Director - Consumer and Retail Group

About the Role

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global professional services firm with over 12,000 entrepreneurial, action-oriented professionals across 80+ locations. We specialize in turnaround management, restructuring, performance improvement, and corporate advisory services. Our Consumer & Retail Group (CRG) was established over six years ago to disrupt consulting: we're faster, more experienced, and deliver more impact than traditional firms. We combine analytical rigor with business judgment to build practical solutions for clients needing tangible results in topline growth, cost right-sizing, or navigating disruption.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex client engagements across transformation, performance improvement, and M&A, owning value creation and impact from start to finish.
• Build and lead high-performing teams, managing scope, approach, resourcing, and timeline with rigor and speed.
• Own C-level and board relationships, guiding strategic decisions through credibility, insight, 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 P&L impact.
• 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 these areas:
  • 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 synthesizing data into actionable recommendations, implementing solutions with clients at all levels, and developing compelling business cases.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, intellectual curiosity, results-driven orientation, and action bias.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Influence C-level and board stakeholders in complex situations. Guide decisions with credibility and insight.
• Engagement Leadership: Help build high-performing teams. Drive execution rigor, quality delivery, and on-time completion across multiple workstreams.
• Client Management: Understand organizational dynamics and stakeholder agendas. Engage effectively from board to operations. Drive implementation.
• Analytical Rigor: Perform sophisticated financial and operational analysis. Structure complex problems independently. Generate P&L impact.
• Communication: Translate complex information into clear narratives. Develop client-ready documents and presentations with advanced written and verbal skills.
• Action Orientation: Structure problem-solving approaches independently. Balance speed with rigor. Drive stakeholder alignment.
• People Leadership: Mentor and develop talent. Participate in recruiting and capability building.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Think strategically. Question assumptions. Drive innovation. Maintain high energy 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.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing complex work streams and projects.
• 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 and presentations independently.
• Open to domestic travel up to 70% M-F.

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