Kearney D&A Activate Director of Operations

A.T. Kearney • Chicago, IL

262d • $198,000 - $235,000

About The Position

The D&A Activate Director of Operations is a key leader within Kearney's D&A Activate Specialists team, responsible for driving operational excellence and enabling strategic success. Acting as the strategic and operational right-hand to the D&A Activate Practice Leader, this role ensures that internal operations run seamlessly to support the delivery of exceptional client service. This position plays a central role in executing business strategy—overseeing talent utilization, risk management, business performance tracking, and operational readiness to meet the practice's growth ambitions. The Director of Operations partners closely with cross-functional teams, enabling agile, efficient, and client-focused operations. As a critical enabler of practice performance, you will own the operational rhythm of the team, provide strategic decision support, and ensure alignment across priorities. You'll serve as a vital bridge between business leadership and enabling functions, proactively managing resources, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring that operational decisions are tightly linked to both revenue growth and client success. This role reports directly to the D&A Activate Practice Leader and supports a group of uniquely skilled professionals whose expertise is key to the firm's strategic objectives and long-term impact.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in strategy consulting and startup/scaleup environments
• Experience in leadership roles (e.g., CEO/COO) in digital or high-growth ventures
• Genuine passion for the Data & Analytics industry
• Deep understanding of business metrics, financial analysis, and workforce planning
• Ability to interpret market trends, client needs, and operational risks
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to thrive in dynamic environments with shifting priorities
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field preferred
• Fluency in English; experience with global or remote workforce models is a plus
• Consistent track record of delivering high-quality work and managing teams successfully
• High degree of self-initiative and a service-oriented mindset
• Comfortable working with data and ensuring accuracy in numerical tasks
• Trustworthiness and discretion in work
• Value collaboration and take pride in achieving results as part of a team

Responsibilities

• Lead the business risk assessment process by identifying potential operational, financial, and talent risks
• Monitor utilization rates across teams, tracking resource demand and making recommendations for capacity adjustments
• Consolidate market insights from Activate business leads and provide the leadership team with a clear, aggregated perspective to support strategic decision-making
• Collaborate with the business development team to ensure client pipeline visibility and strategic account targeting
• Collaborate across teams to analyze and report on key D&A Activate metrics, shaping recommendations that enhance performance and impact
• Ensure optimal deployment of specialists to meet utilization and billability targets
• Partner with finance to understand profitability, pipeline growth, and net fees
• Prioritize key clients and track retention/satisfaction metrics
• Provide data-backed recommendations for strategic moves based on market and competitive insights
• Anticipate and proactively resolve business risks
• Support client satisfaction tracking, feedback loops, and relationship expansion opportunities
• Ensure strategic client accounts are properly resourced and have the right talent allocation
• Oversee internal tracking of client engagement models and risk flags
• Assess utilization tracking to ensure effective staffing
• Act as the operational link between HRBP and Business Leadership
• Work with Finance and HR to forecast talent needs based on market demand and business growth
• Serve as the key operational advisor to the D&A Activate Leader
• Build a lightweight, technology-first organization and operational processes
• Establish efficient reporting mechanisms focused on clarity and action
• Analyze current operational processes and identify areas for enhancement
• Lead initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and improve service delivery

Benefits

• Generous retirement/pension savings contributions
• Comprehensive medical insurance for employees and their families
• Structured and on-the-job learning and development opportunities
• Personalized opportunities including talent mobility, flexible work programs, and externships
• Paid time off and paid sick time off
• 401(k) match and profit sharing
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Healthcare concierge
• Backup child/adult care
• Annual employer HSA contribution
• Home office stipend
• Subsidized gym membership
• Annual wellness program
• Leaves of absence for physical, mental, and emotional well-being

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree