Greater Good Studio

Job Description

Greater Good Studio is seeking a talented Design Research Lead to join our team! We are looking for someone who is innovative, organized, and able to think strategically yet also be detail-oriented. You are a strong collaborator, project manager, and have demonstrated experience connecting with people in diverse contexts. Please note that presently, and for the foreseeable future, our team is working remotely. Because we intend to resume in-person work once it is deemed safe, we are seeking candidates located in, or willing to relocate to, Chicago. Additionally, we are unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who require or will require a work permit. Duties and Responsibilities Design Research and Strategy Frame, plan, recruit, conduct, synthesize and present primary user research Create protocols for human-centered design activities and milestones, such as interviews, observations, workshops, critiques, brainstorming sessions and inspiration gathering Create new participatory research methods, synthesis tools and engagement techniques Analyze the broader context of client organizations, including their landscape of peers, roles within larger systems, and historical legacies Articulate actionable design opportunities through language, frameworks, sketches and prototypes Critically question and unearth root causes of systemic challenges Offer clear points of view on where a design solution should and should not focus Facilitate co-design and prototype feedback sessions with clients and project participants Leadership and Project Management Help frame and plan new projects with potential clients Maintain stakeholder and participant relationships both proactively and responsively Plan and Lead calls, meetings and workshops, with clients and project teams Direct and guide design and research teams Envision new ways of working that take advantage of our team’s assets Guide and mentor other team members and interns Build project communities and engage participants in accessible and relevant ways to support ongoing project participation Create and manage project workstream and track progress and deliverables end to end. Participate in new business development and contribute to writing project proposals Teaching and Coaching Plan and facilitate workshops with clients and communities Coach teams of participants through the human-centered design process Share new methods, articles and case studies internally that expand our thinking Be an ambassador to our company by attending and speaking at design/social impact conferences, writing blog posts and/or articulating points of view about social issues Qualifications Minimum 5 years of design research, human-centered design, and/or related community engagement experience with demonstrated ability to plan research, conduct interviews and observations, analyze secondary research, synthesize insights and communicate compelling findings to multiple stakeholders Minimum 2 years of project management experience Minimum 1 year of consulting or client-facing professional services practice Minimum 1 year of professional design practice or educational experience in a design field such as graphic, industrial, UX, or architecture Lived and/or learned experience within under-resourced communities including: personal, professional, and volunteer experience. Interest in applying a social equity lens to both our client work and internal practices Willing to travel (once deemed safe and travel advisories are lifted) for research and client workshops.