Think Boldly, Work Collaboratively, Empower Others, Foster Impact
We are a creative team that is curious, embraces challenges, thinks outside the box, and seeks to catalyze those around us. Our optimism is known to be contagious, and we love sticky notes!
Are you passionate about building the innovative mindset and potential of others? Are you driven by impact, collaboration, bold thinking, and the continuous exploration of “What If…”? Are you looking to help public/private stakeholders cultivate bold new initiatives to enhance the lives of others? Do you seek to join a dynamic team and to work in one of the fastest growing and most collaborative cities in the US? Do you see the natural connections between strategy, creativity, and innovation? Does leading teams and using design-based innovation approaches make your day?
Come join the City of Raleigh’s Office of Strategy & Innovation (aka Office of Yes, And!) as our new Lead Strategy Designer. We embrace the audacious goal of serving as a model for public innovation and achieving the seemingly impossible. Our team leads the Raleigh Impact Lab, a one-of-a-kind municipal government consulting lab that applies human centered design to understand shared needs, barriers to delivery, and opportunities for improvement, with goal to design policies and services that work for people. Join our team and have the unique opportunity to catalyze public sector innovation, government transformation, and civic/public/private collaboration.
The
Lead Strategy Designer will be part of a team responsible for deploying design-based innovation approaches to lead organization-wide innovation efforts and catalyze our renowned innovation ecosystem. Working closely with the Strategy & Innovation Manager, the Strategy & Innovation Officer, and other senior leadership, the Lead Strategy Designer will play a critical role in developing the Raleigh Impact Lab, designing and delivering innovation programs, building a team of internal consultants and continuous improvement leaders, and fostering public/private collaboration. We are seeking a team member with a proven background in design methodology who will bring their strong relational, creative, outside-the-box thinking, analytical, and critical thinking skills, along with their passion and persistence for excellence, to contribute to our efforts. A successful Lead Strategy Designer has a demonstrated track record working with diverse stakeholders and will thrive in analyzing underlying business challenges, identifying solutions, developing approaches, working collaboratively, building internal and external partnerships, and getting others excited about what they do. Ideally, they will also have experience in designing and delivering impactful public sector programs or services.
This position actively supports the City Strategic Plan and supports a wide range of staff across all City service areas to benefit our community of 500,000+ residents. This involves applying advanced technical expertise in strategy and innovation to provide strategic guidance, solve complex business challenges, and influence Citywide priorities, including fostering collaboration across departments and ensuring that our policies and projects align with broader objectives such as economic development, sustainability, and the quality of life of residents.
This position reports to the Strategy & Innovation Manager. This position offers teleworking for approximately 20% of the work week.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science, Design Studies, Psychology, Business Administration, Entrepreneurship, Public Health, Public Administration, Urban Planning, or a related field; 5 to 7 years’ experience in advanced teaching and facilitation for adult-learners; application of strategy, innovation, and human centered design methods, tools, and frameworks; or a related field
OR
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted.
Licenses or Certifications:
-
Human Centered Design Certification, Strategic Design Certification, or comparable certification
Preferred Qualifications:
Graduate Degree in related field
Licensing and Certifications: Human Centered Design certificates, Equity Certifications, Project Management, LEAN Six Sigma or other related qualifications.
Demonstrated understanding of and ability to communicate stories about the impact of innovation on the public sector
A clear understanding of the types of challenges municipal governments typically faces, either through direct experience working in government or in organizations that collaborate closely with governments.
Demonstrated experience applying qualitative research methods, including interviews, surveys, workshop development, and data analysis.
Demonstrated experience in working with people from diverse backgrounds and a commitment to engaging with a wide range of residents, subject-matter experts, and partners.
Demonstrated experience applying equity-centered design frameworks to past projects
Knowledge of:
Design thinking frameworks and methodologies including empathy mapping, ideation, prototyping, and iterative feedback loops
Qualitative and quantitative research management, assessment, survey design and analysis, and evaluation methodologies
Strategic planning principles, methodologies, frameworks, and best practices to guide the development and execution of strategy
Effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams, integrating inputs from diverse stakeholders, and aligning design efforts with strategic objectives
Change management principles to ensure successful adoption of new designs, processes, or strategic initiatives within the organization
High-performance organizational principles.
Skill in:
Innovation and Creativity, including strong creative problem-solving skills and the ability to generate innovative solutions that align with the strategic goals of organization
Inspiring and motivating innovative thinking and solutions among diverse staff
Using and applying an intentional civic design process that includes research, ideation, and delivery with key stakeholders and community members centered in the process
Using design-based innovation methodologies, including expertise in determining when and how to use specific approaches, frameworks, deliverables, and facilitation methods
Applying user research techniques, including conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, such as interviews, focus groups, surveys, and usability testing to inform strategic design
Group facilitation, training, coaching, and advocacy
Serving as a liaison with cross-department and high-level stakeholders – maximizing the impact of programs, pushing for innovation methodologies that may be unfamiliar, and collaboratively clearing roadblocks
Organizational transformation and program delivery experience, changing how an organization works to serve stakeholders and delivering results-oriented programs, from design to implementation to storytelling and impact measurement
Managing collaborative projects with multiple stakeholders and non-line authority
Advancing collaboration and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively, build consensus and promote the exchange of information among project team members
Working in and leading teams in a result-driven workplace
Applying a lens of equity to complex projects and processes
Strategic thinking across a complex multi-faceted organization
Excellent content creation and writing skills
Ability to:
Work with and thrive in a creative and outside-the-box team
See opportunities, navigate barriers, be self-directed, and problem-solve solutions
Champion and model the values of OSI: Think Boldly, Work Collaboratively, Empower Others, Foster Impact
Apply a lens of impact to complex projects and processes
Work independently, as well as collaboratively as a member of a team
Get others excited about what they do
Hone superior organizational skills
Set priorities and respond quickly as priorities change
Maintain strong organizational skills to establish constructive and effective working relationships with employees at every level of the organization
Synthesize complex ideas and communicate them in an understandable way to others, both written and orally
Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines
ADA and Other Requirements:
Work Environment and Physical Effort:
Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
Work Environment:
Work is typically performed in an office or similar indoor environment.
Work Exposures:
Work in this position does not require frequent environmental exposures.
City of Raleigh is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
