alignment and make informed decisions.
• Identifies opportunities to create tangible business value and support long-term client success.
• Provides guidance that helps clients make informed decisions and navigate organizational complexity.

Content Strategy, Storytelling & Execution

• Translates complex ideas into compelling strategic narratives, executive-level presentations, communication strategies, and decision-support products.
• Develops messaging frameworks that align leadership vision, organizational priorities, and stakeholder needs.
• Define content structures, information hierarchies, and storytelling approaches that communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively.
• Collaborates with creative teams to develop high-quality visual products that support strategic objectives and audience understanding.
• Establishes quality standards for strategic deliverables and provides guidance to team members to ensure consistency and excellence.
• Leads development of executive-ready materials that support decision-making, alignment, and organizational action.

Change Management & Organizational Transformation

• Develops and implements change management strategies, including stakeholder engagement plans, communications strategies, change impact assessments, and adoption roadmaps.
• Designs governance frameworks, operating models, and implementation approaches that support successful transformation ef