Client Strategy & Engagement Lead (Director) - Business Strategy & Transformation - 1898 & Co

At 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, we partner with clients to drive enterprise-wide transformation through innovative business strategy, operational excellence, and change leadership. Our Business Strategy & Transformation (BS&T) team helps organizations align strategy to execution, improve performance, modernize operations, and successfully navigate complex change initiatives across critical infrastructure markets. Client Strategy & Engagement Leader This role focuses on client strategy and engagement, solution positioning, and sales execution while partnering closely with delivery leaders and practitioners to ensure high-quality project outcomes and long-term client satisfaction. The Leader translates client needs into actionable consulting solutions, leads pursuit and proposal activities, and helps clients move from the current state to the desired future state. The Leader is accountable for growing and managing a portfolio of client relationships, advancing opportunities through the sales funnel, and collaborating with internal teams to deliver impactful strategy and transformation engagements. Responsibilities Client Relationship Management Develop and manage strong, trusted relationships with new and existing clients within assigned markets or accounts. Lead client-focused engagement strategies that align Business Strategy & Transformation services with client priorities and business objectives. Identify, qualify, and advance opportunities by understanding client challenges related to strategy, operations, organizational performance, and transformation. Establish and maintain long‑term client partnerships that drive repeat business and sustained account growth. Leverage existing internal relationships and prior project delivery to generate warm leads and expand client footprint. Meet or exceed financial goals by advancing opportunities through the sales pipeline and ensuring client satisfaction. Solution Positioning & Sales Process Effectively position and present consulting services to prospective and existing clients. Lead clients through the full sales lifecycle, from initial discovery and needs assessment through proposal development and contract execution. Partner with practitioners and Offering Leaders to shape solution scope, delivery approach, staffing models, and pricing. Lead or support responses to RFIs and RFPs, including value proposition development, win strategy, and proposal content. Maintain accurate opportunity and pipeline data to support forecasting and strategic decision‑making. Collaborate with broader sales, marketing, and leadership teams to penetrate new accounts and grow existing ones. Engagement Planning & Delivery Alignment Partner with delivery leaders to ensure proposed solutions align with client expectations, delivery capabilities, and quality standards. Help define current‑state assessments and future‑state transformation visions during pre‑sales and early engagement phases. Support successful project transitions from sales to delivery, ensuring clarity around scope, outcomes, and success measures. Serve as an escalation point for client concerns related to scope, expectations, or overall engagement health. Champion client value realization and long‑term impact across strategy and transformation initiatives. Offering Support Collaborate with BS&T Offering Leaders to provide market and client feedback that informs service refinement and offering evolution. Support the adaptation of value propositions, case studies, and messaging to reflect evolving client needs and market trends. Contribute to the continuous improvement of sales, proposal, and client engagement processes. Maintain current knowledge of BS&T methodologies, tools, and industry trends relevant to client needs. Team & Collaboration Support Partner closely with project managers, consultants, and subject matter experts to support pursuits and active engagements. Collaborate with marketing, business development, and business line leaders to strengthen 1898 & Co.’s market presence. Support talent development by sharing client insights, mentoring team members as needed, and reinforcing client‑centric behaviors. Promote adherence to QA/QC standards and foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. Other duties as assigned. Preferred Skills & Experience Demonstrated experience in client engagement, consulting sales, or account management within management consulting, strategy, or transformation‑focused environments. Proven success in cultivating executive‑level client relationships (e.g., Director, VP, CXO), acting as a trusted advisor, and leading strategic business development efforts. Eight (8) or more years of consulting experience in the U.S. electric and gas utilities sectors. Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary pursuits and teams. Strong understanding of business strategy, operational improvement, organizational transformation, or change management concepts. Proven ability to lead complex client conversations, identify business needs, and translate them into actionable consulting solutions. Experience supporting proposal development, scoping, pricing, and pursuit strategy for consulting engagements. Excellent communication, relationship‑building, and executive presence skills. Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, including strategy, technology, engineering, and operations. Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and financial acumen. Qualifications Bachelor Degree in engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, finance, business, or related field from an accredited program and 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. Compensation $230,000.00–400,000.00 yearly. The expected compensation range for this position is displayed in compliance with all local/state regulations. The total annual compensation package will consist of a base salary and eligibility to participate in our discretionary year‑end incentive bonus program. Benefits Our extensive benefits package takes care of you so that you can focus on doing great work. From insurance and disability to time off and wellness programs, we provide the tools to meet your needs. As part of being 100% employee‑owned, eligible employees participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in addition to our 401(k) retirement program. Schedule: Full‑time Travel: Yes, 50% of the time Location Primary Location: US‑MO‑Kansas City Other Locations: US‑CT‑Wallingford, US‑NJ‑Morristown, US‑CO‑Denver, US‑TX‑Dallas, US‑IL‑Chicago Job Summary Job: Engineering #J-18808-Ljbffr 1898 & Co.