Director Of Design Strategy & Research - 11 - 145 - sc/orange County

Director of Design Strategy & Research

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

The Director of Design Strategy & Research is a foundational leadership position within The Salvation Army's Center of Applied Research and Innovation (CARI) and champions a cutting-edge "human-centered design" focus within the organization. This pivotal role strategically bridges human-centered design, participatory research, innovation practices, continuous improvement, and faith-rooted service in alignment with The Salvation Army's mission and the operational framework at the Center of Hope in Anaheim, California. This position will also strengthen CARI's ability to secure grants and new funding opportunities.

As CARI's program design leader, this role is critical to ensure The Salvation Army's programs are informed by lived experience, shaped by ethical research practices, and driven by rigorous, actionable insights that improve outcomes for vulnerable communities. The Director will help translate real-time learning from the Center of Hope in Anaheim into scalable innovations that can be shared across the Salvation Army – Orange County, and possibly other Salvation Army locations in the Western Territory.

Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis. Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead. Ability to operate computer, fax, and telephone. Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

By virtue of its direct contact with, and representation to people who engage in Salvation Army programs, people who demonstrate an understanding of The Salvation Army's Christian mission are required for this position.

Doctoral Degree in Human-Centered Design, Social Work, Public Health, Policy, or a related field. Preferred: Doctor of Social Work with a focus on innovation and systemic change.

Minimum 10+ years of progressive experience leading human-centered design research and implementation and cross-sector strategy efforts in nonprofit, government or academic settings.

Demonstrated ability to lead ethical human-centered design research, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations.

Skilled in translating design research insights into programmatic strategies that inform policy, strengthen systems, and drive measurable social outcomes.

Experienced in strategic planning, developing multi-year innovation roadmaps, and aligning research and design priorities with organizational mission and long-term goals.

Deep understanding of trauma-informed care, community engagement, and system-level change.

Proven success in designing scalable models and frameworks that can be replicated across sites, including development of playbooks, toolkits, and Communities of Practice to support broad implementation.

Adept at fostering collaboration across diverse teams, building internal capacity, and mentoring emerging leaders in research, innovation, and social impact.