Head of Consulting - SmithBucklin Corporation : Job Details

We're looking for people who are as passionate as we are about making a difference. If you want to build your career and help associations grow, you've come to the right place. We're proud to help people discover and do what they love. The people of Smithbucklin embrace a service-first, inclusive culture that welcomes each employee as part of a team.

Every day, we work together to advance the missions of the clients we serve. Our teams help our clients grow—and through that positive energy, our team members grow and flourish, too. Find a career path that aligns with your personal growth goals at Smithbucklin.

See our open positions with Smithbucklin, Smithbucklin-owned companies, and Smithbucklin client organizations below.

Business OperationsChicago,ILWashington,D.C.

Smithbucklin is an employee-owned professional services company with over 600 team members and more than 75 years of success serving the association market. We are looking for a Director of Association Strategic Planning to join our Chicago or Washington, D.C. office. The Director of Association Strategic Planning is responsible for leading Smithbucklin's consulting practice, which provides strategic planning and other specialized advisory services to internal and external clients.

About Smithbucklin

Smithbucklin empowers associations, societies, and communities to enrich and move industries, fields, and professions forward. Working together in a network-based organizational structure, we help organizations operate efficiently and effectively, through the right combination of talent, expertise and technology, which enables growth and mission impact.

This role might be a great fit if…

• You are an association guru
• You believe that associations are a key enabler in today's business world
• You love facilitating groups to uncover new and innovative approaches
• You are a broad thinker and future-focused
• You thrive on strategic thinking
• You approach your work with a “consultant-like” mentality

The Head of Consulting is responsible for leading and developing Smithbucklin's consulting practice. This includes four main areas of responsibility: (1) delivery of consulting services, (2) practice development, (3) business development, and (4) internal consulting support. The Head of Consulting is assisted by a shared support resource, marketing support, and technology support.

Delivery of Consulting Services

• Manage a team of internal and external resources to deliver consulting services, which currently includes:
• Strategic Planning (majority of services)
• Governance
• Growth Planning
• Membership Analysis & Research
• Action Planning
• DEI Assessment & Planning (Thriving Community Development)
• Executive coaching
• Identify and secure suitable talent for each engagement. Maintain a roster of internal & external team members with skills and availability. Play a significant role yourself in engagement design, data collection, content delivery, and session facilitation.
• Oversee all preparation, logistics, and delivery considerations
• Monitor performance and collect feedback
• Overall accountability for quality and client satisfaction with consulting services

• Update, refine, and improve existing content & assets
• Create new practice areas and assets based on market demand
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in association consulting services and the management consulting world in general, including competitors, new models and approaches, and latest trends.

• Internal (i.e. association management clients)
• Maintain a multi-year calendar of services provided by client and conduct proactive outreach for follow-up, refresh, or new services (e.g. strategic planning should occur every 3-5 years)
• Actively network in the Executive Director community to promote understanding of capabilities
• External (i.e. non-Smithbucklin clients)
• Network in the association industry to develop prospects
• Develop strategic positioning of consulting services as part of the broad Smithbucklin value proposition
• Participate in new business pitches
• Coordinate with 360 Live Media (Smithbucklin's event strategy agency) on positioning of consulting services and potential joint projects
• Accountability for achieving annual sales target
• Develop and publish thought leadership (articles, speaking engagements, research) to raise awareness and perception of Smithbucklin's consulting services.
• Work with finance team on pricing, contracting, and budgeting/forecasting

• Provide support for internal “consulting-type” efforts for association management clients (typically led by the Smithbucklin Executive Director) that do not warrant a full-blown consulting project.
• Consult on approach and process
• Identify tools, templates, and facilitation services that would be helpful
• Assist with facilitation or delivery of work
• In collaboration with association management leadership, develop guidelines for when consulting services require incremental fees to internal clients, vs. what should be included as part of Smithbucklin's standard association management services.

• 10+ years of experience in strategic planning and consulting t
• 5+ years of experience in a senior leadership role
• Significant experience working associations, including different types: trade, professional, healthcare, chapters, SIGs, etc.

• Active certification related to strategic planning (e.g. SPP or Foursight)
• Experience in the professional services industry
• Consulting experience for association industry

Our hybrid environment offers you the option of working from home two days per week. All team members come to the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and have the flexibility to work elsewhere on Wednesday and Friday.

The salary for this role will be based on the candidate's skills, qualifications, and relevant experience. The expected pay for this role is $160,000 - $215,000.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of reference and background investigation based on position.

Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States without limitation.

At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying.

At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other protected status designated by federal, state or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on position.