Lead of Strategy Execution & Insight

Ricardo•Belleville, MI

2h•Hybrid

About The Position

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world. Automotive and Industrial is one of Ricardo Plc’s three operating business units and is a trusted global engineering services partner for clean and efficient integrated propulsion and energy systems. Our experience and history over more than 100 years at the forefront of transport & energy innovation enables us to deliver solutions to the most complex challenges, allowing our customers across all global transport & energy sectors to achieve a sustainable zero-carbon future. Delivering technology and engineering services across transport, energy, and industrial sectors to support clients in developing new technology and products. This includes a wide range of propulsion and energy system technologies that address key market challenges such as decarbonization, electrification and hydrogen transition. When combined with the industrialization and manufacturing capability within the Ricardo Performance Products (PP) team, this creates a unique end-to-end capability to help clients bring new solutions to market. To build on this end-to-end capability we are seeking a strategic and entrepreneurial leader to incubate and grow a new internal capability within the A&I group focused on strategy-driven engineering consulting. This role will lead the development and delivery of strategic services that enhance A&I’s technical offerings by supporting clients in developing their product and business strategies. In doing so this will strengthen our position to deliver downstream engineering and industrialization support aligned to the specific client strategy and needs.

Requirements

10+ years in engineering consulting, product strategy, or industrial innovation.
Strong understanding of the automotive and industrial sectors, with focus on electrification, hydrogen, or energy systems.
Experience building teams, launching new services, or leading cross-functional initiatives.
Proven ability to deliver market analysis, techno-economic studies, or strategic roadmaps.
Very strong sense of ownership and accountability in achieving sector’s pipeline and OI targets, with an entrepreneurial mindset to grow business.
Professional approach; exudes expertise and credibility.
Sound strategic thinker; possesses vision of what could be; ability to identify opportunities; ability to close deals efficiently; nimbleness in thinking; initiator of improvements.
Strong but customer-aware negotiation skills; track record of building high-performing teams; ability to influence.
Demonstrated ability to effectively multi-task.
Excellent presentation and communication skills; ability to condense complex issues into succinct messages for both internal and external communication; astute stakeholder management, both internally and externally.
Strong problem solving, analytical and listening skills.
Ability to handle and maintain confidential information.
Ability to excel in a fast-paced, matrix organization.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead an internal strategic services team, starting within ELE/FC and scaling across A&I based on demand and opportunity.
Define the function’s roadmap, service offerings, operating model, and success metrics.
Align strategic services with A&I’s growth priorities and the end-to-end capability across A&I and PP, working closely with GS and technical leaders.
Develop a portfolio of high-value technology and product focused strategic services, including: Should-Cost Analysis & Relative Cost Analysis Product Benchmarking Technology Roadmapping Market Entry and Positioning Strategy Supply Chain, Cost Optimization and Operations Optimization
Create reusable internal tools, frameworks, and playbooks to scale delivery across teams.
Pilot and refine offerings within live projects, ensuring value delivery and alignment with client and business needs.
Integrate strategic thinking into engineering workflows, proposals, and project scoping efforts.
Lead and mentor a cross-functional team, balancing delivery, business development, and IP creation.
Proactively identify talent needs, justify resourcing, and drive recruitment aligned with growth.
Foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture within the strategy team and across A&I.
Support internal and external strategic initiatives, acting as a key partner to GS leadership.
Assist in proposal development and client engagement to unlock new markets and opportunities.
Guide clients through high-uncertainty decision-making in areas like electrification, hydrogen, and regulatory shifts.