AssociateConsultant- Strategy & Operations

Strategy & Operations

The Strategy & Operations (S&O) program consists of experts who facilitate the creation, sharing, and learning of best practices to drive strategic and operational excellence.

Strategy & Operations Associate

The S&O Associate collaborates with senior executives leading either a mid-size client account team, practice area, or industry vertical (collectively referred to as “spaces”). In this role, you will be a critical contributor to the space you support. You will work with leaders to prioritize and drive key space initiatives, create the structure and processes that enable the space to achieve its vision, strategy, and key milestones.

S&O professionals are key connectors 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

As an S&O Associate you will have the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and innovation, collaborating with senior executives and cross-functional teams to drive significant impact. You will help shape the future of the space you support, identifying and implementing solutions that streamline operations, foster growth, and maximize client success.

Through your work, you will foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring that each space operates at its highest potential while delivering measurable results to both clients and ZS.

What you will do

• Leverage problem solving skills and frameworks to develop solutions to client business problems
• Support or manage and execute substantial projects and processes within assigned spaces
• Optimize space operations to minimize leadership’s time spent on administrative tasks
• Run key processes for the space (such as SOW management, business development tracking, budget management, etc.)
• Ensure timely and accurate responses to firm requests
• Contribute to strategic planning processes and initiatives (annual and ongoing)
• Contribute to impact measurement and communication strategies
• Manage and provide insights on budgets and total annual spend
• Foster relationships with client teams and stakeholders
• Create and synthesize space materials; prepare leadership level presentations
• Drive space-level people strategy by keeping a pulse of team and provide ongoing insight to leadership
• Plan and run effective workshops, events, summits, client visits, etc. (virtual and in-person)
• Develop or enhance programs or processes to be leveraged across teams

What you will bring

• BS required
• 1-3 years in professional services firm, consulting or strategy/operations experience preferred
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite
• Strong attention to detail, with a quality-focused mindset
• Self-discipline for planning and organizing tasks
• Strong communication skills and ability to build relationships at all levels
• High motivation, good work ethic, maturity and personal initiative