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. The Consumer & Retail Group (CRG) was established over six years ago to disrupt consulting by combining analytical rigor with business judgment to build practical solutions. We deliver tangible results—whether driving topline growth, right-sizing costs, or navigating disruption—with a strategy that works and a team that executes.

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 combined consulting and 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.