Workplace Strategist

Gensler•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Your Role As a Workplace Strategy Lead in Gensler's North Central Region, you will be a key partner in defining and executing the future of workplace strategy at the firm. You will lead complex programming, visioning, and strategic planning engagements for a diverse range of clients—from established institutions navigating hybrid work to high-growth companies reimagining their environments entirely. This is a player role: you will be deeply involved in the craft of strategy while helping to shape the practice itself. You are someone who can translate organizational ambition into spatial strategy with precision and conviction. You understand that great workplace strategy sits at the intersection of user insight, business performance, and design possibility—and you know how to move fluently between all three. You bring a point of view about the future of work, grounded in research and tested through execution, and you're eager to bring that perspective to bear on challenging, high-stakes client engagements. You will work closely with the Regional Strategy Director to build the NCR Strategy practice from the ground up—establishing credibility with clients and colleagues, developing emerging strategists, and defining what leading with strategy means in this region. You are as comfortable leading a workshop with 30 stakeholders as you are running space utilization scenarios or teaching a junior team member how to scope a discovery engagement. You thrive in environments that reward initiative, intellectual rigor, and a bias toward action. This role is based in Chicago and requires full-time presence in the office, with reasonable flexibility for personal needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in architecture, interior design, urban planning, organizational development, business strategy, or a related field
7–10 years of professional experience executing workplace strategy, space programming, real estate portfolio strategy, or management consulting with a focus on the built environment
Deep technical fluency in workplace programming, including space standards, utilization analysis, scenario planning, test fits, and adjacency planning
Demonstrated ability to design and lead high-impact workshops and strategic engagements with senior stakeholders
Proven track record delivering strategic recommendations that have directly informed design outcomes and organizational decision-making
A strong portfolio (2–3 projects) demonstrating command of strategic communication, data visualization, and persuasive storytelling
A clear point of view on the future of work—not trends for trends' sake, but a grounded perspective on how organizations, technology, and space are evolving together
Experience working in or closely with architecture and design firms; fluency in how strategy and design intersect is essential
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences
Entrepreneurial mindset and comfort operating in an evolving, ambitious practice that is actively being defined
Self-motivated, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word), and digital collaboration tools (Miro, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
Comfort and skill integrating AI-powered research and synthesis tools into strategic workflows—whether for accelerating research, refining narratives, or generating insights at scale

Nice To Haves

Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) and workplace analytics platforms is a plus
Familiarity with IWMS platforms, workplace occupancy sensors, or real estate analytics tools is a plus

Responsibilities

Lead workplace strategy and programming engagements from discovery through implementation, including space calculations, scenario modeling, test fits, occupancy analytics, and strategic visioning
Design and facilitate workshops (virtual and in-person) for groups ranging from 10 to 100+ participants, translating organizational objectives into actionable spatial strategies
Synthesize research, data, and stakeholder input into compelling strategic narratives that inform design direction and client decision-making
Partner with architecture and design teams to ensure seamless integration of strategy into project execution, serving as the strategic voice throughout the design process
Build and maintain client relationships independently, serving as a trusted advisor on workplace transformation, real estate strategy, and organizational change
Develop methodology, tools, and frameworks that elevate the quality and consistency of the NCR Strategy practice's workplace offerings
Mentor and upskill junior strategists on programming, facilitation, strategic planning, and client engagement
Contribute to business development efforts, including proposals, pitches, and thought leadership that positions Gensler as the strategic partner of choice for workplace transformation
Collaborate with Strategy, Brand, Sustainability, Product, and Digital Experience teams to deliver integrated, cross-functional solutions
Represent the practice in internal and external forums, building the visibility and credibility of Strategy in the North Central Region

Benefits

medical
dental
vision
disability
wellness programs
flex spending
paid holidays
paid time off
401K
profit sharing
employee stock ownership
twice annual bonus opportunities
reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees
tuition reimbursement for certain eligible programs or classes