Senior Associate job in San Francisco

About Schaffer&Combs

Schaffer&Combs (“S&C”) is a management consulting and executive search firm that supports the growth of purpose-driven organizations with strategic, operational, and human capital solutions. Based in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles and Durham, NC, our consultancy delivers time-sensitive, highly tailored solutions to our clients on the national and global stage. Our clients range from non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, philanthropies, foundations, industry associations, and government agencies. S&C is a certified B Corporation, and is proud to use business as a force for good.

About the Senior Associate

Schaffer&Combs Associates are driven, highly analytical, purpose-oriented professionals with high emotional intelligence, who can meet S&C’s quality standards and pace of work, while developing into emerging leaders. The Senior Associate role is a unique opportunity for professionals to elevate within the niche sector of purpose driven consulting, gaining experience across all S&C service areas.

As a Senior Associate, your time will be allocated between client engagements and internal projects. On client engagements, you will provide leadership to your project teams, in order to deliver high quality service and deliverables to our clients. Internally, you will work alongside the S&C Operations Team to enhance efficiency and professionalism, support business development efforts, and contribute to company-building initiatives. Client engagements and internal projects are assigned to you as a function of your interest and availability, and the needs of the firm.

Scope of Responsibilities:

Client Support (60-70%)

Provide project management leadership across engagements, including:

• Designing work plans to be used internally, and with the client
• Coordinating and delegating internal work streams
• Forecasting and scheduling relevant internal and client meetings to maintain pace and momentum on engagements
• Communicating with senior team members to make any relevant adjustments to timing, approach to work, and/or pivots to the engagement
• Substantially contribute to the design, execution, and quality oversight of research assignments; gather data through interviews and research; formulate key findings for analysis; support synthesis and recommendations for clients
• Provide training and mentorship to junior team members, in order to support their personal learning and development, and to ensure high quality contributions on engagements
• Prepare for and present a meaningful portion of client calls/meetings, stakeholder interviews, etc.
• Support and increasingly lead drafting processes for high-impact presentations and client deliverables. Demonstrate growth into Consultant role through solving complex problems, making observations on client behavior, designing facilitation tools and techniques, and providing general thought partnership with senior members of the team
• Over time, begin supervising junior team members, working in partnership with firm’s Principal to support their learning, development, and retention

Operations & Internal Activities (30-40%)

• Provide leadership to ongoing internal initiatives, including communications management, professionalizing S&C processes, trainings, and internal systems, and facilitating weekly Project Meetings
• Lead and support short-term projects (database update, process document development) and/or specific firm functions (e.g. communications, CRM system management, etc.) as desired and requested to continue enhancing S&C efficiency and professionalism
• Contribute to business development work, including prospect research, logistical support for meetings and calls, and contributing to proposal development

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of professional experience in a role requiring analytical problem solving and strong communications
• Solutions-oriented problem solver with a startup mentality
• Ability to shift between liaising with clients to managing internal initiatives, while maintaining excellence across all responsibilities
• Passion for the purpose driven sector and commitment to working on challenging problems
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Google Drive products and common CRM and project management platforms
• Proficient in management consulting basics, including: the business model canvas, organizational design and function areas, financial modeling and analysis, financial literacy, basic strategic decision-making tools and rubrics, systems level analysis, and the logic model framework, among others
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal, oral, and written communication
• Strong organizational, project and time management skills with demonstrated attention to detail
• Demonstrated leadership and mentorship experience, with the ability to support the growth of junior team members
• Accountable, detail-oriented, team player who displays transparency, professionalism, and humility
• Must be legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive compensation package, including healthcare and other benefits
• Substantial tailored professional development and mentorship provided by Executive Team, Directors, Managers, and Associates across practice areas; relatedly, opportunity to continue elevating to more advanced roles within the firm
• Exposure to a broad variety of social change sectors, models, entities, and leaders
• Opportunity to pursue projects and clients that are of particular interest to Senior Associate
• Office located at the WeWork California Street location in San Francisco’s Financial District (employment includes access to membership benefits)
• Compensation commensurate with experience