Manager, Client Innovation

Hill international•Irvine, CA

2d•$100,000 - $145,000

About The Position

Hill International is seeking a Manager, Client Innovation in Mission Viejo, California Responsibilities Client Engagement & Advisory Build trusted relationships with mid- to senior-level client stakeholders across energy, utilities, education, and institutional environments. Lead discovery activities—including interviews, workshops, and field assessments—to surface operational challenges and transformation needs. Support Senior Managers in identifying cross-sector patterns, strategic themes, and high-impact innovation opportunities. Solution Design & Innovation Delivery Lead development of innovation concepts, transformation pathways, and solution requirements. Apply systems thinking to diagnose pain points, map system interdependencies, and identify actionable leverage points. Use a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate people, process, technology, and governance components of potential solutions. Develop prototypes or low-fidelity software concepts when needed to illustrate solution value. Program Management & Execution Oversee day-to-day delivery of innovation engagements, coordinating workstreams across GISI operating companies and technical teams. Develop detailed project plans, manage dependencies, track milestones, and ensure alignment with client expectations. Identify risks, issues, and mitigation strategies, escalating complex challenges appropriately. Ensure quality and consistency in deliverables and client communications. Team Leadership & Collaboration Provide coaching, structure, and direction to Senior Consultants and Consultants. Foster cross-functional collaboration, ensuring input from engineering, analytics, operations, safety, and technology experts. Contribute to development of methodologies, frameworks, and playbooks that strengthen team capabilities and support scalable delivery. Analysis, Insights & Reporting Lead preparation of client-ready deliverables including assessments, business cases, process maps, and solution architectures. Track engagement KPIs, client satisfaction, and pilot outcomes to inform future phases of work. Generate insights on market trends, client

Requirements

6 –9 years of experience in consulting, innovation, digital transformation, or operations-focused roles.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Technology, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
Proven ability to lead workstreams, manage client interactions, and deliver complex, cross-functional initiatives.
Strong experience with multi-disciplinary problem solving, systems thinking, and structured analysis.
Design Thinking Practitioner / Agile Certified or Equivalent Experience
Systems Mapping and Scenario Planning (proficient)
Software Prototyping Tools (Figma, PowerApps, Cursor/Windsurf, Miro, or similar)
Data Analytics & Visualization Tools (Power BI, Tableau, Excel)
Operates fluidly between strategic framing and hands-on delivery, providing clarity, structure, and direction to teams and clients.
Thrives in multi-stakeholder environments, translating diverse inputs into coherent solutions and action plans.
Builds trust-based relationships through credible facilitation, thoughtful problem solving, and reliable execution.
Champions innovation as a system of continuous improvement, helping clients embed practices, capabilities, and cultural readiness.
Demonstrated comfort working across asset-intensive or institutional sectors (energy, utilities, education, healthcare, safety).
Balances security rigor with operational realities and business outcomes.

Responsibilities

Build trusted relationships with mid- to senior-level client stakeholders across energy, utilities, education, and institutional environments.
Lead discovery activities—including interviews, workshops, and field assessments—to surface operational challenges and transformation needs.
Support Senior Managers in identifying cross-sector patterns, strategic themes, and high-impact innovation opportunities.
Lead development of innovation concepts, transformation pathways, and solution requirements.
Apply systems thinking to diagnose pain points, map system interdependencies, and identify actionable leverage points.
Use a multi-disciplinary approach to evaluate people, process, technology, and governance components of potential solutions.
Develop prototypes or low-fidelity software concepts when needed to illustrate solution value.
Oversee day-to-day delivery of innovation engagements, coordinating workstreams across GISI operating companies and technical teams.
Develop detailed project plans, manage dependencies, track milestones, and ensure alignment with client expectations.
Identify risks, issues, and mitigation strategies, escalating complex challenges appropriately.
Ensure quality and consistency in deliverables and client communications.
Provide coaching, structure, and direction to Senior Consultants and Consultants.
Foster cross-functional collaboration, ensuring input from engineering, analytics, operations, safety, and technology experts.
Contribute to development of methodologies, frameworks, and playbooks that strengthen team capabilities and support scalable delivery.
Lead preparation of client-ready deliverables including assessments, business cases, process maps, and solution architectures.
Track engagement KPIs, client satisfaction, and pilot outcomes to inform future phases of work.
Generate insights on market trends, client