Experience Specialist (Contract)

In a nutshell: IDEO Chicago is seeking an Experience Specialist to support the success of design teams and our studio’s internal community from both an operational and cultural perspective. You’ll use your insight and curiosity about needs and challenges to stay a few steps ahead and elevate the bar for how we execute on the client and community experience. It’s not enough for our values* and belief in design excellence to surface only in the work we do with clients. We expect that the look and feel of our workplace, and the experiences we host at IDEO, will reflect our brand authentically as well. Our Experience Team treats large and small “moments” with equal potential to inspire people. Sometimes this means planning ahead for formal events in order to deliver signature interactions. Sometimes it means shifts in furniture or protocols that refresh our state of mind on a daily basis. Our Experience Team has a “no task too big or small” attitude with a natural inclination to pitch in and get our hands dirty (sometimes literally). We expect the Experience Specialist to have a “no task too big, no task too small” attitude with a natural inclination to get their hands dirty (sometimes literally). Once you are here you will: • Contribute to the day-to-day running of the office (calendaring, hospitality, logistics, supplies, studio environment), in a hands-on manner, in collaboration with the Experience Team and others. • Be present in the studio to ensure timely preparation, set-up, and coordination of meetings and events (sometimes past normal working hours). • Help prioritize requests for meetings, rooms, and catering and resolve conflicts when necessary. • Help design and coordinate on-brand, hospitality-focused experiences for clients, guests, and colleagues. • Build relationships and a local network especially with caterers, local restaurants, and other food vendors to grow resources for outstanding experiences. • Welcome clients and visitors by helping to coordinate their travel and logistics. Relevant experience: • At least 2-3 years of experience in a related role. • Experience in hospitality, theatre or stage production or a “concierge” type of role in a design studio, creative consultancy or corporate environment. • Excellent coordination, time management and organizational skills. • Natural ability to prioritize tasks. • Success at managing a high-volume of responsibility in a fast-paced environment. • A “no job too small” mentality. • Enthusiasm for collaborating with a variety of personalities and work styles. • Proficient with standard cloud based applications (Google Apps). • Helpful and empathetic, able to think and react on your feet. • Calmness and resilience, comfortable with handling tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. • Interest in working in a creative environment. *IDEO Values are: Be Optimistic, Collaborate, Take Ownership, Embrace Ambiguity, Talk Less, Do More, Learn from Failure, and Make Others Successful. What does IDEO offer you? IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career. Payscale & Benefits IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity. The role is in-person Monday - Friday 10am to 2pm daily . The hourly range for this role is based on candidate experience, loca