Lead - Design Thinking

About Us:

CMR University (CMRU), Bengaluru, is a new-age university fostering creative learning, interdisciplinary research, and innovation-driven education. With a mission to nurture thinkers, innovators, and change-makers, CMRU blends academic excellence with real-world relevance.

At the heart of this mission lies the Centre for Innovation, Startups & Excellence, a dynamic hub designed to empower entrepreneurs, support industry-academia collaboration, and build sustainable ecosystems of innovation.

Scope of Work:

The Lead – Design Thinking

Role & Responsibilities:

● To design, develop and organize sessions on Design Thinking for students across all streams as a 1 credit, 2 credits, 4 credits, and GR courses for offline as well as online modes of teaching- the modules exist and can be modified as required.

● Planning and executing faculty workshops, planning other events such as exhibitions/ hackathons/ sprints for students to collaborate outside the classroom space- activating the Makerspace, etc along with the Design Thinking Team. Planning and executing sessions for professionals as and when required.

● You will work closely with the Design Thinking Team on the curriculum - which is constantly evolving based on feedback from the sessions, altering it to suit the needs of every stream.

● Other responsibilities include creating a vision for and planning the “Design Thinking Day”- an annual showcase of student work and planning and organizing industry connections, planning and organizing other events such as ‘Cause’- Global Open Innovation Challenge.

● Contributing to marketing efforts through writing articles, co-creating video content, and other marketing efforts.

● The role requires a deep understanding of Design Thinking and pedagogical methodologies. Deep design and academic acumen.

● Masters/ PG in Design Strategy/ Management or any Design field which focuses on design strategy.

● 4+ years of experience in design + coaching/ teaching/ facilitating sessions.

● Meticulous planning skills.

● Ability to anchor/ facilitate sessions for any audience.

● Strong articulation ability and ability to break down concepts for any audience.

● Leadership skills- the ability to work collaboratively with and guide the DT team and work together to co-plan, organize, and execute all activities.

● Embodying the Design Thinking mindset- deeply believing in the power of collaboration, being positive - in order to create a positive and creative environment for any audience, having the perseverance to go through intensive workshops and organize events, having a spirit of innovation and experimentation.

● Excellent oral and written communication skills.

● At the end of every workshop, record and upload the assessments as well as other administrative details in the college portal.

● The role may demand switching between online and offline mode (across campuses based out of HRBR layout (Head office/ base), OMBR layout, and CMR Lakeside Campus in Bagalur) of conducting workshops- based on the need/ covid regulations. It requires an ability to connect with students- switching from team to team in order to push their thinking.

● This role is very fulfilling and rewarding as you will get to work closely with students and actually see a transformation over the course of the workshops. If you love teaching/ are energized by working with students, this is a great opportunity for you.

Candidate’s Profile :

• Master’s Degree or Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) in relevant fields.
• Advance degree in relevant field / Certification course.
• Strong facilitation skills are a must.
• Is articulate and well-spoken, and excellent at communication, especially oral, visual, and written communication.
• An ability to work collaboratively- to give and receive feedback with grace; ability to work well cross-functionally.
• Passion for learning and relentless improvement; able to work comfortably under pressure in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Self-starter that takes initiative and is driven by new challenges
• Strong work ethic and rigorous attention to detail.
• 10-15 Yrs preferred University / Industrial experience.
• PG/ Masters in any design-related field or Postgraduate qualifications in behavioral or social sciences, such as psychology, anthropology, sociology, human factors, or a related subject area. Or MBA from B-School, or PG in management
• Course on Design Thinking with a minimum work experience applying the concepts/ facilitating workshops for 4-5 years (min) post the completion of the course.

Required Skills & Core Competencies include

• Design research and user experience (UX) analysis
• Business strategy and project management
• Digital literacy and familiarity with innovation tools
• Empathy and user-centric thinking
• Creative and critical problem-solving
• Team facilitation and collaboration
• Adaptability and resilience
• Storytelling
• Facilitation skills
• Presentation skills- the ability to create effective slides and present.
• Excellent communication skills.

Location : CMR University (City Campus, Kalyan Nagar)

To apply, please share your resume. We would love to hear from you!