Strategy & Operations Manager

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you'll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.
Strategy & Operations Manager
The Strategy & Operations Manager owns strategy and operations within a large client account team, practice area, or industry vertical (collectively referred to as "spaces"). In this role, you will be a critical member of the space. You will be a thought partner to the lead Principal of the Supply Chain & Manufaturing space, one of the fastest growing spaces at ZS. You will prioritize and drive key space initiatives, and create the structure and processes that enable the space to achieve its vision, strategy, key milestones, and enable lasting change.
S&O Managers are owners with broad visibility across the space, building collaborative relationships within the space and across ZS to enhance efficiency. This involves providing strategic and operational support across 8 dimensions: 1) Space Management & Operations, 2) Strategic Planning & Enablement, 3) Investment Budget Planning & Optimization, 4) ZS-Client Working Model Strategy and Management, 5) External Engagement & Thought Leadership, 6) People Development & Engagement, 7) Business Development/ Pipeline Strategy & Management, 8) Capability Building & Dissemination, often acting as the primary point of contact on strategic and operations matters.
What You'll Do:
Space Management & Operations

• Manage initiatives and strategically optimize space operations to ensure leadership time on space operations is used to make decisions and drive influence
• Act as a trusted advisor to broader space team and make decisions with space leadership in a variety of situations

Strategic Planning & Enablement

• Own strategic planning process (annual and ongoing)
• Drive business performance by guiding space-level strategy (or intersecting spaces), and facilitating change enablement and pull-through
• Lead impact measurement and impact communication strategies
• Build and maintain development and maintenance of key client relationships by leveraging client power maps to develop and execute engagement plans

Investment Budget Planning and Optimization

• Increase value/ROI of investment spend by advising leadership to make strategic investment decisions and developing effective allocation / release processes
• Optimize space management / flex spend to ensure appropriate balance of space management vs. commissioned investments
• Optimize business development / account management spend for Client Teams to enable insights-driven decision-making (e.g., maximizing ROI) and focused BD efforts

ZS-Client Working Model Strategy and Management

• Improve business performance by fostering relationships with key client procurement stakeholders
• Enhance ZS working model and compliance with client requirements through strong client partnerships
• Partner with finance and space leadership to develop rate cards consistent with ZS and client strategies
• Maintain compliance with client legal requirements

External Engagement and Thought Leadership

• Enhance ZS or space awareness, credibility, or reputation through supporting the creation or synthesis of thought leadership materials, preparing executive-level presentations and talks, etc.
• Bring external/industry perspectives into the space
• Drive lead generation, conference strategy, and execution (in partnership with Marketing team)

People Development and Engagement

• Drives pace-level people strategy by keeping a pulse of team and providing ongoing insight to leadership
• Own HealthCheck-related initiatives to report on or improve space engagement (in partnership with HR teams)
• Identify opportunities in people experience programs
• Drive business impact and engagement through planning and running effective workshops, events, summits, client visits, etc. (virtual and in-person)
• Identifying performance themes and intervention approaches to enhance team performance (in partnership with HR teams)

Business Development/ Pipeline Strategy and Management

• Improve BD win rates by developing managing account/practice-level BD strategy, coordinating supporting large RFP response efforts, creating/synthesizing capability/sales collateral to be used in BD pursuits, collecting feedback from won/lost opportunities, proactively tracking and managing the pipeline, maturing business development skills of team members (in partnership with Learning team), etc.
• Ensure opportunities are tagged, tracked, and actioned on appropriately through proactive pipeline management

Capability Building and Dissemination

• Develop new programs, processes, or ways of working for the space that can be leveraged across S&O teams
• Drive organization-wide impact by scaling capabilities and offerings across the firm to enhance S&O brand across firm
• Collaborate with adjacent/intersecting spaces and functions to achieve business objectives
• Develop capabilities in more junior S&O colleagues

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree required, MBA or other advanced degree preferred
• 8-12+ years in professional services firm, consulting or strategy/operations experience preferred
• Business-minded (strong commercial instincts and financial acumen) paired with strategic planning skills
• Leadership experience and team building skills, including strong interpersonal skill, influence without authority, and people management
• Able to quickly internalize and understand a large volume of information, prioritize, and make timely decisions
• Excellent communication skills, including executive level communication and large group presentations and high-quality written communication for business plans, initiative justification, and policy documentation
• Experienced project manager in leading change management initiatives
• Experience creating or administering organization policy, measures, metrics
• Strong understanding of systems and processes - both overall purpose and landscape, as well as how to navigate and affect change
• Creative, driven, positive, and trustworthy

Hybrid working model:
ZS is committed to a Flexible and Connected way of working. ZSers are on-site at clients or ZS offices three days a week. Combined flexibility to work remotely two days a week is also available. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.
Perks & Benefits:
ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths and collaborative culture empowers you to thrive as an individual and global team member.
We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.
Travel:
Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.
Considering applying?
At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.
If you're eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.
ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.
To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment.An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.
NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.
Find Out More At:
www.zs.com