Innovation Research Strategist

Description

We are hiring a Innovation Research Strategist to define, prototype, and de-risk new product or service concepts. You will help to drive down uncertainty by testing value creation potential while understanding markets, developing business models, and discovering channels to market, utilizing lean and service design methodologies to transform ambiguity into viable opportunities for strategic go-to-market success.

What You Will Be Doing : The New Business Innovation team focus on providing practical real-world answers to complex problems by identifying, piloting and testing exciting new concepts and ideas with customers, and delivering the learnings back to the company to inform future strategies.

As a valued contributor to this work, you will be expected to :

• Oversee projects with multiple workstreams, including internal and external market scans, and customer assessments to guide strategic decisions.
• Assess the desirability and viability of various options through rigorous testing and analysis, along with qualitative and quantitative research.
• Effectively manage and engage diverse stakeholders and prioritize tasks to align with project goals and showcasing work and progress.
• Clearly communicate recommendations to drive commercial success and stakeholder buy-in.

Your Future Team : You will be part of a close-knit team of highly curious and data-driven innovators in the Grand Rapids, Michigan - Steelcase Learning + Innovation Center, who challenge and encourage each other to do our best work to provide meaningful impact at a global scale.

You will join agile project teams to research, prototype, and pilot new business models and work with other teams across the company including strategy, IT and channel.

You will have the chance to impact the company at the highest-level working with our executive team, while also getting into the details with specific project teams.

Who You Are : You can define a business problem, break it down into components, select its most critical elements, drive the analytical work needed to develop a perspective, and synthetize it all into a coherent set of service options and recommendations informed by comprehensive insights. Minimum Qualifications

• 4-year college or university degree in economics, business analytics, design or social sciences
• Advanced professional experience designing and delivering services with a mixed methods approach
• Experience using data to drive innovation and strategic decisions

Desired Skills and Experience

• Proficiency in applying design thinking and service design principles to drive innovation
• Strong business acumen with a solid understanding of business processes and strategies
• An entrepreneurial mindset familiar with lean start-up thinking and methodologies
• Familiarity with survey methodologies (e.g., question formation, programming, sampling) and Qualtrics
• Strong understanding of commercial realties with the analytical abilities to address complex issues
• Ability to deliver effective presentations to clearly and succinctly summarize quantities of information that can be tailored to different functions or leadership levels
• Meticulous approach to ensuring accuracy and quality in meeting deliverable deadlines
• Ability to demonstrate systems thinking and excel in ambiguity

Who We Are : Steelcase is a global design and thought leader in the world of work. Along with our expansive community of brands, we design and manufacture innovative furnishings and solutions to help people do their best work in the many places where work happens.

Why People Choose to Work with Us : At Steelcase, we put people at the center of everything we do. We understand the role of work and believe that it can bring meaning and purpose to the lives of our customers and our employees.

We prioritize supporting our employees both in and out of work, in all aspects of their lives. When we bring our talents together, we make a positive lasting impact through our work and communities.

Our Approach to Hybrid Work : At Steelcase, we have always believed that the office is our best place to work. Our workplace is designed to foster collaboration and engagement, providing employees with a space to do meaningful work that drives results.

Levels of flexibility vary by role and team, and employees and their leader need to align on expectations of flexibility.

What Matters to Us : More than qualifications, we’re looking for talent and potential. We are proud to have a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we're always looking to improve our global community.

We value applicants who are comfortable interacting with people different from themselves, building mutual respect and positive relationships.

We invite people from all backgrounds and genders to apply. If we can make the application process easier through accommodation, please email us at myhr@steelcase.

com. Steelcase provides employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, genetic information, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or veteran status and bases all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.

We are proud to be recognized for our inclusive workforce by the Corporate Equality Index for the past nine years. Steelcase is a MVAA- Silver Level Veteran-Friendly Employer.

Steelcase recognizes the amazing experiences and skills that Veteran's possess. We encourage all Veterans and Veteran Spouses to apply.

Please see our Working at Steelcase Document for more detailed benefits and compensation information. If you’re interested in Steelcase, but this isn’t the right time or role, join our Talent Community to be updated on future openings in your area(s) of expertise.