Senior Manager, Strategy and Operations, Business Development

Bain & Company; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Bain & Company is seeking a Senior Manager, Business Development in Atlanta to lead cross-partnership initiatives and day-to-day BD operations in a hybrid model. You will partner with executives across Bain, drive investment decisions, and modernize processes including AI-enabled insights.

The role emphasizes strategic thinking, program management, and relationship building at all levels. This is a high-impact, global role requiring strong communication, leadership, and a proactive approach to

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years’ work experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills with executives.
• Ability to navigate multiple internal stakeholder groups.
• Adaptable and able to operate in ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic cross-partnership initiatives and drive investment decisions across partnerships.
• Coordinate cross-partnership operations with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Oversee BD team operations, budgeting, and talent development.
• Model inclusive leadership and foster a positive, high-performing team culture.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Program management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Job description

We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the top ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have earned the #1 overall spot a record seven times. Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

The Business Development department leads Bain’s global partnership program, comprised of third-party firms that partner with case teams to deliver specialized services, technology, and expertise to clients. Our team provides dedicated support to the strategic partnerships that help us deliver breakthrough results for our clients by providing access to capabilities that complement our expertise.

WHERE YOU’LL FIT WITHIN THE TEAM

The Senior Manager, Business Development (BD) owns cross-partnership strategic initiatives and day-to-day team operations, serving as connective tissue across BD and broader Bain stakeholders to drive decisions, coordinate investments, and keep the team running smoothly. They bring a strategic lens to how the partnerships program evolves — identifying opportunities to modernize ways of working, strengthen team talent, and ensure BD's efforts are focused on the highest-impact work. Success in this role requires a solid strategic foundation, strong project management, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across a wide range of internal stakeholders.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Essential Functions:

Strategic projects (examples, to be defined based on current team priorities) 45%

• Work with BD LT and other senior Bain stakeholders (i.e., Finance, Vector PPK, and Mission Leaders) to drive cross-partnership investment decisions – where to spend BD team time and budget across existing and new partnerships
• Work with BD LT and other Bain stakeholders (i.e., Mission Leaders; key commercial leaders) to identify ways to increase the partnership pipeline and drive a more proactive commercial motion
• Drive alignment with Practice/Solution/Product leadership by understanding Practice-specific priorities and where there are needs for partnerships
• Identify ways to modernize the way we work within the technology infrastructure provided by Bain – i.e., how can AI tools be used to derive insights from reporting, which activities should we automate (i.e., meeting briefings, Helpdesk emails, etc.)
• Proactively engage with cross-Bain stakeholders to understand broader Bain strategic priorities and how the BD team work is impacted / can contribute (i.e., work with Modern Bain team to make sure partnerships well represented, etc.)

Cross-partnership operations 25%

• Drive cross-partnership efforts involving broader Bain stakeholders (including VPs and partners):
  • Facilitate meetings with senior Bain stakeholders to drive key decisions
  • Engage senior Bain stakeholders to get appropriate input for cross-partnership materials
  • Drive creation of materials to present at LT meetings, affiliate meetings, etc.
  • Work with L&D to bring in partner firms to training events
  • Coordinate with Bain marketing (primarily Director level) to build cross-partnership view of events, PR, etc.
  • Coordinate with program management teams on initiatives involving AIS, GC, or other Bain populations
• Drive cross-partnership efforts involving external stakeholders:
  • Work with BD LT to respond to external requests for partnerships information (i.e., Gartner research report, etc.)

BD team operations 25%

• Manage BD team talent / training initiatives – identify trainings, resources, guest speakers (independently reach out to senior Bain leaders), PD initiatives, etc. that would benefit the team; drive forward those selected to implement
• Run the team “rhythm of business,” including creating agendas for and facilitating BD monthly team meetings, keeping cross-partnership view of upcoming events, sharing key updates to broader team (i.e., professional development deadlines, team offsites, etc.)
• Own annual budgeting process – work with LT to update prior year’s budget request, track high-level spend vs. budget, and reallocate as needed throughout the year
• Facilitate employee NPS surveys and work with LT to implement action items
• Support recruiting and onboarding process for new team members

Team & leadership 5%

• Participate in creating an inclusive, positive, respectful environment
• Role model leadership and at-cause behaviors
• Demonstrate thought leadership and be viewed as a trusted colleague by Bain stakeholders and team members
• Demonstrate the ability to influence stakeholder decision-making where applicable

ABOUT YOU

Required:

• Minimum of 7 years’ work experience
• Solid strategic and analytical toolkit
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships with all levels throughout the organization
• Strong internal and external stakeholder management skills
• Strong presentation skills with a high degree of comfort speaking with internal and external executives Ability to operate in ambiguous situations and quickly ramp up expertise in new areas
• Flexibility to accommodate varying demands

Preferred:

• Experience navigating various internal stakeholder groups (client facing or internal business function)

WORK MODEL / TRAVEL

This role follows a hybrid model, requiring in-office presence at least 1-2 days per week. This is a global role that could require early morning and/or late evening calls on occasion. May require occasional travel (5-10%).

U.S. COMPENSATION INFORMATION

Compensation for this role includes base salary, annual discretionary performance bonus, 401(k) plan with an annual employer contribution based on years of service and Bain’s best in class benefits package (details listed below).

Some local governments in the United States require a good-faith, reasonable salary range to be included in job postings for open roles. The estimated annualized compensation for this role is as follows:

• In Dallas, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $141,750 - $170,000
• In Boston and Seattle, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $155,250 - $186,250
• In Chicago, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $148,500 - $178,250
• In Atlanta, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $135,000 - $162,000

* Annual discretionary performance bonus

* This role may also be eligible for other elements of discretionary compensation

* 4.5% 401(k) company contribution, which increases after 3 years of service and is 100% vested upon start date

Bain & Company's comprehensive benefits and wellness program is designed to help employees achieve personal independence, protection and stability in the areas most important to you and your family.

• Bain pays 100% individual employee premiums for medical, dental and vision programs, offering one of the most comprehensive medical plans for employees without impacting your paycheck
• Generous paid time off, including parental leave, sick leave and paid holidays
• Fully vested 401(k) company contribution
• Paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.