Director - Consumer Sector - Retail Strategy

master-TMS•Chicago, IL

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

Simon-Kucher is seeking a Director for its Consumer consulting team, focusing on Retail strategy. This role is crucial for driving value-based outcomes and contributing to the firm's culture and success. The position involves cultivating client relationships, sourcing project opportunities, and developing proposals. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in commercial and go-to-market topics within retail, including pricing strategy, promotion effectiveness, markdown optimization, assortment planning, merchandising, consumer segmentation, loyalty programs, and omnichannel strategies. Deep knowledge of retail sub-industries like specialty retail, apparel, footwear, and retail services across both brick-and-mortar and online channels is expected. The Director will lead and mentor a team of junior consultants, developing innovative insights and recommendations through data analysis and market research. This is a high-energy, hands-on leadership role requiring collaboration with clients, staff, and Partners in a non-hierarchical environment. The role also involves developing team members through coaching and feedback, demonstrating empathy and emotional intelligence. The Director will own multiple client engagements, ensuring client success, project profitability, and employee satisfaction. Active participation in proposal development and pre-sales meetings is required to expand the firm's commercial growth strategy footprint. The role also entails steering the growth and development of Simon-Kucher's Consumer sector, specializing in the Retail practice, by developing new capabilities, supporting thought leadership, identifying new business opportunities, and pursuing follow-on work with existing clients. Staying abreast of industry trends, analyzing existing processes, and recommending improvements are also key responsibilities.

Requirements

Outstanding drive, determination, and desire to be part of a growing, top tier consulting firm.
Strong knowledge of and passion for the Consumer sector, with specific focus on the Retail industry.
An undergraduate degree is required; MS, MA, MBA, or other advanced degree is preferred.
Minimum 8+ years of experience in a professional services environment, ideally in management consulting, serving the Consumer sector, specifically the Retail industry.
Proven business consulting expertise in commercial and go-to-market topics.
Access to an existing network within the Consumer Retail industry in North America, preferably with senior executives within Retail organizations.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain deep relationships with senior clients.
Demonstrated record of achievement in selling and managing new and follow-on engagements.
Record of accomplishment of managing multiple engagements, including work plans, deliverables, budgets and schedules, and accounts receivable.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to distill insights/takeaways from large sets of data.
Demonstrated record of solving complex problems, directing teams, and completing challenging project activities within tight project timelines.
Record of accomplishment of managing multiple engagements, including work plans, deliverables, budgets and schedules, and accounts receivable.
Effective presentation and communication abilities to succinctly present findings, takeaways, and key recommendations to a senior audience.
Proven ability to build, grow, and maintain a high-performing consulting team.
Highly inclusive and empathetic approach to leadership and team management that enables tangible return for clients and fosters cooperation across teams.
Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work seamlessly and collaboratively with various internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
Ability to travel at least 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

MS, MA, MBA, or other advanced degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Cultivate trusted-partner client relationships, source project opportunities, and develop project proposals leading to revenue generation.
Bring knowledge across commercial and go-to-market topics within retail including but not limited to pricing strategy and setting, promotion effectiveness, markdowns and clearance optimization, assortment optimization and white space identification, merchandising and value proposition, consumer segmentation, loyalty program design, and omnichannel strategies.
Have deep expertise in sub-industries within Retail, such as specialty retail, apparel/fashion, footwear, retail services across brick-and-mortar stores and online channels.
Lead and guide a large and incredibly talented team of junior consultants to develop innovative and actionable insights and recommendations using data, analytics, and market research that deliver impactful recommendations for clients.
Owner of multiple client engagements and projects within Consumer sector, specifically Retail organizations. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, scale, and manage delivery which balances customer success, project profitability, and employee satisfaction.
Actively participate in proposal development and pre-sales meetings with potential new clients to address their needs, priorities, and challenges, while expanding SK's commercial growth strategy footprint, offerings, and client base.
Proactively steer the continued growth and development of Simon-Kucher's Consumer sector, specializing in Retail practice by contributing to priorities (e.g., developing new capabilities, supporting thought leadership articles/research relevant for clients), by identifying and pursuing new business opportunities (e.g., lead generation, new content creation, supporting end-to-end proposal development, and participating in client pitches), and proactively pursuing follow-on opportunities with existing clients.
Stay abreast of current business and industry trends relevant to our clients' businesses.
Analyze existing processes and tools and recommend opportunities for continued improvement.