Higher Education Design Strategist

SmithGroup is an award-winning, multinational integrated design firm with a team of 1,300 experts across 19 offices in the U.S. and China. We employ research, data, advanced technologies and design thinking to help clients solve their greatest challenges. Our specialists develop beautiful, sustainable, future-focused solutions for healthcare providers, science and technology organizations, Higher Education and cultural institutions, urban environments, diverse workplaces, mixed-use and waterfront developments, and parks and open spaces. We are deeply committed to our promise to Design a Better Future - for our clients, communities and employees. Are you ready to help us get there?
The Washington, DC office of SmithGroup is looking for a Higher Education Design Strategist to join our team.

Working with us, you will:

• Plan and lead client strategy engagements.
• Lead in all aspects of design research, research execution, and analysis (data gathering and research, engaging diverse stakeholders, and assembling multiple stakeholder perspectives.)
• Structure, analyze, and synthesize primary and secondary research and data (quantitative and qualitative) to generate actionable materials
• Articulate hypotheses, insights, and points of view to facilitate the development of design solutions and organizational recommendations
• Produce high-quality deliverables such as client presentations, strategic design briefs and collateral materials
• Lead programming efforts (observations, data gathering, interviews and workshops), development of program and space requirement reports
• Develop design strategy briefs through writing, analysis, and graphic content development
• Work with project teams to implement strategy through planning and design concepts
• Support and partner with strategy team and others to create thought leadership
• Initiate design and marketing ideas relative to the strategy team
• Assist in establishing a strong network of SmithGroup strategists across offices
• Support design strategy awareness and inclusion in proposals and pursuits
• Support and develop strategy marketing materials and proposal graphics
• Assist with guiding and on-boarding of other internal staff
• Strengthen and grow team expertise

An ideal candidate has:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field minimum
• 10+ years professional experience, with a minimum of 5 years of direct experience in Higher Education programming, planning, design, and strategy
• Proficient in MS Office (advanced skill in Excel), Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD and/or Revit (preferred but not required)
• Familiarity with data analytics tools, e.g. Power BI, Tableau is a plus but not required
• Strong graphic skills, including data visualization, process and adjacency diagrams, and plan visualization
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Proficient in programming and planning
• Confidence in facilitating strategic conversations
• Sufficient knowledge of commercial office industry
• Analytical, creative thinker
• Flexible and adaptable to work with multiple teams and initiatives
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Collaborative, team-player mentality as foundational quality

SmithGroup offers competitive compensation and an excellent benefit package, including 401(k) and wellbeing resources. We promote a healthy work/life balance for our staff which includes an alternative work schedule that provides employees with an additional 15 days off per year (usually Fridays), as well as hybrid options that give our team flexibility to work within our vibrant office culture or remotely, as needed. We also offer paid time off that is immediately available to new hires, 8 paid federal holidays, and parental leave benefits

Please refer the Job description for details