Director - Consumer and Retail Group

A&M Consumer & Retail Group is part of Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), a global professional services firm with over 12,000 professionals across 80+ locations. Specializing in turnaround management, restructuring, performance improvement, and corporate advisory, the Consumer & Retail Group combines analytical rigor with operational expertise to deliver tangible results—driving growth, optimizing costs, and navigating disruption for clients.

About the role

You will lead complex client engagements across transformation, performance improvement, and M&A, owning value creation and impact from start to finish. Responsibilities include managing high-performing teams, guiding C-level and board decisions, and executing high-impact opportunities for EBITDA expansion and shareholder value. You’ll synthesize financial, operational, and strategic data into actionable recommendations, drive change management, and build durable client relationships while contributing to CRG’s intellectual property and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex client engagements in transformation, performance improvement, and M&A, ensuring measurable P&L impact.
• Build and lead high-performing teams, managing scope, approach, resourcing, and timelines with rigor and speed.
• Own C-level and board relationships, guiding strategic decisions through credibility and hands-on problem-solving.
• Identify and execute high-impact opportunities for EBITDA expansion and shareholder value in partnership with CRG leadership and clients.
• Synthesize financial, operational, and strategic data into enterprise-level recommendations with measurable outcomes.
• Drive change management and stakeholder alignment across complex organizations.
• Build durable client relationships and identify new business opportunities.
• Contribute to CRG tools, methodologies, and intellectual property; mentor junior staff and participate in recruiting.

Requirements

• Consulting or operational experience with demonstrated success in consumer and/or retail industries.
• Deep expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Consumer/Retail consulting, finance, transformation, or corporate development
  • Supply chain, logistics, or operations strategy for consumer goods or retail
  • Merchandising, category management, or sales and marketing effectiveness
  • Network modeling, procurement strategy, or manufacturing operations
  • SG&A reduction, M&A (divestitures, carve-outs, integration), or digital transformation
• Proven ability to lead complex work streams, structure problem-solving in ambiguous situations, and deliver results under pressure.
• Track record of synthesizing data into actionable recommendations and implementing solutions at all organizational levels.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, intellectual curiosity, and a results-driven orientation with an action bias.

Skills

• Strategic Leadership: Influence C-level and board stakeholders; guide decisions with credibility and insight.
• Engagement Leadership: Build high-performing teams; drive execution rigor, quality delivery, and on-time completion.
• Client Management: Understand organizational dynamics and stakeholder agendas; engage effectively from board to operations.
• Analytical Rigor: Perform sophisticated financial and operational analysis; structure complex problems independently.
• Communication: Translate complex information into clear narratives; develop client-ready documents and presentations.
• Action Orientation: Structure problem-solving approaches independently; balance speed with rigor.
• People Leadership: Mentor and develop talent; participate in recruiting and capability building.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Think strategically, question assumptions, and drive innovation in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree from a top university; MBA preferred.
• Master’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Business Administration, Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years of relevant experience in consumer/retail business or consulting at a professional services firm, or a mix of consulting and corporate finance/operations roles.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.
• Strong technical acumen and comfort working with complex data.
• Advanced written communication skills and ability to develop client-ready documents independently.
• Open to domestic travel up to 70% (Monday–Friday).