EY-Parthenon - Strategy and Execution - Telecommunications PE Value Creation - Senior Director

EY; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 250,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Pension and 401(k)

Paid time off

Flexible vacation policy

Job summary

EY-Parthenon in Chicago seeks a Senior Director to lead end-to-end strategy and execution projects within the Telecommunications Private Equity Value Creation practice. You will mentor teams, drive data-backed recommendations, and partner with clients to realize value through hands-on leadership and PMO support.

You will work with private equity sponsors across telecom subsectors, shaping implementation roadmaps and expanding the practice’s capabilities, all while traveling as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8 years of related work experience, or a graduate degree with ~7 years of experience.
• Experience in management consulting, investment banking, corporate strategy, or operating roles with growth/opportunity exposure.
• Experience leading complex workstreams or full projects in fast-paced client service environments.
• Telecommunications sector experience across multiple subsectors of the telecom value chain.
• Strong understanding of financial statements and operational performance metrics.
• Proficiency in Excel-based modeling and analytical frameworks.
• Proven ability to build relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive-level presentations.
• Willingness to travel and work 60% of the time or ~3 days a week on engagements.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end delivery of strategy and execution projects, including scoping and planning.
• Mentor and supervise a team of Consultants, Senior Associates and Directors; develop growth opportunities.
• Conduct structured analysis to identify root causes and quantify opportunities; develop data-backed recommendations.
• Build trust with senior stakeholders and communicate insights clearly to drive decisions.
• Translate strategy into implementation roadmaps and lead or support PMO efforts.
• Contribute to proposals, client pitches, and relationships with PE sponsors and portfolio companies.
• Develop knowledge, capabilities, and market presence through IP development and team-building initiatives.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Comfort in Ambiguity

Commercial Acumen

Hands-on Problem Solving

Industry Fluency

Team Development

Adaptability

Execution Orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Accounting/Finance/Engineering/Economics

Tools

Excel-based Modeling

Microsoft Copilot

Job description

EY-Parthenon - Strategy and Execution - Telecommunications PE Value Creation - Senior Director

Location: Chicago

Other locations: Anywhere in Region

Date: Oct 1, 2026

Requisition ID: 1748965

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The opportunity

EY-Parthenon’s unique combination of transformative strategy, transactions and corporate finance delivers real-world value – solutions that work in practice, not just on paper. Benefiting from EY’s full spectrum of services, we’ve reimagined strategic consulting to work in a world of increasing complexity.

With deep functional and sector expertise, paired with innovative AI-powered technology and an investor mindset, we partner with CEOs, Boards, Private Equity and Governments every step of the way – enabling you to shape your future with confidence.

Within EY-Parthenon's Strategy and Execution sub service line, the Telecommunications Private Equity Value Creation team is a specialized group focused on unlocking growth and operational efficiency for private equity portfolio companies. The team works primarily with PE-backed businesses across the telecommunications value chain, including telecom operators, fiber and network infrastructure, towers, data centers, and telecom software and services.

Our team partners with management teams to identify critical business challenges, uncover actionable insights, and develop strategic and tactical recommendations, typically supporting execution planning and, in many cases, helping drive implementation. This is a high-impact, fast-paced environment where consultants play a key role in delivering results and shaping client outcomes.

Your key responsibilities

As a Senior Director with EY-Parthenon's Strategy and Execution Telecommunications Private Equity Value Creation practice, you will be a vital member of the team leading and executing operational focused projects. Your responsibilities will include:

• Own the end-to-end delivery of strategy and execution projects, including scoping, planning, and driving results in high-pressure environments.
• Supervise and mentor a team of Consultants, Senior Associates, and directors; guide problem-solving efforts, ensure high-quality output, and develop professional growth / opportunities of team members.
• Manage structured analysis to identify root causes, quantify opportunities, and develop actionable, data-backed recommendations across go-to-market, pricing, customer success, product, and operations.
• Build trust with senior stakeholders, communicate complex insights in a clear, compelling manner, and identify areas of additional need / business development opportunities.
• Translate strategy into implementation roadmaps and partner with clients to realize value, often in hands‑on, interim leadership or PMO roles.
• Play a key role in proposal development, client pitches, and relationship building with private equity sponsors and portfolio companies.
• Contribute to the direction of the Private Equity Value Creation practice by managing development of the knowledge base, capabilities, and market presence through IP development, recruiting, and team‑building initiatives.

Skills and attributes for success

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to guide teams and clients through ambiguity to develop clear, actionable strategies.
• Comfort in Ambiguity: Ability to bring structure and clarity to unfamiliar or evolving situations
• Commercial Acumen: Strong business judgment and an understanding of how to drive value for clients
• Hands‑on Problem Solving: Willingness to dig into data, pressure test hypotheses, and lead teams through rigorous analysis.
• Industry Fluency: familiarity with the telecommunications landscape, including telecom operators, fiber and network infrastructure, towers, data centers, and telecom software and services.
• Team Development: Strong people leadership skills; ability to assess, coach, motivate, and grow junior team members.
• Adaptability: Thrive in fast‑paced, evolving situations, managing multiple priorities, workstreams, and projects simultaneously.
• Execution Orientation: Track record of leading initiatives from idea through implementation and driving measurable impact.

To qualify for the role, you must have

• A bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Engineering, Economics, or related field and 8 years of related work experience; or a graduate degree and approximately 7 years of related work experience.
• Experience in management consulting, investment banking, corporate strategy, or operating roles with significant exposure to growth, go-to‑market, or operational improvement.
• Experience leading complex workstreams or full projects in a fast-paced client service environment.
• Demonstrated telecommunications sector experience, with exposure to multiple subsectors across the telecom value chain.
• Deep understanding of financial statements and operational performance metrics.
• Deep familiarity with Excel-based modeling, operational diagnostics, and strategic frameworks.
• Proven success in building relationships with senior client stakeholders.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft and deliver executive‑level presentations.
• The expectation for this role is in person teaming, at client site or in an EY office, a minimum of 60% of the time or on average 3 days a week over the course of an engagement, project or performance year.
• You must either reside in or be in a commutable distance to your office location for this position.
• The ability and willingness to travel and work in excess of standard hours when necessary. In certain circumstances, travel may be required beyond your work location based on client and project needs.

Ideally, you will have

• MBA from a top‑rated school.
• Direct experience with private equity sponsors and/or PE‑backed portfolio companies.
• Familiarity with go‑to‑market strategy, operational improvement in a consulting or operating role.
• Knowledge of how to leverage firm‑approved AI tools in a business setting, including Microsoft Copilot.

What we look for

We’re looking for intellectually curious, analytically strong professionals who thrive in fast‑paced, high‑impact environments. You should be energized by solving complex problems, collaborating with teams, and helping clients unlock value. If you bring an entrepreneurial mindset, a passion for telecommunications and digital infrastructure, and a desire to grow through hands‑on experience, this role is for you.

What we offer you
At EY, we harness our collective strength to empower you to shape your future with confidence through professional growth, personal fulfillment and an inclusive culture. Learn more at ey.com/us/careers .

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $250,000 to $290,000. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well‑being.

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All in to shape the future with confidence.

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