Client Strategy & Engagement Lead; Director - Business Strategy & Transformation

Position: Client Strategy & Engagement Lead (Director) - Business Strategy & Transformation - 1898 & Co
Description

Description

At 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, we partner with clients to drive enterprise-wide transformation through innovative business strategy, operational excellence, and change leadership. Our Business Strategy & Transformation (BS&T) team helps organizations align strategy to execution, improve performance, modernize operations, and successfully navigate complex change initiatives across critical infrastructure markets.

We are looking for a Client Strategy & Engagement Leader for Business Strategy & Transformation that will serve as the primary client-facing leader responsible for developing trusted relationships, identifying and advancing opportunities, and positioning consulting services to address clients' most critical business challenges. This role focuses on client strategy and engagement, solution positioning, and sales execution while partnering closely with delivery leaders and practitioners to ensure high-quality project outcomes and long-term client satisfaction.

This role translates client needs into actionable consulting solutions, leads pursuit and proposal activities, and helps clients move from the current state to the desired future state. The Client Strategy & Engagement Leader is accountable for growing and managing a portfolio of client relationships, advancing opportunities through the sales funnel, and collaborating with internal teams to deliver impactful strategy and transformation engagements.

What You'll Do

Client Relationship Management

+ Develop and manage strong, trusted relationships with new and existing clients within assigned markets or accounts.

+ Lead client-focused engagement strategies that align Business Strategy & Transformation services with client priorities and business objectives.

+ Identify, qualify, and advance opportunities by understanding client challenges related to strategy, operations, organizational performance, and transformation.

+ Establish and maintain long-term client partnerships that drive repeat business and sustained account growth.

+ Leverage existing internal relationships and prior project delivery to generate warm leads and expand client footprint.

+ Meet or exceed financial goals by advancing opportunities through the sales pipeline and ensuring client satisfaction.

Solution Positioning & Sales Process

+ Effectively position and present consulting services to prospective and existing clients.

+ Lead clients through the full sales lifecycle, from initial discovery and needs assessment through proposal development and contract execution.

+ Partner with practitioners and Offering Leaders to shape solution scope, delivery approach, staffing models, and pricing.

+ Lead or support responses to RFIs and RFPs, including value proposition development, win strategy, and proposal content.

+ Maintain accurate opportunity and pipeline data to support forecasting and strategic decision-making.

+ Collaborate with broader sales, marketing, and leadership teams to penetrate new accounts and grow existing ones.

Engagement Planning & Delivery Alignment

+ Partner with delivery leaders to ensure proposed solutions align with client expectations, delivery capabilities, and quality standards.

+ Help define current-state assessments and future-state transformation visions during pre-sales and early engagement phases.

+ Support successful project transitions from sales to delivery, ensuring clarity around scope, outcomes, and success measures.

+ Serve as an escalation point for client concerns related to scope, expectations, or overall engagement health.

+ Champion client value realization and long-term impact across strategy and transformation initiatives.

Offering Support

+ Collaborate with BS&T Offering Leaders to provide market and client feedback that informs service refinement and offering evolution.

+ Support the adaptation of value propositions, case studies, and messaging to reflect evolving client needs and market trends.

+ Contribute to the continuous improvement of sales, proposal, and client engagement processes.

+ Maintain current knowledge of BS&T methodologies, tools, and industry trends relevant to client needs.

Team & Collaboration Support

+ Partner closely with project managers, consultants, and subject matter experts to support pursuits and active engagements.

+ Collaborate with marketing, business development, and business line leaders to strengthen 1898 & Co.'s market presence.

+ Support talent development by sharing client insights, mentoring team members as needed, and reinforcing client-centric behaviors.

+ Promote adherence to QA/QC standards and foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills & Experience

+ Demonstrated experience in client engagement, consulting sales, or account management within management consulting, strategy, or transformation-focused environments.

+ Proven success in cultivating executive-level client relationships (e.g., Director, VP, CXO), acting as a trusted advisor,…