Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple.
For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention.
Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter.
We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft.
We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.
The Role
As a Strategy Director, you'll help shape how some of the world's most recognized brands show up through digital products, platforms, and experiences. You'll lead the strategic thinking behind complex digital ecosystems — connecting brand, customer experience, UX, content, and emerging technology into cohesive experiences that solve real business and user needs.
In this role, you'll partner closely with designers, technologists, producers, and executive leaders to bring ambitious ideas to life. You'll lead and mentor a team of UX strategists, guide strategy across key client engagements, influence staffing and team operations, and help shape new business opportunities. If you enjoy untangling complexity, collaborating across disciplines, and turning big-picture thinking into clear strategic direction, you'll find plenty of opportunities to make an impact here.
What You'll Do
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of UX strategists, providing ongoing coaching, feedback, and opportunities for growth.
- Partner with strategists across active projects, offering guidance while empowering them to own day-to-day delivery.
- Oversee staffing and resource allocation across UX-focused projects, ensuring the right people are matched to the right opportunities while balancing team capacity.
- Collaborate with production and creative leadership to plan staffing, manage project needs, and adapt as priorities shift.
- Support client engagements by providing strategic leadership, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring consistently high-quality strategic thinking throughout delivery.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to navigate project planning, scope changes, staffing needs, and opportunities for organic account growth.
- Lead strategy for UX and digital experience proposals, partnering with multidisciplinary teams to shape project approaches, define team structures, and develop compelling pitch strategies.
- Help evolve the strategy discipline by contributing to team development, operational improvements, and shared best practices across the studio.
What You'll Bring
- 8+ years of experience in UX strategy, experience strategy, digital strategy, or brand strategy within an agency or consultancy environment.
- Experience translating brand strategy into websites, digital platforms, or customer experiences.
- Demonstrated success managing and developing strategists or multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience balancing people leadership with hands-on strategic work across multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong operational instincts, including experience with staffing, resourcing, or leading multiple workstreams simultaneously.
- Experience contributing to or leading new business pitches, workshops, and strategic proposals.
- Confidence building relationships with senior client stakeholders while partnering effectively with creative, design, and production teams.
- A collaborative leadership style, strong communication skills, and the ability to thrive in fast-moving, evolving environments.
Pay Range
- The expected pay range for this position is $150,000-$190,000. This range reflects the potential compensation across multiple levels and U.S. geographic pay regions. Final compensation is determined by the candidate's level and their work location. Instrument uses three regional pay ranges to account for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base). Learn more about our pay philosophy and regional pay structure.
What We Offer
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401k with employer matching
- Unlimited PTO + company wide closures
- Work From Home and Wellbeing monthly stipend
- HSA Employer Contribution
- Professional Development Stipend
- Paid Parental Leave
Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment
Great Compensation with Annual Reviews (Learn more about our Pay Philosophy)
401(k) Matching with Immediate Vesting
Robust Medical, Vision, and Accident Insurance
Generous Paid Holidays and unlimited PTO
Monthly Wellbeing Stipend
Career Management and Leadership Training
Skills Required
- Led strategy at a senior level across multiple projects or accounts
- Expertise in UX and brand strategy for digital experiences
- Broad strategy skills across brand, digital, product, content, and marketing (deeper expertise in some areas)
- Experience building, hiring, managing, and developing strategist teams
- Skilled at research, synthesis, storytelling, and connecting insights to action
- Proven ability to present and influence senior and executive stakeholders
- Experience contributing to and shaping pitches (2-3 at a time)
- Ability to define and implement strategic standards, frameworks, and repeatable processes
- Strong facilitation and workshop leadership skills
- Capacity to operate quickly across new categories with minimal ramp time
- Curiosity about emerging tools and technologies and good judgment about their application
What We Do
We’re a team of technologists, strategists, and creative problem solvers seeking to make a positive impact on your business and the world around us
