About the Role:The IT Strategy and Transformation function is a small, senior team responsible for shaping firm-wide technology strategy at Baird. This role offers the opportunity to influence critical, firm-wide initiatives with regular exposure to our Chief Information Officer and Senior IT Leadership Team. Our business-pull approach starts with the priorities of Baird's business units and CRGs and stewards smart, long-term technology decisions.
This is a business and strategy-oriented role rather than a technical one, so deep technical experience is not required. You will work across the IT department and with stakeholders outside of IT, gaining broad perspective while helping advance technology as a core part of Baird's business strategy, growth and transformation
We are looking for someone who has already sharpened their strategic and analytical toolkit, ideally through strategy consulting or a similarly rigorous background, and is ready to contribute to a firm-wide agenda from day one. You will drive strategic priorities across the organization, applying proven strategic thinking and business acumen rather than learning these fundamentals on the job. Just as important is the judgment to know when to move forward independently and when to seek input.. You will have significant flexibility in the tools, processes and approaches you use within a collaborative culture that values diverse backgrounds, teamwork, partnership, client results and community involvement.
This position offers a hybrid working arrangement based in Milwaukee, with at least 3 to 4 days per week in the office and the remaining time remote. This schedule supports relationship building and consensus across leaders and teams.
The Impact You'll Make:- Conduct independent analysis, research and critical thinking to support IT Strategy & Transformation at Baird on critical, firm-wide projects that touch a variety of teams and leaders, offering the opportunity to influence and drive significant business outcomes
- Work directly with our CIO and Senior IT Leadership Team on strategic priorities, bringing polished executive communication skills and the judgment to navigate competing viewpoints, ambiguity and organizational complexity
- Lead communications and change management efforts to increase visibility and drive adoption of important Baird technology initiatives, building alignment across IT, business unit and CRG teams while interfacing with stakeholders throughout and beyond the IT department
- Partner with senior IT leaders to drive strategic projects in their IT areas, including current state/future state/gap analysis, people/process/technology assessments, strategic roadmaps, resource planning and executive scorecards/reporting
- Lead focus groups, conduct stakeholder interviews and synthesize key takeaways into clear findings
- Lead quantitative data analysis and Excel modeling, building structured models with clear assumptions and outputs and developing the instinct to identify when numbers do not look right
- Develop the storyline and narrative for executive presentations before building slides, distilling complex analysis into clear key messages and recommendations tailored to senior audiences
- Support and drive strategic analyses around potential technology initiatives, helping advance technology as a core part of Baird's business strategy, growth and transformation
- Support and drive content creation for bi-monthly IT Committee meetings with senior Baird leaders
- Participate in periodic review of emerging/disruptive technology trends and applicability to Baird's businesses
What You'll Bring to Baird:- A minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, with approximately 3 to 7 years preferred
- Strong preference for a background in strategy consulting or corporate strategy, which provides the rigorous strategic and analytical foundation needed to succeed in this role; a post-MBA candidate with relevant pre-MBA experience is also a strong fit
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently on ambiguous problems, structuring them into clear next steps without significant oversight, paired with the judgment to know when to escalate or ask for input rather than push ahead alone
- Composure operating in a high-stakes, fast-moving environment, including comfort with tight turnarounds, occasional work outside standard hours and having polished work substantially reworked or scrapped as senior leadership direction evolves
- Strong quantitative intuition, including experience building clean Excel models and pressure-testing data to identify inconsistencies
- Proven experience developing storylines and executive-ready presentations, including translating analysis into clear implications and recommendations for senior leaders
- Executive presence and advanced written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated comfort presenting to and navigating discussions with senior leadership
- Experience driving change management efforts and conducting stakeholder interviews or focus groups
- Strong organizational navigation skills, with the ability to build relationships, engage stakeholders early and understand informal decision dynamics
- Sound judgment and professional presence, with the discipline to focus on the highest-impact work and adapt as priorities shift
- Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, with the ability to influence without authority and value diverse perspectives and shared success
- Exceptional Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel skills; Power BI knowledge a plus, with strong technology aptitude and the ability to adopt new tools, including AI-enabled solutions, preferred
- A Bachelor's degree in an analytical discipline such as business, economics, statistics or mathematics, or a technology discipline such as computer science or MIS; MBA helpful but not required, or equivalent experience
Compensation and Benefits:- Compensation and bonus are commensurate with experience, performance and/or firm profitability
- You'll have the opportunity to advance your career while enjoying our comprehensive benefits designed for your life, career and future.
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