OverviewSteampunk is seeking a Senior Service Designer to direct the human-centered design practice behind a large federal IT strategy and modernization advisory program, personally leading the initial strategy engagement and setting practice standards across all related workstreams.
Contributions- Facilitate HCD-led discovery with client CIO leadership and stakeholders to develop an initial IT strategy
- Develop and maintain a baselined Strategy Implementation Plan
- Build ecosystem maps, personas, and a living stakeholder map to ground strategy in evidence rather than assumption
- Lead co-creation sessions with client leadership so strategy pillars and investment-alignment criteria are jointly owned, not handed down
- Define, track, and report outcome metrics that measure strategy execution and stakeholder-facing service delivery
- Plan and execute high-visibility strategy launch and engagement events
- Deliver monthly portfolio status reports, quarterly performance reports with root cause analysis, semi-annual strategic assessments, and an Annual Value Delivery Assessment
- Set practice standards for HCD/design methodology applied across the program's communications, workforce, and training workstreams
- Lead and mentor the design, communications, workforce, and change-management practitioners assigned to the program, ensuring consistent methodology and quality across their deliverables
Qualifications- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance
- Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of total experience
- 10+ years of experience leading human-centered design or strategy consulting engagements, including facilitation of executive-level design workshops
- Demonstrated experience building stakeholder maps, personas, and strategy artifacts that translate research into executive decision-making
- Experience running Agile-based delivery cadences (PI planning, sprint reviews, retrospectives) for strategy or advisory work
- Demonstrated experience leading and mentoring multidisciplinary design or research teams
- Strong executive facilitation and co-creation session leadership skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing executive-level strategic reporting
- Local to Baltimore, MD metro area and willing to go on client site at least 2 days a week
Bonus Points:- Experience leading strategy engagements for a federal or other large regulated enterprise client
- Experience building outcome-metric frameworks tied to executive reporting
- Recognized design-thinking/HCD training or credential (e.g., LUMA Institute, IDEO U, NN/g)
About steampunkSteampunk relies on several factors to determine salary, including but not limited to geographic location, contractual requirements, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The projected compensation range for this position is $120,000 to $180,000. The estimate displayed represents a typical annual salary range for this position. Annual salary is just one aspect of Steampunk's total compensation package for employees. Learn more about additional Steampunk benefits here.
Identity StatementAs part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.
