Senior Manager - Consumer

In the United States - Atlanta | Boston | Chicago

The North America Payroll & Benefits Senior Manager is responsible for leading payroll, benefits, and related total rewards operations across the United States and Canada. This role ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and an exceptional employee experience while supporting Simon-Kucher's continued growth.

The position partners closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Operations, vendors, and firm leadership to develop scalable processes, strengthen controls, manage risk, and drive strategic improvements across payroll, benefits, and employee rewards programs.
This position can be in one of Simon-Kucher's Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, or San Francisco office locations. Requires a minimum of two days in the office each week.

We are looking for talented individuals to amplify the growth of this dynamic team. Given the growth we are experiencing, we expect this role to develop quickly into a leader for the practice with opportunity to advance quickly.

How you will create an impact:

As a Senior Manager, you will be a vital member of our Consumer consulting team focused on Retail strategy, driving value-based outcomes while contributing to Simon-Kucher's culture and success.

• Lead all payroll operations for US and Canada employees, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing.
• Bring knowledge across commercial and go-to-market topics within retail including but not limited to pricing strategy and setting, promotion effectiveness, markdowns and clearance optimization, assortment optimization and white space identification, merchandising and value proposition, consumer segmentation, loyalty program design, and omnichannel strategies.
• Drive project planning and execution by ensuring alignment of project delivery to client needs and objectives, as well as managing project cost structure and margin.
• Lead and guide a large and incredibly talented team of junior consultants to develop innovative and actionable insights and recommendations using data, analytics, and research that deliver impactful recommendations for clients.
• Develop trusted and credible senior-level advisory relationships by delivering high-quality and tailored recommendations that our clients can execute to realize benefits.
• Effectively engage senior client audience at all stages of their commercial growth strategy, including understanding client needs and objectives, and obtaining buy-in for the recommendations, deliverables, and solutions.
• Expand and develop relevant new capabilities, tactics, and tools that our clients need to advance their business goals.
• Identify and engage with prospective clients to understand their needs, priorities, and challenges and in turn expand and grow our commercial growth strategy footprint, offerings, and client base.
• Provide exceptional client service and client-focused communication, even during challenging and unexpected situations.
• Prepare client-ready deliverables and independently present relevant project work-stream findings and recommendation to senior client audience, while proactively responding to and incorporating client feedback.
• Effectively manage multiple engagements and project teams concurrently, including development of project team members by providing coaching, training, and feedback.
• Be a leader in the firm and contribute to Simon-Kucher's culture and success.

Your profile:

Outstanding drive, determination, and desire to be part of a growing, top tier consulting firm.

• Strong knowledge of and passion for the Retail industry across but not limited to big box retailers, department stores, specialty retail, vertically integrated retail, on-site retail services, at home services, direct-to-consumer ecommerce, and quick serve restaurants.
• Experience with either value creation for private equity clients, franchisee management, or retail operations is a plus.
• An undergraduate degree is required; MS, MA, MBA, or other advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in a professional services environment, ideally in management consulting, serving the Consumer sector, specifically the Retail industry.
• Proven business consulting expertise in disciplines such as growth strategies, go-to-market strategy, consumer and store segmentation (advanced analytical), assortment optimization (product lifecycle, markdowns and clearance, SKU rationalization), pricing and promotions, value proposition development and marketing strategies, omnichannel management, merchandising effectiveness, loyalty programs, franchisee management (if applicable), and target operating models.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to distill insights/takeaways from large sets of data.
• Effective presentation and communication abilities to succinctly present findings, takeaways, and key recommendations to a senior audience.
• Demonstrated record of solving complex problems, directing teams, managing individuals, and completing challenging projects activities within tight project timelines.
• Record of accomplishment of managing multiple workstreams within an engagement, including work plans, deliverables, budgets and schedules.
• Strong work ethic, highly collaborative, great team-player, and having an exceptional entrepreneurial mindset.
• Highly inclusive and empathetic approach to leadership and team management.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work seamlessly and collaboratively with various internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain deep relationships with senior clients.
• Demonstrated record of achievement in managing new and follow-on engagements
• Proven ability to grow and maintain a high-performing consulting team.
• Access to an existing network within the Retail industry in North America, preferably with senior executives within Retail organizations.
• Ability to travel at least 40% of the time.

The pay range for this position is $165,000 - $175,000/year. Compensation may vary depending on relevant experience, skills, geographic location, and business needs. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, 13 paid holidays per year, medical/dental/vision insurance, basic life insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees.