Manager, Strategy Consulting - Chicago, Illinois, United States

Manager - Job Description · Overview  · Grant Thornton Stax is a strategy consulting firm built for high-impact work with private equity and growth-focused clients. Following our acquisition by Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, we're expanding rapidly combining agility and culture of ...

Job description

Manager - Job Description

Overview 

Grant Thornton Stax is a strategy consulting firm built for high-impact work with private equity and growth-focused clients. Following our acquisition by Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, we're expanding rapidly combining agility and culture of a boutique with scale, reach, and platform of Grant Thornton.

Recognized as a top workplace, Grant Thornton Stax has been named to the 2026 Vault Consulting 50 Best Firms, Management Consulted's Top Ranked Consulting Firms 2025, and Consulting Magazine's 2025 Best Firms to Work For.

Managers play a pivotal role in delivering the work, developing our people, and building the firm. 

The Work 

As a Manager, you will lead fast-paced, high-stakes engagements for private equity firms and PE-backed portfolio companies.  You'll work across sectors including software/technology, healthcare, business services, consumer, industrials, education, and the events ecosystem. 

Our teams operate with high ownership, direct client access, and real responsibility, without the heavy travel model common in consulting.

What You'll Do 

Managers at Grant Thornton Stax are hands-on leaders who drive both client outcomes and team development. You will:

• 5–7 years of experience at a strategy consulting firm, with a proven track record leading commercial due diligence and/or PE-backed strategy engagements
• Develop and motivate team members, expand firm capabilities, and lead initiatives that support Grant Thornton Stax's growth
• Assist in scoping projects and framing client issues, including proposal writing and team onboarding
• Manage the day-to-day execution of engagements, ensuring momentum, alignment, and delivery against timelines
• Own workstreams end-to-end by driving the project plan, coordinating team workflows, and overseeing primary research and analytics
• Facilitate and participate in analysis and synthesis, partnering with the team to develop clear, defensible insights
• Ensure quality control, insight development, and narrative clarity across all outputs
• Be accountable for preparing and delivering client-ready presentations of findings and conclusions
• Coach junior consultants through structured feedback and on-the-job development
• Build strong client relationships through frequent interaction, high visibility, and measurable impact
• Partner with Directors to support relationship development and contribute to account growth

What Makes This Role Different 

At Grant Thornton Stax, Managers gain exposure and ownership that typically takes longer to earn elsewhere. You'll experience:

• High ownership from day one, with Managers leading workstreams end-to-end and driving the engagement plan
• Direct exposure to senior clients and leadership, with frequent interaction and meaningful visibility
• Varied, high-impact work across industries, enabling rapid learning and broader perspective
• A mentorship-driven culture, with structured coaching and development built into how we work
• A growing platform, with opportunities to contribute beyond client work through firm initiatives and capability-building
• Minimal travel (~10%), supporting a more sustainable consulting model

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience at a strategy consulting firm, with a proven track record leading commercial due diligence and/or PE-backed strategy engagements
• Strong strategic thinking skills, supported by rigorous research, analytics, and working knowledge of consulting frameworks
• Demonstrated experience performing market sizing, competitive/market analysis, demand/supply or pricing analytics, and both qualitative and quantitative research (including secondary research, web surveys, growth forecasting, and regression)
• Proven ability to manage consulting projects end-to-end, including planning and managing multiple workstreams within tight timelines
• Experience managing, coaching, and developing consultants and associates through structured feedback and on-the-job development
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to frame ideas at the right level of detail while conveying the "big picture" and structuring outputs logically
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with survey tools is a plus
• Ability to liaise closely with and manage cross-functional and/or global project teams is a plus
• Strong ownership mindset and comfort operating in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments; high initiative and a roll-up-your-sleeves approach
• Detail-oriented, intellectually curious, and highly collaborative
• Ability to multitask and deliver high-quality work in a time-sensitive environment
• Demonstrated ability to lead workstreams independently, translating direction into structured workplans and high-quality outputs
• Experience managing day-to-day client communication for defined modules and supporting senior team members in client readouts

Compensation & Benefits

This role offers a base salary range of $190,000–$225,000, plus a target annual bonus. Grant Thornton Stax follows a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy—base salary is commensurate with experience, and total cash compensation may vary based on individual and firm performance.

We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family; a 401(k) plan with company matching; open vacation policy; life and disability insurance; generous parental leave; pre-tax transit benefits; mobile phone stipend; wellness reimbursement; charitable gift matching; and more.

Grant Thornton Stax is an equal opportunity employer and affords equal opportunity to all applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability (except where the disability is a bona fide occupational disqualification), sexual orientation, genetic makeup, predisposition or carrier status, familial or marital status, military or veteran status or any other status protected under local, state or federal laws.