Turnaround & Restructuring Director

Selby Jennings; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Selby Jennings is partnering with a growing advisory firm seeking an experienced turnaround and restructuring professional to lead complex engagements and serve as the primary decision-maker on client mandates.

This senior role offers true ownership: lead engagements, direct teams, make strategic recommendations, and drive outcomes with minimal oversight across major markets including Chicago, New York, Houston, or Los Angeles.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in turnaround, restructuring, interim management, performance improvement, or related advisory work.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex engagements and make critical decisions with limited oversight.
• Strong leadership presence with a track record of managing and developing teams.
• Experience interacting directly with executive management teams, boards, lenders, investors, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including liquidity management, cash flow analysis, business planning, and restructuring strategy.
• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure situations where decisive action is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead advisor on turnaround, restructuring, and performance improvement engagements.
• Develop and execute strategic action plans for underperforming and distressed businesses.
• Make key operational, financial, and restructuring recommendations directly to clients, lenders, boards, and stakeholders.
• Lead crisis management situations and drive solutions in time-sensitive environments.
• Delegate and oversee workstreams across engagement teams while maintaining accountability for overall project success.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients and own engagement strategy from start to finish.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to junior and mid‑level team members.
• Partner with senior leadership on business development and relationship management efforts.

Job description

Locations: Chicago, New York, Houston, or Los Angeles

Are you the person clients call when critical decisions need to be made?

We are partnering with a growing and highly respected advisory firm seeking an experienced turnaround and restructuring professional to lead complex engagements and serve as the primary decision‑maker on client mandates. This is a unique opportunity for a senior‑level practitioner who thrives in high‑stakes environments, enjoys leading teams, and wants the authority to drive outcomes without layers of oversight.

What You'll Do

Managing Director / Director

Turnaround & Restructuring

Locations: Chicago, New York, Houston, or Los Angeles

Are you the person clients call when critical decisions need to be made?

We are partnering with a growing and highly respected advisory firm seeking an experienced turnaround and restructuring professional to lead complex engagements and serve as the primary decision‑maker on client mandates. This is a unique opportunity for a senior‑level practitioner who thrives in high‑stakes environments, enjoys leading teams, and wants the authority to drive outcomes without layers of oversight.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the lead advisor on turnaround, restructuring, and performance improvement engagements.
• Develop and execute strategic action plans for underperforming and distressed businesses.
• Make key operational, financial, and restructuring recommendations directly to clients, lenders, boards, and stakeholders.
• Lead crisis management situations and drive solutions in time-sensitive environments.
• Delegate and oversee workstreams across engagement teams while maintaining accountability for overall project success.
• Act as the primary point of contact for clients and own engagement strategy from start to finish.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to junior and mid‑level team members.
• Partner with senior leadership on business development and relationship management efforts.

Skills Required

• Significant experience in turnaround, restructuring, interim management, performance improvement, or related advisory work.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex engagements and make critical decisions with limited oversight.
• Strong leadership presence with a track record of managing and developing teams.
• Experience interacting directly with executive management teams, boards, lenders, investors, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including liquidity management, cash flow analysis, business planning, and restructuring strategy.
• Proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure situations where decisive action is required.

Why This Opportunity?

This role offers something increasingly rare in today's market: true ownership. The individual hired will be empowered to lead engagements, direct teams, make recommendations, and drive outcomes without micromanagement. The firm is looking for a trusted advisor who can step into complex situations, assess the challenges, build a plan, and execute confidently.

If you're looking for a platform where your judgment is valued, your decisions carry weight, and your impact is visible from day one, we'd love to speak with you.