Job Description

Please note that this posting will remain open to accept applications until 11:59pm ET on January 31st, 2020.

Come create impact with us.

IDEO is a global design company committed to creating positive impact. As early leaders of human-centered design, we keep people at the center of our work. It's a key tenet of design thinking, and even as our methods evolve in response to new, complex challenges, we are always designing solutions for people first. We’re building to learn, and learning as we build, through inspiration, ideation, and implementation. See the big questions we are tackling now or explore some of our recent work .

We are seeking a highly creative, collaborative, and human-centered Workplace Experience Specialist to support the success of our design teams and our New York studio’s internal community from both an operational and cultural perspective. This role is all about making sure our studio is running smoothly, that people (employees, clients, and visitors) feel welcome, supported, and empowered, and that our work environment proudly reflects who we are. You'll use your insight, curiosity, and exceptional people and problem-solving skills to stay a few steps ahead of needs and challenges and elevate the bar for how we build the client and community experience.

It’s not enough for our values* and belief in design excellence to surface only in the work we do with clients. We expect that the look and feel of our workplace, and the experiences we host at IDEO, will reflect our brand authentically as well. Our Workplace Experience Team treats large and small “moments” with equal potential to inspire people. Sometimes this means planning ahead for formal gatherings in order to facilitate meaningful interactions. Sometimes it means shifts in furniture or protocols that refresh our state of mind on a daily basis. Our Workplace Experience Team has a “no task too big or small” attitude with a natural inclination to pitch in and get our hands dirty (sometimes literally).

*IDEO Values are: Be Optimistic, Collaborate, Take Ownership, Embrace Ambiguity, Talk Less, Do More, Learn from Failure, and Make Others Successful.

Relevant experience, skills, & mindsets:

• At least 2-4 years of experience in a related role. (Related could mean: Hospitality, community organizations, theatre or stage production, or a “concierge” type of role in a design studio, creative consultancy or corporate environment)
• Proactive community building and community management skills, able to relationship-build and collaborate with a variety of personalities and workstyles.
• An empathic, human-centered attitude in handling challenges with optimism - a “no job too small” mentality in supporting the Workplace Experience team and studio community on a day-to-day basis.
• Unflappable, resilient, and optimistic demeanor. Comfortable handling a high-volume of tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exemplary attention to detail, ability to prioritize tasks, written and verbal communication, project and time management, and organizational skills.
• Able to excel amidst ambiguity & change, able to think and react on your feet.
• Curiosity to design meaningful workplace interactions anywhere between two and two hundred people.
• Proficient with standard cloud based applications (Google Apps, Slack).
• Able to lift 50 lbs.

Once here you will:

• Partner with the Workplace Experience team and our design community to co-design unique and impactful experiences including day-to-day activities, weekly rituals, and longer-term studio projects.
• Support the creation of vibrant spaces, toolkits and other resources that support people in doing their best work and promote team wellness.
• Contribute to the day-to-day running of the studio (catering, calendaring, hospitality, logistics, supplies, studio environment), in a hands-on manner, in collaboration with the Workplace Experience Team and others.
• Help design and coordinate meaningful, memorable, and on-brand welcoming experiences for our clients, guests, and visiting IDEOers .
• Be present in the studio to ensure timely preparation, set-up, and coordination of meetings and events (sometimes past normal working hours).
• Partner with the global Technology teams to support local studio A/V and technology systems, resources and tools.
• Build relationships and a local network of vendors and collaborators in industries such as catering, hospitality, and entertainment.

Commitment to diversity

At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world-changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research.

As a human-centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices.

Application instructions

If you identify with our values and would love to contribute to our studio, please submit your resume, and a cover letter addressing your answer to the following question: Tell us about a time when you helped identify a need and created a solution for others (such as fixing a space, object, or system within a community).

Please note that only applications with a cover letter answering the above question will be considered for the position. Please note we will be accepting applications until 11:59pm ET on January 31st, 2020.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDEO is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.