Director Corporate Strategy

Links Partners; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Health benefits

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Job summary

Links Partners in Chicago, IL, seeks a high-performing strategy professional to join Strategy & Transformation team, focusing on enterprise transformation, product strategy, and M&A in a PE-owned tech business. You will partner with senior executives to shape value-creation initiatives, build operating-model redesigns, and lead due diligence and integration efforts.

This is an ideal fit for someone from top-tier consulting with PE exposure who wants hands-on operator experience and C-suite

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in top-tier management consulting and/or PE-backed environments.
• Experience leading workstreams for large-scale transformations or PE portfolio companies.
• Exposure to technology or SaaS is a strong plus.
• Strong financial modeling and commercial analytics skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact transformation initiatives across revenue growth, profitability, operating model design, and organizational effectiveness
• Drive strategic planning efforts including multi-year value-creation roadmaps and board-level materials
• Partner with product leadership to shape portfolio strategy, pricing and packaging, and investment prioritization
• Support M&A activities including commercial due diligence, integration planning, synergy capture, and carve-out execution
• Own workstreams end-to-end - from problem definition and analytics to executive recommendations and implementation
• Develop rigorous financial models, business cases, and KPI frameworks to track performance and value delivery
• Work closely with functional leaders (Sales, Product, Engineering, Finance, Operations) to translate strategy into execution
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership and private equity stakeholders
• Coach junior team members and contribute to building The firm's internal transformation capabilities and playbooks
• Perform other duties as assigned to support team, department, and organizational goals.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Executive communication

Strategic planning

Financial modeling

PE/portfolio experience

Job description

Reports To: Chief Strategy Officer

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Overview

The firm is seeking a high-performing strategy professional to join its Strategy & Transformation team at a pivotal moment in the company’s growth. This role sits at the intersection of enterprise transformation, product strategy, and M&A execution within a private-equity-owned technology business.

From our downtown Chicago headquarters, you will partner closely with senior executives, functional leaders, product teams, and private equity sponsors to shape and deliver initiatives that materially impact enterprise value. You will work on mission-critical programs ranging from operating-model redesign and margin expansion to go to market transformation, product portfolio strategy, post-merger integration, and acquisition diligence.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone coming from a top-tier consulting firm, particularly Private Equity, Transformation, or Strategy practices — who wants to build hands-on operator experience while retaining exposure to complex, C-suite-level problem solving and transactions.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Lead high-impact transformation initiatives across revenue growth, profitability, operating model design, and organizational effectiveness
• Drive strategic planning efforts including multi-year value-creation roadmaps and board-level materials Partner with product leadership to shape portfolio strategy, pricing and packaging, and investment prioritization
• Support M&A activities including commercial due diligence, integration planning, synergy capture, and carve-out execution
• Own workstreams end-to-end - from problem definition and analytics to executive recommendations and implementation
• Develop rigorous financial models, business cases, and KPI frameworks to track performance and value delivery
• Work closely with functional leaders (Sales, Product, Engineering, Finance, Operations) to translate strategy into execution
• Serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership and private equity stakeholders
• Coach junior team members and contribute to building The firm's internal transformation capabilities and playbooks
• Perform other duties as assigned to support team, department, and organizational goals.

Characteristics

• Highly analytical, structured thinker with strong business judgment
• Comfortable with operating in fast-moving environments
• Strong executive-level communication and storytelling skills
• Bias toward action and implementation, not just analysis
• Entrepreneurial mindset with interest in operating inside a PE-backed company
• Ability to balance strategic altitude with hands-on execution
• Collaborative, able to influence across functions
• Career ambition to move into senior operating or investing roles

Education & Experience

• 5-7 years of experience in top-tier management consulting and/or PE-backed corporations, ideally within Private Equity, Transformation, Corporate Strategy, or M&A practices
• Track record leading workstreams for large-scale transformations or PE portfolio companies
• Exposure to technology or SaaS businesses is a strong plus
• Strong financial modeling and commercial analytics skills

Benefits and Perks including but not limited to:

• 401k match program
• Comprehensive health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and HSA/FSA)
• Group Term Life Insurance and Voluntary Life Insurance option
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation, sick, and personal days
• Childbirth recovery and bonding leave policies
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Access to onsite gym and recreational area at our Chicago office
• Friendly, collaborative, in-office work environment with ample opportunity for professional development.

For Illinois-based roles, the budgeted annual salary range is $170,000 to $200,000. Plus, participation in one of our bonus plans. Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown. The firm offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes the Benefits and Perks set forth above.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the position. As duties and responsibilities change and develop, the job description will be reviewed and subject to amendment.