Director (San Francisco)

Silicon Foundry, a Kearney company, is an innovation advisory firm that catalyzes opportunities and accelerates change to push the frontier of what’s possible. We help our Members navigate new technologies and market shifts, discover and engage with key emerging leaders, and unlock high-impact customer, partnership, investment, co‑creation, and acquisition opportunities. Our Members represent a diverse spectrum of corporations from across the globe, such as BP Innovation, NatWest, UPS, SK Innovation, Honda Innovations, the State of Michigan, and Southwest Airlines, and many more. Learn more at Job Title Director, San Francisco About The Role As a Director, you will be a key contributor to the growth and development of the firm. Directors are part of our Senior Leadership Group and work closely with Managing Directors to prospect and generate new business, manage key Member relationships, and drive the culture of the company. We are looking for a proactive individual who is both strategic and hands‑on in their approach; someone who is passionate about building authentic and lasting relationships, connecting the dots between startups and corporates; and someone who can leverage the significant flexibility, autonomy, and responsibility afforded in our startup environment to get things done. The role requires a blend of commercial acumen, strategic thinking, hustle and hands‑on leadership, with direct accountability for revenue growth, Member satisfaction, and tangible outcomes each year. Who You Are A proven “builder” with a strong track record of winning and delivering Member engagements. Equally comfortable in front of senior corporate executive, in the boardroom, and with startups and innovators. A strategic thinker with commercial acumen, able to identify opportunities and convert them into mandates. A thought leader passionate about shaping the future of ventures, startups, and innovation. A connector with a strong network you can draw upon for sourcing opportunities, partnerships, and market insights. Empathetic, self‑aware, and able to build strong relationships based on trust with both internal and external stakeholders. What You’ll Do Business Development Drive business development efforts to develop new prospect relationships and generate new Member engagements. Support and lead sourcing and origination of bus dev opportunities, leveraging personal networks and market insights, while also nurturing relationships with Kearney Partners and stakeholders to surface and pursue potential prospects. Build trusted relationships with senior corporate executives, understanding their innovation and growth priorities, and mapping them to SiF’s service offerings. Deliver pitches and develop tailored proposals that address prospective Members’ needs, while in the pursuit of securing new business. Member Servicing Serve as the senior point of contact for Members, managing relationships at C‑suite and executive levels. Oversee the design and execution of Member annual or project engagements, ensuring week‑to‑week the delivery of high‑quality outputs. Balance strategic oversight with a hands‑on approach, stepping in directly where needed to drive outcomes and model excellence. Thought Leadership & Market Positioning Develop and publish thought leadership on venture trends, emerging technologies, and corporate innovation strategy and best practices, etc. Represent the firm at key industry events, on panels, and across conferences to raise our visibility and credibility to our target audiences and constituents. Position the firm as a go‑to partner for corporates, startups, and investors in the innovation ecosystem. Ecosystem Development & Strategic Partnerships Build and maintain key relationships with select VCs, startups, corporates, accelerators, and ecosystem enablers. Curate and activate strategic partnerships that strengthen the firm’s pipeline and service offering. Leverage networks to source high‑quality startups and innovation opportunities relevant to Member projects. Internal Leadership & Development Mentor and coach junior team members, driving professional growth and knowledge sharing. Enhance delivery methodologies, tools, and frameworks to increase efficiency and impact. Desired Skills Minimum of 7 years of experience in consulting, venture capital, corporate innovation, or related fields. Demonstrated track record in prospecting and selling to enterprise clients (ideally for professional services companies). Comfortable navigating the corporate hallways, while in parallel being highly embedded in the startup, venture capital, and influencer communities. Fluency with AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Glean etc.) and a track record of integrating AI‑driven approaches into research, strategy, or innovation work. Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with presence and credibility at senior levels. Proven leadership ability in managing teams, mentoring talent, and driving organizational growth. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity, “see” and build new opportunities. Exceedingly positive attitude and willingness to roll up sleeves in a dynamic startup environment. Requirements Role is for applicants currently in or willing to relocate (without assistance) to the San Francisco Bay Area. Note that a relocation budget is not available. Role is based at our Hub in San Francisco and most weeks will be 3-4 days on‑site, if not traveling or at meetings across the Silicon Valley area. Legally authorized to work in the United States (sponsorship for an employment visa is not available). Why should you be interested? Unique individual role to collaborate with our senior leader(s) and core platform that spans exposure to venture capital, corporate development, business development, innovation, and strategic advisory. Access to and relationship building with C‑level executives from forward‑thinking global corporates, top startup founders, and their venture investors. Daily insight and exposure to a wide variety of sectors, including automotive, beauty, financial services, retail, industrial, etc. Unique opportunity to build an early‑stage start‑up consultancy under the umbrella of a 100 year old top‑tier consulting firm. High degree of flexibility in managing personal time and schedule. Compensation & Benefits Benefits for your financial wellness Salary Range: $150,000 to $200,000 Participation in company commission program Discretionary Bonus (target 20% on top of base salary) 401(k) match - we contribute the equivalent of 3% of employee compensation (including bonuses) into a 401(k) plan, even if employee contributes nothing Mobile Communications Reimbursement Program for up to $150 per month for eligible expenses. Pre‑tax FSA and commuter benefits Benefits for your physical wellness Medical, dental and vision coverage with low monthly contribution for you and your dependents Monthly wellness stipend ($100) Benefits for your mental wellness Unlimited PTO Policy An annual 1 week company break between Christmas and New Year Hybrid‑Office Model (for those residing in the San Francisco Bay Area) Education stipend of up to $5,000 per year per employee Benefits for the Wellness of parents 12 weeks paid full parental leave Sparrow and Maven Clinic access (via Blue Cross Blue Shields Insurance) Equal Opportunity Statement Silicon Foundry, LLC,, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer- By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our Members, partners and colleagues to grow and navigate what’s next. We understand, respect, and value diversity - unique styles, experiences, identities, abilities, ideas and opinions- while being inclusive of all people. #J-18808-Ljbffr Silicon Foundry