Job Description

Background Highland is a digital product and innovation consultancy based in Chicago. We research, design, and build digital products and experiences for mission-driven organizations and customer-centric companies. Over 25 years, our team of researchers, strategists, designers, and developers has helped organizations launch over 300 digital products, turning their biggest uncertainties into opportunities for growth. We often refer to what we design as ‘Experiences that Matter’: digital products and experiences that make the world a better place to live in. We primarily work with leaders of mid-market services companies and enterprise leaders within digital, design, and innovation. Our mission is rooted in Human Flourishing—inspired by research conducted at Harvard University’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science . We design our work to help human beings flourish, while allowing ourselves to flourish as well. For us, our values—People First, Give a Damn, Be Curious, and Be Transparent—are not just things to hang on the wall, but something we live by every day. Context & Responsibilities Highland serves clients at every stage in their journey—from early stage, generative research all the way to new product/experience launch. We are looking for a Lead Design Researcher that embodies our core values, adds to our culture, and is passionate about doing great work. The Lead Design Researcher can expect to work across the following realms: Executing and Delivering Product/Design Research Methods Mastery : Demonstrate mastery over a range of Design Research methods and design original research for unique contexts. Research Execution : Lead the definition, planning, and facilitation of research, using Research Plans, Recruitment, Screeners, Discussion Guides, Deliverables, Reports, etc. as needed for projects. Data Analysis : Comfort with a wide range of analysis techniques, from affinity mapping to Excel, to analyze and interpret market, user, or product data. Synthesis Mastery : Define new methods of synthesizing research to fulfill client goals desirably, feasibly, and viably for design opportunities. Visual Communication: Craft visually compelling reports or other deliverables that communicate key insights and takeaways persuasively and concisely. Strategic Implementation: Skillfully guide clients from insight to action, providing expert perspectives that result in clear action plans. Product-based Research: Adapt exploratory/generative research methods for fast-cycle, product-based research to drive product design and development. Design Action : Connect the dots from research to ideation, taking responsibility for the team’s translation of insights into ideas, concepts, and value propositions for user co-creation. Enabling Systemic Action : Capture systemic understanding through frameworks, exposing previously unknown dimensions at play, inspiring new ways for implementation across clients’ limitations & priorities. Project Leadership : Lead project teams throughout the process, managing timelines, deliverables, & budgets. Upon the transition from contract to full-time, the expectation of the role would expand to include the following responsibilities: Deepening relationships and mentorship Mentorship: Devote time to guide and support the team/client through the value of Design Thinking as well as product-led approaches. Strengthening Relationships: Deepen client relationships through an understanding of their organizational context, mission, champions, and barriers. Networker: Nurturing a growing network of mentors, peers, mentees, and other analogous creatives. Evolving, framing, and promoting work Framing New Work: Help frame and plan new projects with potential clients, skilfully advocating for Design Research methods and outcomes in environments new to Design Thinking. Evolving Methods/Practice: Continuously develop and prototype new research & synthesis methods and processes internally. Thought-leadership: Leader in the Design Research / Service Design / Design Strategy sphere, contributing across writing, podcasts, teaching, and other channels/media. Presentation and oration: Sharing reflections & experience with wider audiences through mastery in presentation skills across events, networks, and other professional platforms. Position Requirements: 9+ years in design research across diverse contexts/geographies/industries. 7+ years of human-centered, exploratory/generative research experience, with a preference for significant experience in consulting, managing clients, teams, & projects. Preference for an undergraduate degree in design, architecture, anthropology, or humanities, and an MDes, MA, MSc, or MBA. Other comparable training is acceptable. Strong experience in coaching and mentoring on Design Thinking methods. Excellent written, visual, and verbal communication skills, with ability to communicate confidently and effectively. Fluency in English. Currently have the legal right to work for any employer in the United States. Hybrid Work Model The Lead Design Researcher & Strategist role is a high-ranking consulting position with significant client facing responsibilities. Our lead consultants travel, primarily in the US, up to 15% on an annualized basis and attend client and internal events throughout Chicagoland on a regular basis, based on client and internal business needs. Highland operates on a one day per week required in-office day, or as needed, dependent on project demand. Highland’s Core Values People First: What we make and how we work should make it a little bit better to be alive: for us, our clients, and their customers. Be Curious: The big picture is everyone's responsibility. There is always more to learn. We are generous in teaching what we know. Be Transparent: We're accountable to our clients and to each other, and respond to problems with solutions, not blame. Vulnerability, while risky, leads to trust and understanding. Give a Damn: Our clients’ goals are our goals. We do work we can be proud of. Quality is non-negotiable. Compensation & Benefits Three to six month Contract to Hire. Upon the transition from contract to full-time, salary and benefits would include: Annual salary between $135,000 and $155,000 based on experience and qualifications Annual bonus target based on overall company performance of between $5,000 and $8,000 Health, dental and vision insurance 401k retirement savings plan Unlimited sick time, 9 paid company holidays, 4 weeks’ paid time off 40 hours of professional development time and a $1,000 learning stipend each year Fully paid parental leave: 12 weeks for birth mothers or 6 weeks for non-birth parents Short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance (Highland pays 100% of the premiums) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Application Guidelines: Please attach a professional resume. Instead of a cover letter, please build and share a visual framework describing what would make you successful in this role. Please share a PDF or website link of your portfolio giving us a detailed view of your process, team, responsibilities, decisions, and outcomes. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Highland is committed to creating a just, equitable workplace, and is actively seeking candidates who can bring the value of diverse lived experiences to this position. We look for candidates who have a high level of demonstrated comfort with cultural competency; women, people of color, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ are encouraged to apply. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us via the application portal. #J-18808-Ljbffr Jobleads-US

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