Design Lead

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY – This position is based in Arlington-VA, Seattle-WA, or Hawaii

Conservation International’s Center for Oceans is seeking a Design Lead to join our Blue Horizons team—a launchpad for game-changing ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible in ocean conservation. Blue Horizons supports the work of the Center’s three other pillars:

• Blue Nature (Protect): Securing critical marine and coastal ecosystems through strong legal frameworks, marine protected areas, and community-driven conservation.
• Blue Communities (Manage): Ensuring protections are effective by supporting governance, sustainable fisheries, and locally led, equitable stewardship.
• Blue Climate (Restore): Bringing degraded ecosystems back to health through blue carbon projects, habitat restoration, and innovative financial mechanisms.
• Blue Horizons (Innovate/Scale): As our fourth pillar, Blue Horizons incubates new ideas, unlocks new funding sources, forges unexpected partnerships, and drives systemic change for people and nature on a global scale. Blue Horizons advocates for design and innovation for conservation at large.

Role Overview

The Design Lead plays a key role in championing design thinking and human-centered design across the Center for Oceans and the broader organization. This role sits at the intersection of design, science, and storytelling—requiring both creative vision and methodical execution to strengthen our programs through innovative design approaches.

Mindset & Approach

• A human-centered design leader comfortable navigating complex subjects and guiding others with little to no experience in the design field
• Critical thinker with an innate ability to challenge assumptions and who values the need to invest in uncovering the right questions before diving into solutions
• Comfortable moving between big-picture thinking and hands-on execution
• Willingness to prototype rapidly, test assumptions, and iterate solutions based on new findings
• Ability to balance creative exploration with pragmatic implementation
• Comfortable working through challenges and ideas independently, as well as engaging in deep collaboration with colleagues from diverse backgrounds
• A natural mediator in facilitation, with the ability to hear different perspectives and navigate difficult conversations
• A storyteller at heart, able to adapt complex scientific information into compelling narratives for a wider audience and communicate through different types of media

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead creative design processes, including design research, ideation, synthesis, and rapid prototyping that enhance collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving within the organization
• Shape and craft compelling narratives that articulate the vision, impact, and urgency of initiatives for diverse audiences, including audiences outside of science and conservation
• Serve as a thought partner to the Director of Blue Horizons to uncover new and impactful ways to apply design thinking and human-centered design methodologies to amplify our global impact
• Facilitate design-based strategy workshops that bring together diverse stakeholders to achieve strategic alignment
• Foster a culture of experimentation, learning, and innovation within the Center for Oceans and the organization at large
• Look beyond conservation for analogous sources of inspiration, bringing insights from other sectors that can benefit conservation outcomes (e.g., emerging technology, private sector practices, creative marketing, etc.)

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Typical office environment.
• Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate time difference with HQ and field programs may be necessary.
• Occasional travel to meet with donors or program staff may be required
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 4 to 6 years of experience applying human-centered design approaches to complex challenges.
• Demonstrated expertise in facilitating design-based workshops and collaborative sessions with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze complex problems, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop creative solutions.
• Extraordinary ability to connect and build relationships with colleagues and partners from diverse backgrounds, and to inspire them to successfully apply human-centered design and/or design thinking in their work.
• Experience gathering information and distilling complex information into compelling narratives for a wider audience.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and lead teams through iterative design processes.
• Proficiency in design and communication tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Miro, Figma, or similar platforms).
• Strong design sensibility, with experience developing visually engaging materials through diverse types of media to support design, facilitation, and storytelling (e.g., print, digital, video, audio, etc.).
• Highly collaborative problem solver, able to work with people from diverse backgrounds, as well as self-motivated and capable of working independently to deliver high-quality results.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge about ocean conservation is welcome but not necessary, as long as you are eager to learn about the wonder, beauty, and complexity of the world’s oceans.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.