Position Summary

A Spencer Stuart Analyst plays a critical and visible role on the team. Working closely with Associates, Senior Associates, and Consultants, Analysts operate as a thought partner in understanding client needs and gathering relevant research that contributes to the overall assignment strategy.

More specifically, Analysts are responsible for supporting the search strategy by producing industry and/or functional analysis reports and talent pool mappings for active search assignments, internal meetings, and new business initiatives. This includes competitive information, trends across sub-sectors, target company list development and potential prospect identification. The Analyst provides research and conclusions to be incorporated into client-ready documents. Over time, it is expected that the Analyst will develop industry expertise by maintaining an awareness of industry trends and “best in class” leaders/future leaders.

Key Relationships

Reports to: Director of Analysts, Director of Associates, or Research Director

Associates and Consultants (on a project basis)

Other Key Relationships: Consultants, Associates, Senior Associates

Executive Assistants

Client Development Team

Key Responsibilities

• Develops a solid understanding of the potential client/client’s industry including specific information regarding the “value proposition” (competitive landscape, strengths, and weaknesses), stock performance, employee count, etc. Synthesize information accurately, so that it is easily incorporated into a readable, client-ready document.
• Maintain current awareness of news and issues associated with key client engagements and market opportunities and share that information and knowledge in a timely way with Associates, Consultants and Executive Assistants.
• Assist in high level name generation and talent mapping creation. Contribute to the long list creation by leveraging internal and external databases to provide commentary on potential candidates.
• Participate in kick-off meetings with Associates and Consultants to assist in the development of the search strategy. Directly assist Associates with search-related tasks, such as the development of a search strategy and target list.
• Develop industry and/or functional expertise by maintaining an awareness of industry trends and “best in class” leaders/future leaders.

Ideal Experience

Successful candidates will be self-directed, independent, and able to proactively address the needs of the practice, which is often fast-paced, quick-turn work that is highly integrated with client management and day-to-day client engagement. In addition, candidates will demonstrate a passion and ability for performing critical research and communicating their findings clearly and cogently, while delivering the highest caliber service for the greatest value. They will be graceful under pressure and be excellent multitaskers with an ownership mindset and results orientation.

Specific experience should include:

• Recent university graduate or up to three years of business experience in a relevant professional services environment
• Strong academic performance is required (3.4+ GPA) and while all majors are welcome, business or human capital related degrees are preferred
• Well-roundedness demonstrated through leadership experience in internships, work experience, community service, athletics, or roles in student-led organizations
• Advanced research, analysis, and synthesis skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Self-directed and proactive in nature; resourceful, team-oriented and tenacious
• Proficient with MS Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)
• In possession of work authorizations necessary for the country in which you are applying

Compensation and benefits are commensurate with other high-end professional services firms.

Critical Capabilities for Success

Project Management

Project Management – Plans, manages, and drives own efforts in support of new business development and search assignment support as measured by timely completion of project tasks and feedback from project team members. The successful candidate will do this while handling multiple projects with competing deadlines, working with individuals who have differing styles, and managing challenging expectations by:

• Providing accurate and timely research information about executives, organizations, markets or other relevant sectors.
• Taking ownership of the project by doing what is needed at all phases of the research process, anticipating next steps and not waiting to be told what to do.
• Regularly reassessing priorities to align resources where/when needed and proactively reprioritizing own workload to provide additional support to assignment team where/when needed.
• Delivering on commitments on-time or notifying as early as possible if problems occur or deadlines will slip.

Problem Solving

Synthesizes research for business development initiatives, search assignments or intellectual capital initiatives and provides a succinct and accurate point of view as measured by quality and timeliness of contribution to assignment/project objectives. The successful candidate will do this while dealing with short timelines and limited information by:

• Listening and asking insightful questions.
• Leveraging knowledge of an industry/function/sector and appropriate resources to gather relevant information.
• Subjecting researched facts to extensive analysis and interpretation before drawing conclusions.
• Making inferential leaps in thinking to reach a solution despite incomplete or ambiguous information.
• Making decisions rapidly, despite the complexity of the issues or pressures involved.
• Using effective business writing skills to create succinct, client-ready analyses and documenting information in Firm databases.

Impact and Effectiveness

Contributes to the efficiency and quality of teams to successfully meet project objectives as measured by Consultant, Associate and peer feedback while working with individuals who have differing styles by: Interacts with a range of internal and external stakeholders and candidates with differing styles and egos, understanding and appreciating what is important to each.

• Being authentic.
• Listening and asking questions to clarify understanding and demonstrate knowledge.
• Placing team goals ahead of individual goals.
• Considering the needs of colleagues and adapting own communication style accordingly.
• Setting expectations and clarifying tasks to avoid wasting time and resources.
• Offering to work outside areas of responsibility when needed.
• Raising issues early and finding solutions collaboratively.
• Remaining poised when under pressure or handling unexpected challenges.
• Proactively sharing information with those who would benefit while being discreet with confidential information.

Industry and Functional Knowledge

Obtains and incorporates knowledge to enhance client work in a meaningful way. Knows how to get information, effectively uses the available firm resources, developing and sharing industry/functional knowledge:

• Identifies executive movements in the market and updates Quest (ideally in real time) and colleagues.
• Has a genuine interest in/curiosity about people and businesses; actively building a personal awareness and team knowledge around the marketplace and the ecosystem of critical influencers and key agents.
• Understands how to identify and navigate the various relevant sources available (Quest, Capital IQ, D&B Hoovers, BoardEx, LinkedIn, etc.), as well as key people, leveraging both internal and external content and networks to drive distinct and unique insights and outcomes.

Development Self and Others

Develops self and others; seeks and provides feedback, modifies own performance or behavior based on feedback. A successful Associate is constantly growing, learning and enhancing his/her skills and capabilities:

• Seeks and is open to feedback from colleagues, placing value on self development efforts; seeks opportunities for growth.
• Is self-aware and open to changing one’s own behavior.

Firm Values

Champions the Firm’s values, culture and Code of Conduct; engages, participates and collaborates with others. A successful Associate, who people like working with and who may over time also have a leadership role:

• Accepts others’ opinions and encourages teamwork.
• Is inclusive. Brings cultural awareness and sensitivity to each interaction with colleagues.
• Participates actively and contributes to internal activities; engages with office and practice.
• Represents Spencer Stuart well by speaking positively about the Firm and aligning behavior to Firm values.
• Conducts themselves in a way that is consistent with the Firm’s values.