Senior Design Research & Strategy Lead (Hybrid)

Highland

Chicago (IL)

Hybrid

USD 145,000 - 165,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k plan

Unlimited sick time

Paid time off

Parental leave

Professional development stipend

Job summary

Highland in Chicago seeks a Senior Delivery Lead in Design Research & Strategy. This client-facing role blends research, strategy, design, and product development to deliver high-impact experiences across industries.

You will lead cross-functional teams, drive AI-enabled research and synthesis, and partner with client principals to translate insights into actionable roadmaps. Hybrid work includes office and client-site collaboration.

Qualifications

10+ years of experience in design research, research strategy, and strategic design.
6+ years in a consulting environment.
Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and client engagements.
Experience translating opportunities into product and service strategies.
Experience with AI-enabled research and synthesis workflows is highly valued.
Masters degree or equivalent experience in design research, strategy, or related field.

Responsibilities

Lead strategic design research engagements from discovery through action.
Guide cross-functional teams across research, strategy, design, and product development.
Develop product, service, and ecosystem strategies aligned with human insight and business goals.
Leverage AI-enabled tools to accelerate planning, fieldwork, and synthesis.