TMT Insights Director

Spencer Stuart•Chicago, IL

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Insights Director will be central to Spencer Stuart's sharpened business development approach, focusing on smarter client targeting, higher-impact client interactions, and a more competitive, insights-led way of engaging the market. This role will shape and drive differentiated insights that elevate the firm's reputation in TMT, strengthen client engagement at the top, and support the Practice’s growth agenda. The Insights Director will partner with Practice leadership and members on strategic business development-related insight and content creation to drive strategic priorities. They will work in close collaboration with consulting, Client Development, and other BD enablement teams, as well as cross-functional teams, to acquire, organize, analyze, and create knowledge that enables Spencer Stuart to deliver superior value for its clients. The TMT Practice operates within a global network, spanning strategic markets worldwide, and includes approximately 200 practice members across various roles. The firm's ambition is to be the world’s leading leadership advisory firm in the TMT sector by building trusted relationships and establishing insightful advisory offerings.

Requirements

10+ years of consulting, professional services, market research (quantitative/qualitative) and/or executive search experience
Has managed BD content-creation activities and processes
Has managed operational activities and processes
Undergraduate degree (A master's degree would be a plus)
Spoken and written fluency in English
Project Managing for Results: Works with the Practice Leader and the Practice Director to set an insights strategy and objectives for the Practice. Maintains general awareness of progress over time. Works to achieve business development and content-creation goals for the Practice while overcoming obstacles and/or planning for contingencies.
Hands-on, rolls up one’s sleeves approach, energized by executing projects autonomously. Ability to execute throughout the insight creation process, from collecting and analyzing data, to distilling it into insights and owning the narrative for client facing materials and meetings.
Tenacious, with a track record of working successfully to steer self and team through complex situations; proactively seeks to be involved in many diverse projects.
Shows strong sense of urgency about reaching deadlines for pursuit opportunities and agreed-upon reactive and proactive business development projects/targets.
Is comfortable leveraging existing internal resources and customizing their scope to develop Practice tailored insights.
Checks work of self and others to ensure business development deliverables are continuously improved, distinguished and against required quality standards; can give and receive feedback constructively.
Demonstrates excellent project management skills, outlining key tasks and reviewing performance and progress on projects / pursuit deliverables on a regular basis to ensure the team is achieving results.
Sets up replicable data analysis processes with thorough and regular follow up.
Engages closely with colleagues; communicates the link between current tasks and longer-term goals.
Delegates some tasks with close supervision, ensuring team members have stretch learning opportunities. with quality oversight
Collaborating & Influencing: Collaborative approach; takes initiative to create and foster enduring relationships with senior leaders, Practice consultants and Client Development team members.
Demonstrates strong listening skills; Invites and uses the opinions, perspectives and best practices of others in the Firm, Practice, the Client Development team and other stakeholders, to influence, drive engagement and shape the way forward.
Demonstrates strong influencing toolkit; is able to drive for consensus in a collaborative and efficient manner; able to challenge in a non-confrontational manner.
Adapts own approach to the audience, anticipating impact of words and actions, preparing for possible resistance and responding in an appropriate style, using a range of influencing styles and a strong client-service orientation.
Credible and mature with the ability to support his/her point with both factual evidence and experience-based opinion.
Engages team members in a dialogue to gain commitment and bring them "on board" to business development initiatives, linking their perspective to the intent.
Successfully engage clients with highly insightful information in a clear and confident manner.
Formulates and clearly articulates a point of view based on knowledge/insights to help solve our clients’ leadership challenges.
Operates in a highly engaged way, resolving potential conflicts by discussing individual issues with each person.
Strategic Thinking: Sees the bigger picture due to a strong business acumen, helps formulate commercial and business development opportunities grounded in knowledge and insights.
Leverages conceptual thinking to frame and/or “dimensionalize” a topic, landscape and/or go-forward plan.
Can identify emerging macro and TMT-market trends and translate to implications for Firm’s commercial, growth-driving strategies.
Is naturally curious and creative, considering new ways to approach analyses and to share and present insights.
Applies critical thinking to analyses, ensuring insights and messages are relevant and compelling.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to some of Spencer Stuart's key TMT sectors is a plus
A master's degree would be a plus

Responsibilities

Partner with the Global Practice Leader and Practice Director to set priorities for primary and secondary research and analysis across markets, clients, competitors, talent, and outcomes.
Collaborate with other Insights Directors to share and scale best practices and learnings across the firm.
Work with Marketing to develop Practice-specific intellectual capital, including market analyses and thought leadership.
Produce research and analysis to inform the Practice’s competitive position, growth opportunities, and areas of white space.
Identify and communicate key talent and leadership trends relevant to the Practice.
Work closely with Practice Consultants and Client Development to embed insights, data, and analysis into pitches and pursuit strategies.
Support client prioritization and coverage efforts by grounding decisions in market, leadership, and competitive insight.
Monitor relevant news and emerging topics tied to key clients and opportunities and share timely insights with the Practice.
Partner with the Client Development Manager to ensure business development signals are captured and shared consistently.
Support adoption of new tools and technologies that enhance insight generation and BD effectiveness.
Serve as a go-to resource on sector dynamics, key players, functions, and terminology.
Actively contribute to global business development efforts by sharing insights and best practices across Practices.
Partner with the Practice Director, Client Development Manager, and Marketing to define and execute an effective insights communication strategy.
Support the development, coaching, and retention of the TMT Client Development team.
Champion business development and insights initiatives across the Practice and the firm.

Benefits

Annual discretionary bonus program
Retirement savings plan with discretionary profit sharing contribution and employer match
PTO (minimum 15 days per year, increases with tenure)
Paid sick time (10 days per year)
Company holidays (12 days per year)
Paid leaves of absence when applicable
Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance
Healthcare flexible spending account
Life Insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
Wellness benefits, including an employee assistance program, virtual mental health program, and mindfulness program
Voluntary benefit options, including supplemental life insurance, identity theft protection, and whole life insurance with long-term care and critical illness coverage