Director (Strategy & Performance Improvement), Riyadh

Description

Company Overview

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) is a global professional services firm with more than $2+ billion in revenues, +8,000 staff and over 70 offices worldwide. Specializing in turnaround and interim management, performance improvement and business advisory services. A&M delivers specialist operational, consulting and industry expertise to management and investors seeking to accelerate performance, overcome challenges and maximize value across the corporate and investment lifecycles. Founded in 1983, the firm is known for its distinctive restructuring heritage, hands-on approach and relentless focus on execution and results.

A&M Culture

A&M is a fast-paced environment with a highly dynamic culture which emphasizes diversity and inclusion. We empower, coach and mentor our people and endorse meritocracy to develop skilled consultants who will grow with A&M to deliver tangible results and build long-lasting relationships, internally and externally. Our entrepreneurial culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who positively impact our clients and shape our industry.

The collaborative, supportive environment and engaging work—guided by A&M’s core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward and Inclusive Diversity—are the main reasons our people love working at A&M.

Inclusive Diversity runs through how we recruit, develop employees, conduct business, support clients, and partner with vendors. It is the A&M way.

The Team

Our respected Strategy & Performance Improvement (SPI) team is built on deep functional and industry expertise with a demonstrable and differentiated ability to address the most complex business problems and deliver dramatic and sustainable improvements.

Our highly experienced teams thrive in critical situations where clients are looking to respond to external changes such as competitor dynamics or industry disruption. We help our clients to define and redefine strategy, plan and execute transformation, develop investment cases and business plans, and navigate complex merger integrations and carve-outs. We work with sovereign wealth and private equity funds, government ministries and bodies, and corporations across multiple industries including financial services and investment companies, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, industrials and manufacturing, and real estate and hospitality amongst others. 

The Role

A&M is rapidly growing in the Middle East and seeking to hire Directors to be based in Riyadh. Candidates will have a successful track record of value creation with a blend of operational, consulting, and commercial skills. We are looking for candidates with an entrepreneurial approach, networks across the Middle East and ideally a demonstrable track record of thought leadership. You will be responsible for managing a diverse range of complex work streams, developing storylines and managing day-to-day client relations alongside other experienced professionals. You will develop and implement forward-looking concepts and support your clients in the context of strategy, performance improvement, transformation, operational turnaround and pre- and post-deal support.

You will have the opportunity to build on your existing leadership skills and leverage on your interest in motivating and inspiring others. You will assist in growing our practice, broadening out our routes to market, and building a robust yet flexible plan to generate both deal flow and develop a sustainable business, externally and internally. You will also contribute strongly to business development activity including developing successful pitches and selling, on from the initial “diagnostic” project phase into implementation work.

The Requirements

You will be a high-energy individual with excellent operational and commercial skills. You must like new challenges and have a true desire to continuous growth. You must also bring consulting experience from a leading strategy consultancy with a track record in delivering projects. You will be able to demonstrate a record of success in delivering major performance improvement / transformation projects and will have a tight grasp on current industry trends and operational challenges. We would expect the successful candidate to bring:

• a high-grade bachelor’s degree (or equivalent/higher) from an accredited top-tier university in engineering, accounting, business, or a similar discipline
• MBA / CFA / CA / master’s degree from a top-tier university is preferable but not essential
• at least 8 years of experience in management consulting is essential and additional corporate experience in strategy and/or operations would be highly beneficial
• a recent track record of successfully leading teams & delivering major transformational assignments with a proven record of achieving agreed benefits
• possess excellent financial & business and/or financial modelling skills.
• experienced in resolving complex operational and financial problems including implementing cost reductions and operational improvements
• willingness to travel to client sites across Middle East and beyond, at short notice as part of the working week
• strong problem-solving skills and analytical skills, and deep dive analysis
• high integrity that is characterised by the ability to deliver messages even when they are difficult to hear
• fluency in English, both written and oral. Arabic language skills are desirable.
• previous exposure to areas such as operational restructuring, turnaround management, merger integration, carve-outs, business transformation and/or performance improvement is desirable

Personal Style

• Thrives in a fast-paced, challenging, and unpredictable environment.
• Has the ability to project fun and a sense of achievement into the work that they do and team that they join
• Hands-on and non-hierarchical operator who is equally effective in managing up and down and relates well at all levels and cultures
• Driven by values and integrity, straight talker, builds confidence and leads by example
• Demonstrable ability to balance a high-level view with detail
• A natural ability to prioritize – especially in highly pressurized situations
• Autonomous – A&M has a flat structure with a self-sufficient culture
• Entrepreneurial spirit

Diversity & Inclusion

A&M’s entrepreneurial culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who can positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M’s core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are the main reasons our people love working at A&M. Inclusive Diversity means we embrace diversity, and we foster inclusiveness, encouraging everyone to bring their whole self to work each day. It runs through how we recruit, develop employees, conduct business, support clients, and partner with vendors. It is the A&M way.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Alvarez & Marsal’s practice to provide and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex or gender, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, family medical history, genetic information or other protected medical condition, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by and in accordance with applicable laws. Employees and Applicants can find A&M policy statements and additional information by region here.

Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters

Please note that as per A&M policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our Inclusive Diversity values. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that A&M will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.