Senior Strategist; Deputy Program Manager

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 stakeholder engagement plans, communications strategies, change impact assessments, and adoption roadmaps.
• Designs governance frameworks, operating models, and implementation approaches that support successful transformation efforts.
• Facilitates cross-functional working sessions that drive alignment, accelerate decision-making, and address organizational resistance.
• Establishes feedback mechanisms and performance measures that support continuous improvement and long-term success.
• Monitors progress, evaluates outcomes, and refines approaches based on stakeholder feedback and organizational needs.

Team Development & Leadership

• Mentors teammates through coaching, knowledge sharing, and constructive feedback.
• Models LINK values and contributes to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
• Shares tools, approaches, and lessons learned that improve the quality and consistency of work across engagements.

Deputy Program Management responsibilities include:

Client & Program Leadership

• Support client relationship management activities by coordinating communications, meetings, reporting, and follow-through on action items.
• Participate in client engagements and represent program leadership as delegated by the PM.
• Maintain visibility into program priorities, risks, and opportunities and provide recommendations that support informed decision-making.
• Assist with preparation of program reporting, briefings, status updates, and leadership communications.
• Maintain transparency and trust with clients through consistent responsiveness and delivery follow-through.
• Act as a thought partner to the PM in managing day-to-day program operations and evolving client strategy.

Team Leadership & Coordination

• Coordinate execution across Team Leads and workstreams by facilitating communication, gathering progress updates, identifying risks and blockers, managing interdependencies, and ensuring alignment with overall program objectives.
• Monitor staffing needs, resource allocation, workloads, and team capacity and elevate concerns to program leadership.
• Gather project updates, identify dependencies, and coordinate resolution of issues that impact delivery.
• Support onboarding, team integration, and coordination activities across the program.

Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Track schedules, milestones, deliverables, budgets, staffing plans, and operational activities across the program.
• Support implementation of project management processes, Agile ceremonies, reporting requirements, and operational rhythms.
• Maintain documentation related to project execution, contract requirements, risks, action items, and program performance.
• Monitor program health indicators and escalate risks, issues, and delivery concerns to the PM.
• Support compliance with contractual requirements, reporting obligations, security requirements, and operational processes.
• Coordinate activities that support successful invoicing, reporting, travel, and contract administration.

Work Schedule

• Full time, 40 hours per week
• Some travel required to attend relevant events and conferences, and participate in LINK team events

Salary:  LINK is committed to offering competitive compensation. While the salary range for this position is $112,000 - $151,000, your final offer may be adjusted based on factors such as experience and location.

Benefits:

• $100 monthly internet/cell phone stipend
• $150 monthly commuter stipend for eligible participants
• LINK sponsored healthcare benefits including medical, dental, vision
• Company-paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 401K with employer contribution of up to 4%
• 11 Federal Holidays per year 
• 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year 
• Paid Holiday Time Off (Christmas Eve through the New Year) 
• Annual bonus plan participation
• Annual profit sharing participation
• $2,000 Learning and Development program reimbursement
• Technology package that includes a LINK-owned MacBook Pro, monitor, mouse and keyboard

LINK is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state, local, and federal law.

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact Human Resources to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.