Program Director, Commercial, Advisory & Knowledge Initiatives

Commercial Capabilities and Knowledge Management

Our Commercial Capabilities team drives important operations that support building Spencer Stuart’s distinctive footprint with clients, across industries and throughout global markets.  This collaborative and innovative team includes our Marketing, Client and Business Development, Pricing & Contracting, Knowledge Management, Solutions Innovation & Development groups, and other programs.  This group operates as trusted partners to Spencer Stuart leaders and clients, driving a range of market and client programs.  Spencer Stuart is investing in deepening collaboration across the team and with our global functions, integrating more competitive approaches into our work in order to ensure resilient, high-impact and more effective client relationships and market presence.

Role Specification

The Program Director, Commercial & Knowledge Initiatives will play a pivotal role in executing key commercial intiatives.  This role will help deliver Spencer Stuart’s global commercial support and knowledge management strategies, facilitating cross-functional (and often global) initiatives to deliver key commercial programs such as: launch of new confirm letters and contract documents; development of key knowledge and content platforms; and driving programs that engage teams to contribute and curate knowledge to shared platforms., They will develop a detailed view of opportunities to enhance users’ experiences across our commercial, knowledge sharing and advisory operations programs.  By driving key commercial programs and ensuring close collaboration with global operating functions, the Program Director will help ensure that consultants and clients around the world have seamless access to highly effective commercial support, insights, tools, and expertise.

This key role  will work in close collaboration with function leaders, our Knowledge leader and consultant and client facing teams.  The Program Director will lead cross-functional efforts to acquire, organize, analyze and create knowledge and launch key programs that enable Spencer Stuart to deliver competitive and differentiating impact for its clients. 

Reports to: COO, Advisory Services

Other Key Relationships: Knowledge Strategy leader, Commercial Capabilities leadership team, Legal Team, L&D and other HR teams, Technology and other global functions, and Consultants and Commercial Leaders globally

Framing, facilitation and delivery of key commercial initiatives as assigned

• Lead high-priority initiatives that simplify operations, increase impact, enhance user experiences, and enable scalable growth across commercial programs and internal teams
• Evaluate current-state, benchmark external best practices, define problem statement, outline “to-from” program deliverables and impact – defining opportunities, constraints, investment, and implications to drive decision making
• Translate executive vision into structured, actionable project plans with clear KPIs and accountabilities
• Set delivery roadmap, identify key stakeholders and engagement strategies for commercial initiatives
• Apply systems-driven approach to identify interdependencies, drive cross-functional alignment and drive multi-functional teams to deliver initiatives – and track progress and delivery of action steps
• Ensure consistency and quality of initiative deliverables and progress in implementations
• Focus on carefully thought out and ongoing, seamless stakeholder engagement – building relationships, ensuring key engagement points, maintaining ongoing connectivity and collaboration
• Develop strong relationships and work closely with Legal, Technology, Finance and other global functions to serve as a trusted advisor and liaison to deliver initiatives
• Drive ongoing engagement with key members of project teams (function leads, consultants, associates, etc.) at all stages of initiatives
• Anticipate stakeholder needs, manage competing priorities, and build consensus across diverse perspectives

Definition and delivery of key knowledge management programs

• Work with our global knowledge leader to define and evolve the KM vision, user experience, and long-term roadmap in alignment with firm priorities
• Evaluate and identify best practices, playbooks, and insights to support consistent, high-quality client support and knowledge sharing
• Support integration of KM components into a unified ecosystem across multiple technology solutions.
• Serve as a key voice with cross-cutting teams, enabling KM design and implementation to fit well with other global functions and programs as well as user needs and behaviors
• Collaborate with and align breadth of teams and stakeholders to imagine and outline KM programs, delivery and experience for users
• Foster an ongoing culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing within a dynamic, client-focused environment – as well as cross-function integrated teams to support delivery of key KM programs

The ideal candidate will be a creative and bright problem solver with exceptional relationship development and strong analytical and project management skills.  The ideal candidate will possess:

• A track record of seamlessly driving high-impact initiatives in complex environments and complicated operating models
• Experience with key business functions including financial plannning, budget management, decision support, talent building and employee engagement
• Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship building skills, paired with a relentless delivery focus and client / stakeholder orientation – as well as the ability to adapt communication and style to audiences
• Confidence and maturity to be a credible trusted partner to our most senior internal and external clients and to drive cross-functional workshops, offsites and program teams
• The presence to act as a connector across diverse operations and to create alignment on strategic initiatives
• A history of taking ownership for advancing key changes, making ongoing progress in programs and bringing a sense of urgency to project and change delivery
• A passion for leadership advisory and delivering high-impact leadership and talent building support to clients

• 10+ years of experience in project management with particular focus on complicated operating environments and complex stakeholder situations
• Experience working in complex (international) results-focused environment and/or a role involving complex stakeholder management and management of multiple projects on tight timelines; accustomed to an environment where competing demands are the norm
• Undergraduate degree, Master’s degree in related areas a plus

Other Personal Characteristics

• Excellent presentation, writing, PowerPoint and Excel skills
• Spoken and written fluency in English
• Strong stakeholder management
• Strong intercultural communication

The base compensation range for this position is $200K - $250K 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.