Senior Strategist; Deputy Program Manager

link; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

LINK is actively seeking a Senior Strategist; Deputy Program Manager to join our team in the Washington, DC area. You will lead and execute innovative design strategies, collaborating with internal teams and executive-level clients, and driving impactful visual storytelling to meet client objectives.

This is an opportunity for an experienced professional to elevate LINK's growth and deliver human-centered design solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Client Partnership & Strategic Advisory: Frame complex challenges, identify opportunities, translate ambiguity into actionable strategies and recommendations.

Skills

Strategic communications

Client engagement

Executive facilitation

Storytelling

Data visualization

Stakeholder management

Change management

Problem solving

Organizational transformation

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communication, Business, Public Policy, English

Job description

Who We Are: LINK is a fast-growing Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) that leverages human-centered design to support strategy, innovation, communication, change, and branding within the federal government and adjacent industry partners. At LINK, we partner with engineers, futurists, and thought leaders to untangle complexity, discover opportunity, and communicate clearly with visual stories.

Let us be your partners in change.

Location: We are actively hiring in the Washington, D.C. area.

About the Opportunity

LINK is actively seeking a Senior Strategist; Deputy 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, Business, Public Policy, English, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in strategic communications, consulting, public affairs, organizational transformation, program management, strategy, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with clients and influence stakeholders at multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience facilitating executive-level discussions, workshops, and strategic planning efforts.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear insights, recommendations, and actionable plans.
• Interest in visual storytelling, data visualization, and communicating abstract concepts through compelling narratives.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing executive-level presentations and strategic deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and lead work in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Extensive experience operating in ambiguous environments and exercising sound judgment with incomplete information.

Responsibilities

Senior Strategist responsibilities include:

• Client Partnership & Strategic Advisory: Serves as a trusted advisor to clients by framing complex challenges, identifying opportunities, and translating ambiguity into actionable strategies and recommendations. Partners directly with client stakeholders to define missions, visions, strategic goals, and measurable KPIs/OKRs aligned to enterprise priorities. Leads strategic planning efforts, including executive workshops, stakeholder engagements, scenario planning activities, and initiative prioritization efforts. Conducts and oversees research, stakeholder interviews, benchmarking efforts, and current-state assessments to inform strategic recommendations. Synthesizes complex information into clear findings, strategic insights, and executive-level recommendations. Identifies opportunities to create tangible business value and helps shape follow-on work that supports client success and long-term engagement growth. Provides strategic guidance that helps clients make informed decisions and navigate organizational complexity.
• Communication 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. Designs 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 stakeholde