Manager, Client Innovation

Manager, Client Innovation

Hill International is seeking a Manager, Client Innovation in Mission Viejo, California.

• 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.

• 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 work streams 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 requirements, and business opportunities.

• 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 work streams, 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, Power Apps, 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.

The salary range for this position is $100,000 - $145,000. The offered salary will be based on the applicant’s qualifications, education, experience and work location.

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