Security & Risk Consulting Client Engagement Director - 1898 & Co.

Burns & McDonnell; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, seeks a Client Engagement Director to drive strategic client conversations and guide organizations through cybersecurity challenges. You will collaborate with industry leaders, craft tailored solutions, and ensure successful outcomes for critical infrastructure clients.

The role emphasizes stakeholder management, solution positioning, and sales leadership across consulting services in a dynamic industrial cybersecurity practice. Travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, MIS, information technology or a related field.
• 13 years of relevant experience required.
• Expert knowledge in consulting, energy, power, utilities, information technology, or cybersecurity.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to present complex information.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage relationships with clients to understand their needs and manage expectations.
• Lead client-focused strategies and action plans for consulting services and solutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, customers, and contractors to create new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with partners to develop and execute strategic sales plans for services.
• Lead the positioning of service offerings and respond to RFIs/RFPs.
• Maintain sales funnel data and achieve strategic targets.
• Partner with sales teams to grow accounts and drive discovery in assigned accounts.

Skills

Client relationship mgmt

Strategic selling

Negotiation

Communication skills

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or MIS or information technology

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Description

Join 1898 & Co., a part of Burns & McDonnell, as we lead the charge in securing critical infrastructure and shaping the future of industrial cybersecurity. Our team partners with electric utilities and other critical infrastructure organizations to deliver cutting-edge consulting and cybersecurity solutions that protect essential systems and enable innovation.

As a Client Engagement Director, you will be at the forefront of client relationships, driving strategic conversations and guiding organizations through complex cybersecurity challenges. This role is more than sales; it’s about becoming a trusted advisor who understands client needs, crafts tailored solutions, and ensures successful outcomes. You’ll collaborate with industry leaders, leverage advanced technologies, and help clients achieve resilience in an increasingly digital world.

What You’ll Do

Client Relationship Management & Business Development

• Develop and manage relationships with clients to understand their needs, manage expectations, and facilitate communication.
• Lead client-focused strategies and action plans for consulting services and solution offerings that drive sales.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with new and existing clients, customers, and contractors to develop new business opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop and execute strategic sales plans for new and existing services.
• Leverage existing customer relationships inside the company to generate warm leads.
• Establish and maintain long-term business relationships.
• Follow through on quarterly financial goals by building and advancing opportunities through the sales funnel, ensuring customer satisfaction, and repeat business.

Solution Positioning & Sales Process

• Effectively present consulting services and solution offerings to prospects and existing customers virtually and in person.
• Lead customers through the full sales process while engaging others in the business unit to support as needed.
• Target specific clients and develop penetration strategies.
• Support quarterly strategy reviews with a data-driven approach to evaluating the market and the effectiveness of current plans.
• Lead the positioning of service offerings, including collaborating with partners on strategic plans, target customers, and tailored offering collateral.
• Lead the adaptation of value propositions, templates, and guides to support effective communication of capabilities and delivery of projects.
• Position for and prepare responses to RFIs and RFPs.
• Maintain accurate sales funnel data and achieve strategic targets.
• Partner with the broad sales team to position in new accounts and grow existing accounts.
• Drive account discovery planning activities for technology solutions in assigned accounts.

Service Offering & Process Improvement

• Regularly review and iterate on service offerings messaging to align with customer needs and improve market penetration.
• Review sales and proposal processes, identifying areas to improve for existing offerings.
• Be a part of the culture to continuously improve in a systematic way.
• Maintain up-to-date product knowledge and participate in ongoing training.
• Communicate solution benefits effectively.
• Champion the value of technology innovation for customers with internal teams.

Team & Collaboration Support

• Partner with internal teams to provide technical support in larger work engagements.
• Partner with sales and marketing groups to continue to build the business footprint.
• Manage and interpret customer requirements and properly set customer expectations.
• Support the recruitment, development, training, and retention of staff by sharing expertise and collaborating with team leaders.
• Assist with performance feedback and provide guidance, mentorship, and instruction to colleagues as needed.
• Help interpret and communicate organizational policies, purposes, and goals to staff.
• Promote overall QA/QC process adherence and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Why 1898 & Co.?

We value client partnership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. Our culture emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth. Join us and help shape the future of industrial cybersecurity solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, management information systems (MIS), information technology or a related field. Additional applicable years of experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.
• 13 years of relevant experience required
• Expert knowledge within the fields of consulting, energy, power, utilities, information technology, or cybersecurity.
• Expert computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
• Strong attention to detail, facilitation, team building, and collaboration.
• General business and financial calculation knowledge.
• Experience with negotiation and commercial contracting.
• Ability to work with existing and new clients to identify new projects, articulate to the clients our ability to perform those projects, and translate that into the sale of consulting services.
• Ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines, and to be effective in on-site work environments.
• Professional Registration preferred.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job

Consulting

Primary Location

US-TX-Houston

Other Locations

US-TX-Austin, US-TX-Dallas

Schedule:

Full-time

Travel:

Yes, 50 % of the Time

About 1898 & Co.

1898 & Co. is a business, technology and security solutions consultancy where experience and foresight come together to unlock lasting advancements. We innovate today to fuel our clients’ future growth, catalyzing insights that drive smarter decisions, improve performance and maximize value. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we draw on more than 120 years of deep and broad experience in complex industries as we envision and enable the future for our clients.

Req ID:

260532

Job Hire Type

Experienced #LI-EH #E98 N/A