Design Strategy Lead - NewLab (Brooklyn, NY)
Salary: $100 -130K target commensurate with experience.
You are an implementer of Newlab’s design approach and are known as a creative problem solver. You apply strategic thinking in new ways and know how to distill best practices from experience. You will run workshops, lead research, build a strong narrative to support the applied innovation team in articulating challenges, shaping projects and delivering successful pilot projects with startups.
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We work to bring Challenges and Projects to life through collaborative research, pilot concept creation, and speculative design. You’ll work on applying systems-level thinking and delivering generative research to inform innovation opportunities and technology development across Newlab’s themes of Mobility, Energy and Materials. Ready to help us uncover some of the most creative solutions to the complex challenges of our time and play a part in bringing them to fruition? ? Apply to join the Newlab team!
Key Responsibilities
Conduct Design Research and Support Strategy
Manage research workstream for specific projects by building research plans, managing weekly progress, and engaging with advisors
Run key interviews with lead stakeholders and users – from outreach, to discussion guide development, interviews and synthesis, own the process of generating and gathering interview data
Conduct desktop research and literature review – sourcing relevant content, highlighting major trends, and recognizing patterns relevant to the topics Newlab is pursuing
Oversee research analyst(s) to build an ecosystem level of understanding by identifying companies, experts, research and investments relevant to a specific sector or industry
Collaborate with counterparts in program management to manage deliverables, meetings and presentations to external partners
Lead internal workshopping sessions and meetings to keep program managers and directors on a given project up to date, and collaborate on reviewing insights and prioritizing opportunities
Support the development of new research strategies and methodologies at Newlab in collaboration with Product Design Directors and leadership.
Develop Visual Content and Storytelling Tools
Develop decks, illustrations and other visual frameworks for internal and external use with stakeholders that synthesizes research, insights and convey opportunities across Newlab themes that can leverage frontier tech
Support narrative development and visuals to guide startup pilot projects and share outs
Design and Execute Workshops
Use design-thinking methodologies to design and execute virtual and in-person workshops, brainstorms and impromptu working sessions
Develop templates and best practices that can be disseminated to the department and used to guide future workshop development
Apply Insights to Support Pilot Projects
Work with project management peers to support startups in designing and deploying solutions, specifically connecting the challenges and identified needs to measurable project KPIs.
Experience
5+ years of experience working in a design consultancy or as part of an in-house design and innovation group
Background in Industrial Design, Interaction Design or Design Research and Strategy
Experience with systems-level design challenges that include collaborating with technical teams, i.e. engineers and technologists
Strong track record of delivering engaging and thoughtful work to clients or in-house senior leadership
Prior exposure to frontier technologies such as robotics, A.I, synthetic biology and connected systems, to solve “tough tech” challenges in categories including energy, mobility and materials
Prior experience running successful workshops with clients
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary $100 -130K target commensurate with experience
Equity in Newlab
Employer sponsored Medical & Dental insurance
Generous paid time off
Professional development stipend
Access to array of add on insurance options (Accident, Vision, Life, etc)
Generous Parental Leave