Managing Director, Management Consulting

Job Summary:

The Management Consulting Operations Leader is the senior-most operational leader for the Management Consulting business and serves as the steward of operational excellence, organizational health, and execution consistency across all Management Consulting segments.

This role exists to ensure the business can scale effectively, operate predictably, and equip Managing Directors, Principals, client-serving professionals, and operations teams with the support they need to deliver exceptional client outcomes. The Operations Leader is both a strategic advisor and an operational executive, balancing long-term business improvement with day-to-day business stewardship.

The role manages Management Consulting (MC) Chiefs of Staff which are deployed within key professional service teams throughout MC. They are accountable for developing talent, establishing consistent operating models, identifying systemic risks and opportunities, and ensuring operational support is delivered with quality, urgency, and measurable business impact.

Most importantly, this leader serves as the voice of operational truth for the Management Consulting business. They continuously assess the health of the organization, identify emerging risks before they become business problems, and proactively partner with the Advisory Operations Leader and Practice and Segment Leadership to improve performance, remove friction, and drive sustainable growth.

This position reports to the Advisory Operations Leader and serves as a key member of the Advisory Operations leadership team while being deployed entirely within the Management Consulting practice to support the Managing Principal of MC specifically.

Job Duties:

Lead the Management Consulting Operations Function
* Provides leadership, direction, and development for all Management Consulting staff to understand and collaborate effectively with enterprise systems and policies
* Establishes operating standards, service expectations, and performance measures across the Operations organization
* Ensures operational support models remain aligned to business priorities and evolving market needs
* Creates consistency in how operational services are delivered across all segments
* Builds a culture of ownership, urgency, professionalism, and continuous improvement

Develop and Enable Chiefs of Staff
* Directly leads and coaches Chiefs of Staff assigned to Segment Leaders
* Ensures Chiefs of Staff operate as true extensions of segment leadership, not administrative coordinators
* Establishes clear expectations for stakeholder management, business acumen, escalation discipline, operational execution, and ownership
* Creates repeatable frameworks, playbooks, tools, and operating rhythms that enable Chiefs of Staff to succeed
* Regularly assesses performance and provides coaching to improve effectiveness and influence
* Serves as an escalation point and strategic thought partner for Chiefs of Staff navigating complex business challenges
* Drives consistency of support across segments while allowing appropriate flexibility for unique business needs

Advocate for the Health of the Business
* Maintains a continuous view of Management Consulting's overall health and performance
* Monitors financial, operational, staffing, recruiting, delivery, compliance, and organizational indicators
* Identifies risks before they materially impact the business
* Escalates concerns early, candidly, and constructively
* Brings recommendations, options, and data-driven insights when raising issues
* Serves as a trusted advisor to Segment Leaders, the Advisory Operations Leader, and executive leadership
* Actively challenges assumptions when indicators suggest corrective action is needed
* Refuses to normalize operational dysfunction or declining performance
* Understands the underlying operational drivers and advocates for corrective action when forecast, profitability, collections, utilization, staffing levels, or business fundamentals begin trending negatively

Drive Alignment Across Practices
* Creates visibility across Management Consulting segments and identify opportunities for standardization
* Reduces unnecessary variation in operational processes and decision-making
* Champions the "rule of one" mindset whenever consistent approaches can improve scale, quality, or efficiency
* Facilitates collaboration across segments to share best practices, lessons learned, talent, and operational solutions
* Ensures operational policies, tools, reporting, and support models are aligned whenever practical
* Acts as a connector between segment leadership teams and the broader Advisory Operations organization

Partner Closely with Advisory Operations
* Serves as the primary Management Consulting counterpart to the Advisory Operations Leader
* Escalates emerging trends, risks, and opportunities that require broader Advisory-level visibility
* Clearly articulates business challenges, root causes, operational impacts, and recommended solutions
* Contributes to the design and implementation of Advisory-wide operating models, governance, policies, and capabilities
* Helps shape long-term operational strategy while ensuring practical execution within Management Consulting
* Ensures business requirements are represented in Advisory Operations decisions and investments

Improve the Business
* Continuously assesses where friction, inefficiency, confusion, or risk exists within Management Consulting
* Identifies both tactical and structural improvements
* Facilitates operational transformation efforts that improve scalability and business performance
* Uses data, stakeholder feedback, and field experience to drive decision-making
* Partners across the firm to modernize operating practices and increase effectiveness
* Ensures the Operations organization is proactively solving tomorrow's problems rather than reacting to yesterday's

Executive Partnership & Influence
* Builds trusted relationships with Segment Leaders, Managing Directors, Principals, Operations Leaders, Finance, HR, Recruiting, Advisory Operations, and others
* Influences decisions through credibility, business understanding, and operational expertise
* Serves as a trusted sounding board for leadership teams
* Helps leaders navigate complex organizational, operational, and change-management challenges
* Brings clarity to ambiguity and create alignment across diverse stakeholder groups

Supervisory Responsibilities
* Acts as a leader for a team of operations professions that deliver work across many functions
* Builds trust and provide timely and actionable feedback to develop high potential talent
* Oversees the execution of work via the team by leveraging talent at all levels to deliver on critical business outcomes
* Oversees performance review cycles in coordination with People & Culture to ensure consistent ratings and maintenance of high quality performance reviews

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Education:
* Bachelor's degree, required; degree with a focus in Business, Accounting or Finance, preferred OR seven (7) or more years of operations experience with a Bachelor's Degree in another focus, required
* MBA, preferred

Experience:
* Seven (7) or more years of leadership experience within consulting, professional services, operations, business management, required
* Experience leading operational functions in a complex, matrixed organization, required
* Demonstrated success supporting executive leaders and business units, required
* Experience developing high-performing teams, required

License/Certifications:
* PMP, CSM, or SAFe certification, preferred

Software:
* Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Copilot, preferred
* Proficiency in Miro, Lucid or other whiteboard platforms, preferred
* Familiarity with various common middle market ERP solutions and/or familiarity of software development methodologies and/or experience working with architecture frameworks, preferred

Language:
* N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
* Ability to influence senior executives and drive organizational change
* Financial management and business operations knowledge
* Executive leadership and presence
* Exceptional business and financial acumen
* Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution
* Ability to drive change and lead in a changing organization
* Ability to identify and mitigate risk, as well as drive strong risk management practices
* Knowledge of organizational design
* Ability to leverage systems thinking to drive business outcomes
* Excellent stakeholder management skills
* Strong talent development and coaching skills
* Strong data literacy skills and ability to enable and make data-driven decisions
* Strong communication and influence skills

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

National Range: $200,000 - $350,000
Maryland Range: $200,000 - $350,000
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $200,000 - $350,000

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you'll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you'll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm's success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we're building together.

Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits. Click here to find out more!

*Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets
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