Design Strategy and Research Specialist

Job Description:

The Role

As a Design Research and Strategy Specialist at BRIGHTSCOUT, you are the primary source of insight and clarity at the outset of every brand, product, and web project. Your role is pivotal in uncovering what makes our clients unique—their story, product, positioning, and market context—and translating that into strategic direction. You lead the discovery process, gathering essential information, identifying communication gaps, and shaping the most effective approach to express what needs to be conveyed or improve what needs to be refined. This multifaceted role blends strategic thinking, research expertise, and project coordination skills, requiring you to drive initiatives from initial research and analysis through to strategic recommendations and client presentations—across diverse projects including brand identity, website design, mobile apps, and digital platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery efforts to uncover essential information about the client’s business, product, audience, and brand—ensuring design and development teams have the clarity they need to move forward with confidence.
• Conduct in-depth research into business models, value propositions, user behaviors, market opportunities, and competitive dynamics to shape strategic direction and design focus.
• Identify and articulate key insights from qualitative and quantitative research, turning them into clear, actionable recommendations that inform branding, product, and web experiences.
• Design and facilitate stakeholder interviews, workshops, and other methodologies to extract critical information from clients—ensuring no strategic gaps are left unaddressed.
• Uncover what makes each brand truly unique, while also identifying whitespace opportunities and emerging trends that can strengthen positioning in the market.
• Develop strategic frameworks such as user personas, brand positioning statements, customer journeys, and messaging hierarchies to guide cross-functional decision-making.
• Align with clients and internal teams through presentations and strategic narratives that are clear, compelling, and grounded in evidence.
• Collaborate closely with PMs, Design Leads, and Developers to ensure strategic direction is actionable and integrated across deliverables.
• Own research and strategy initiatives from start to finish—driving progress independently while syncing regularly with project teams to maintain alignment and momentum.
• Contribute to internal strategic reviews, offering and receiving feedback to strengthen thinking and continuously raise the bar for strategic impact.
• Stay ahead of industry shifts, continuously evolving tools and methodologies to deliver relevant, forward-thinking strategies.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in brand strategy and research, with a proven track record of leading discovery processes and shaping strategic direction across branding, digital products, and web experiences.
• Deep understanding of the design process and its dependencies, with demonstrated experience collaborating closely with design and development teams to ensure strategic alignment.
• Strong portfolio that highlights your ability to uncover insights, define strategic frameworks, and communicate complex ideas through clear narratives and compelling presentations.
• Proficiency in research methodologies and tools (e.g., stakeholder interviews, market analysis, competitor benchmarking) and presentation software (e.g., Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides).
• Exceptional communication and facilitation skills—comfortable leading workshops, discovery sessions, and strategic presentations with both clients and internal teams.
• Ability to independently lead research and strategy initiatives, identifying the right questions, sourcing the right information, and transforming findings into actionable strategies.
• A proactive and collaborative mindset, with a passion for uncovering what makes brands unique and spotting new opportunities for differentiation in competitive markets.
• Familiarity with digital branding, web design, and product design best practices, with the ability to bridge business objectives and user needs through strategy.

Our Values

• Lead with Heart: We build honest, trusting relationships and care for each other.
• Break Convention: We seek bold ideas, we transform fearless creativity into tangible results.
• Bring Order to the Chaos: We transform complexity into clarity.
• Be a Champion: We strive for excellence.

Why Us

• Unlimited PTO: Enjoy a truly flexible work-life balance with our unlimited paid time off policy. Take the time you need to recharge and perform at your best.
• Remote Work: Work from anywhere! We embrace remote work, giving you the freedom to choose your ideal work environment.
• Flexible Schedule Tied To Project Needs: We understand that life happens. Our flexible schedules, aligned with project milestones, allow you to manage your time effectively and achieve your best results.
• Salary in USD: Receive competitive compensation in USD.

Our Process

1. Resume Review by Talent Team.
2. Screening Interview by Talent Team.
3. Interview w/ Hiring Manager and Senior Team Member.
4. Interview w/ Management and Senior Team Member.
5. Assessment/Technical Challenge.
6. Final Selection and Offer.

Ready to Elevate your Career at Brightscout?

At Brightscout, we value more than skills and experience; we seek individuals who embody kindness, empathy, and collaboration in their work. We believe these qualities contribute to the team and the company's overall success.