Senior Design Researcher

This position is available in the following locations:

• Omaha
• Lincoln
• Kansas City
• Houston
• Dallas
• Phoenix
• Washington, DC

Role Summary

The Senior Design Researcher will work with integrated design teams, clients, and stakeholders to ideate, plan, and execute research for design and topics related to the built environment’s impacts on education, teaching, learning, and training. Their strongest partners will be designers and leaders in our Higher Education and K-12 Education, but the Senior Design Researcher will be expected to support and grow relationships across the firm to crosspollinate information and support the design of training spaces across DLR Group’s portfolio.

A Senior Design Researcher plays an important role in DLR Group’s integrated evidence-based design culture. They are a trusted advisor to designers, clients, and stakeholders on how to prioritize and translate research for practice. Anyone in this role is a part of building the firm’s culture of innovation and curiosity. All members of the Design Research team can participate in and grow to leadership; Design Researchers can explore various project types and specialize in areas that interest them as they gain experience in the firm.

Position Responsibilities

Senior Design Researchers may work on a combination of client projects and stand-alone research projects with internal or external partners. They may also work with cross-functional internal partners for research that benefits the firm. This person will collaborate with others on the Design Research team and cross-functional partners to:

• Present research findings to a variety of audiences including clients, stakeholders, and designers
• Participate in project interviews with integrated design teams
• Develop thought leadership, writing, and presentations and collaborate on shared writing and presentations with others at DLR Group to benefit the firm’s practice
• Learn DLR Group’s existing tools and activities for research related to teaching, learning, and training and consider ways to expand research tools
• Maintain current certification in Human Subjects Research Protection and Institutional Review Board requirements related to research with participants under the age of 18 and student data privacy
• Maintain and update a research library of current literature benchmarks and reports relevant to educational or training topics
• Manage time and workload across multiple projects to ensure high quality timely and ethical work
• Represent DLR Group’s research expertise in the home office when traveling to other locations and through participation in professional organizations
• Mentor within and beyond the Design Research team to create a culture of continuous improvement through knowledge sharing discussion and learning

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree from a program with a focus on: research methodologies; social science; design research; statistics; education; or similar
• 3-5 years of relevant professional or academic work experience related to the purpose, planning, design, or management of educational/training facilities
• Direct experience with fundamental quantitative and qualitative research tools, including surveys, interviews and focus groups, observations, and case studies
• Direct experience with mixed-methods research related to the built environment’s impacts on education, teaching, learning, and training
• Direct experience communicating research concepts and findings to non-expert audiences verbally, in writing, and visually
• Experience working with or facilitating diverse stakeholder groups as part of the research process
• Awareness of current Human Subjects Research practices (current HSRP certification is not required but will be a priority for those starting in this role) for research involving legal minors
• Travel may be required up to 25%

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or additional training focused on: research methodologies; social science; design research; statistics; education; or similar
• Relevant professional experience related to the planning, design, or management of educational/training facilities
• Certifications relevant to design thinking, design research, or evidence-based design
• Peer-reviewed publications and/or speaking engagements related to the built environment’s impact on education, learning, or training concepts
• Experience writing or managing research grants and projects