Strategy, Growth, & Transformation Associate

WittKieffer; Illinois; On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

WittKieffer is seeking a Strategy Associate to act as a right hand to the Head of Strategy & Transformation, blending strategic development, analytics, execution, and coordination to drive progress across multiple initiatives.

The role offers autonomy and high‑visibility impact, with a base salary of $115,000 to $135,000 and a target bonus of 10% of base salary. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life and disability insurances, and generous PTO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA strongly preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in consulting, strategy, transformation, or similar roles; experience in a professional services or B2B organization is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to structure solutions to ambiguous problems and drive them forward.
• Strong financial and analytical skills; financial modeling experience preferred, but not the sole focus.
• Experience leading projects, with a preference given to individuals who have overseen a portfolio of projects.
• Track record of success working with and communicating across the organization, from front‑line team members to executive leadership, using a variety of communication methods and channels.
• Experience operating independently in a fast‑paced, unstructured environment.

Responsibilities

• Build and synthesize analytical outputs that inform strategic and investment decisions.
• Develop and support financial models, scenario analyses, and data‑driven insights for executive decision‑making.
• Translate complex analyses into executive‑ready insights and actionable recommendations.
• Drive day‑to‑day execution of key initiatives by structuring workstreams and maintaining momentum.
• Track and coordinate deliverables, timelines, and interdependencies across initiatives.
• Proactively elevate risks or bottlenecks and ensure continuity in fast‑moving areas.
• Act as extension of Head of Strategy, moving work forward when needed.
• Coordinate inputs across Finance, HR, IT, Operations, Consulting, etc.
• Improve structure, clarity, and communication across cross‑functional efforts.
• Prepare analysis and recommendations for executive discussions and summaries.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Financial modeling

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Independent work

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

We are mission-driven to advance wellbeing across the Quality of Life ecosystem through impactful leadership. Come join us!

THE ROLE

WittKieffer is at a pivotal point in its evolution, advancing several enterprise‑critical priorities simultaneously—corporate development, operational transformation, and financial performance acceleration. We are seeking a high‑caliber, analytically rigorous, and operationally minded Strategy Associate to act as a force multiplier across these efforts. This role functions as a right hand to the Head of Strategy & Transformation, blending strategic development, analytics, execution, and coordination to drive progress across multiple concurrent initiatives.

This Strategy Associate will operate with a high degree of autonomy, context‑switch across priorities, and play a central role in ensuring speed, alignment, and execution at the highest levels of the organization.

This position offers a base salary of $115,000 to $135,000, plus a target bonus of 10% of base salary. Salary within our ranges is determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. WittKieffer offers a full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life and disability insurances, and generous paid time off.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Analysis and Decision Support

• Build and synthesize analytical outputs that directly inform key strategic and investment decisions. Demonstrate the business acumen to identify the appropriate factors in analysis that may not have been initially considered.
• Develop and support financial models, scenario analyses, and data‑driven insights to support executive decision‑making.
• Translate complex analyses into clear executive‑ready insights and actionable recommendations.

Execution and Project Management

• Drive day‑to‑day execution of key initiatives by structuring workstreams, defining deliverables, and maintaining momentum through project‑management principles.
• Track and coordinate deliverables, timelines, and interdependencies across enterprise‑wide initiatives.
• Hold workstreams accountable to timelines and proactively elevate risks or bottlenecks.
• Act as an extension of the Head of Strategy, stepping into initiatives as needed to move work forward, close gaps, and ensure continuity in fast‑moving or under‑resourced areas.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Act as connective tissue across internal stakeholders (Finance, HR, IT, Operations, Consulting, etc.) and external advisors.
• Coordinate inputs, align stakeholders, and ensure information flows efficiently.
• Proactively identify gaps in alignment, competing priorities, or unclear ownership and drive resolution.
• Improve structure, clarity, and communication across complex, cross‑functional efforts.

Synthesis and Communication

• Prepare analysis, recommendations, and implementation materials for executive‑level discussions, including presentations and summaries.
• Distill complex information into actionable insights, recommendations, and next steps.
• Collaborate on development of strategic narratives (valuation, growth strategy, integration planning, etc.).

Process and Operational Rigor

• Introduce structure and discipline into ambiguous or fast‑moving initiatives.
• Develop tracking mechanisms, dashboards, and processes to improve execution quality and speed.
• Assess and resolve a wide range of real‑time issues as well as identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, coordination, and decision velocity.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA strongly preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in consulting, strategy, transformation, or similar roles; experience in a professional services or B2B organization is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to structure solutions to ambiguous problems and drive them forward.
• Strong financial and analytical skills; financial modeling experience preferred, but not the sole focus.
• Experience leading projects, with a preference given to individuals who have overseen a portfolio of projects.
• Track record of success working with and communicating across the organization, from front‑line team members to executive leadership, using a variety of communication methods and channels.
• Experience operating independently in a fast‑paced, unstructured environment.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES

• Financial and Analytical Thinking: Understands core business drivers and the P&L implications of their performance. Systematically gathers relevant data, probes to ensure understanding, and infers relationships from themes and trends.
• Organizational and Project Management Skills: Well organized; plans and prioritizes work effectively. Adeptly handles a portfolio, follows through on open issues, creates project strategies, estimates resources, monitors progress, and eliminates barriers before they become serious.
• Business Acumen: Understands how various business models operate and can drive success through financial literacy, strategic thinking, and operational understanding.
• Drive and Accountability: Takes responsibility for ensuring the right actions and results. Takes pride in own work and responsibility for mistakes.
• Leading Through Ambiguity: Drives others through unclear situations by communicating changes, clarifying roles, and providing support.
• Intellectual Curiosity: Asks thought‑provoking questions, explores unknown aspects, avoids premature conclusions, and engages with complexity.

Witt/Kieffer Inc. ("WittKieffer") provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. WittKieffer will recruit, employ, train, promote and compensate employees without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, citizenship, gender, pregnancy, military status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or any other protected characteristic. WittKieffer will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities or religious practices unless mandated by law.