Associate, Leadership Advisory Services

Position Summary

The LAS Associate supports Consultants in the full execution of client engagements, including the deep dive, multi-method assessment of executives, teams and organizations, and the formulation of written materials relative to assessment and development findings.

The Associate contributes actively at all stages of the engagement lifecycle- from business development / RFP through to advisory recommendations and client / participant feedback.

The LAS practice serves as an innovation hub for the broader firm. In addition to executing client engagements, the Associate serves as a subject matter expert relative to Spencer Stuart’s proprietary culture products and solutions.

They play an important role in the education and training of internal colleagues (both LAS and Search) regarding product offerings and participates actively in internal initiatives for LAS product development and the build-out of the practice infrastructure.

The objective of the LAS Associate role is to provide world-class leadership advisory services to the firm’s clients while also serving as a key colleague and teammate in advancing the growth agenda of the practice within the context of the firm’s overall strategic objectives.

A typical LAS client engagement team may include : LAS Consultants, Associates, Project Managers, Search Consultants and Executive Assistants.

We view the leadership advisory skillset to be portable across industries; the LAS Associate serves clients across a diverse range of industry sectors.

The LAS Associate role requires approximately 30-50% travel, primarily within the geographic / continental region of the person’s home office (i.

e. EMEA, North America, APAC). Occasional global travel may be required.

The base compensation range for this position is $90,000 150,000 per year. The actual base compensation offered within this range will be dependent on the individual’s skills, experiences, and qualifications.

This position will be eligible to participate in our annual discretionary bonus program.

Spencer Stuart also offers a competitive benefits package, which includes :

• 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), and paid leaves of absence when applicable;
• Comprehensive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, and healthcare flexible spending account;
• Life Insurance, and short-term and long-term disability insurance;

Wellness benefits, including an employee assistance program, virtual mental health program, and mindfulness program; and

Voluntary benefit options, including supplemental life insurance, identity theft protection, and whole life insurance with long-term care and critical illness coverage.

Key Relationships

This position reports to the LAS Regional People and Business Manager (solid line), Consultants (on a per-engagement basis).

The successful candidate will engage regularly with members of the LAS and CEO practices.

This position will be based in one of Spencer Stuart’s North American offices.

Key Responsibilities

Supporting Execution

The LAS Associate is critical to the execution of client engagements and plays an active role in all aspects of the engagement lifecycle.

The successful Associate will handle multiple engagements across varied time zones with competing deadlines, and will work effectively with individuals who have differing styles in order to consistently produce world-class deliverables for the firm’s clients :

Fosters business development opportunities and assists in preparation for pitch presentations; participates in new business pitches

Assists in the development of client communications and engagement plan

Assists in the administration of proprietary leadership advisory tools and assessment methodologies

Works with Consultant to synthesize data from multi-method assessments and prepares client reports / deliverables capturing an integrated point of view

Contributes to summary client presentations and other documents identifying key organizational, cultural or strategic findings across the engagement

Participates in client meetings to relay assessment and advisory findings

Engagement Management

In collaboration with relevant team members (including but not limited to Executive Assistants, LAS Consultants, and Search Consultants / Associates) the LAS Associate participates in the planning and management of the engagement lifecycle.

Working with limited technology resources and a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders often spanning time-zones and geographies, the LAS Associate assists in driving high touch, high value engagement management and seamless execution :

Demonstrates initiative and commitment by doing what is needed at all phases of the process

Over time, develops an understanding of the resources required to execute all aspects of the engagement lifecycle; leverages this insight to consistently and proactively think ahead, develop engagement plans and timelines, and anticipate next steps

Communicates engagement progress to the client and / or engagement team at agreed upon intervals

Fosters close communication and builds strong working relationships with peer colleagues, including Executive Assistants, Associates and Analysts

Manages a large volume of information with rigorous attention to detail; develops personal systems and tactics for maximizing personal organization and productivity

Practice Building

Experiencing a continuous growth trajectory and serving as a strategic incubator for the broader firm as it evolves its approach to assessment in search, the LAS Practice encourages an all hands on deck attitude from each of its members.

The successful Associate is a self-starter who will operate comfortably in this environment characterized by rapid change and ambiguity.

Associate will assist in driving structural and product-driven enhancements within LAS by :

Participating actively in internal initiatives relative to LAS product development and the build-out of practice infrastructure, if needed by taking on responsibilities for additional tasks

Practice-building activities may include but are not limited to :

providing ongoing targeted feedback on current / existing LAS tools

assisting in the development of additional proprietary assessment tools and technologies

analyzing current business process methodologies and contributing to business process improvement initiatives

Building relationships with and proactively engaging with search colleagues; developing an understanding of the firm’s core search business and facilitating wider understanding of LAS products, services and strategy

Ideal experience

Four or more years’ experience in relevant leadership advisory or strategy consulting environment OR four or more years’ experience in corporate Human Resources Management with a focus on organizational development and / or organizational culture

Experience related to the application and interpretation of psychometric instruments

Superior business writing skills (as evidenced through project work or writing samples to be provided upon request)

General business acumen as defined by having operated in a range of business situations / contexts

Direct interaction / experience with executive-level clients is advantageous but not required

Undergraduate degree from highly competitive university required. Advanced degree is preferable

Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Command of additional languages helpful

Critical Capabilities for Success

Driving Results : Works to Meet / Beat Explicit Goals

Works to achieve goals while overcoming obstacles and / or planning for contingencies.

Is proactive and shows strong feelings of urgency about reaching targets

Checks work of themselves and others against required quality standards

Reviews performance and progress of key projects and initiatives on a regular basis to ensure team is achieving results, seeking corrective action as needed

Customer / Client Mindset : Highly responsive to clients and follows good process

Works to have things done correctly in order to maximize client satisfaction

Uses consistent approaches and good processes to address client needs

Respects client needs and places the highest importance on delivering timely and effective service

Addresses client concerns proactively and reactively

Demonstrates a keen sense of urgency and professionalism in responding to client communications and navigating client situations

Collaborating and Influencing : Engages individually to build collaboration

Invites and uses the opinions and perspectives of others

Engages others in a dialogue to gain commitment and bring them on board

Uses a range of influencing styles and adapts their own approach to the audience or individuals; anticipates the impact of their words and actions, prepares for possible resistance or pushback and responds in an appropriate, respectful manner.

Checks with both sides of a discussion to ensure common understanding

Takes initiative to maintain relationships