Growth Analyst London 2022

Spencer Stuart is looking for Growth Analysts to join an innovative cohort to support our senior consultants across their client portfolios, with a focus on business development. In this position, you will have a unique opportunity to learn about specific industry sectors such as consumer, technology, industrials, or finance as well as functional areas such as CEOs, CFOs and other top executive roles. You will help drive our project management and relationship building efforts by working closely with a senior consultant who will not only be a mentor throughout your journey at Spencer Stuart but will also invest in your professional development.

Growth Analysts at Spencer Stuart are responsible for supporting our executive search consultants by creating a point of view on leaders in industries like technology, finance, and healthcare. In their day-to-day work, Growth Analysts will collect and examine competitive information, trends across sub-sectors, and other market research. As you learn the fundamentals, we will help train you on portfolio management, business development, and other key skills that will serve you well at the firm whatever path you take.

Over time, Growth Analysts will develop deep industry expertise and sophisticated business acumen by researching successful organizations and impactful leaders, leading to a rich set of career paths and opportunities within the firm.

Key responsibilities

• Immerses themselves in the vertical market on a global stage. Can bring creative ideas on how to anticipate new opportunities by understanding the macro and micro economic trends, technology and leadership shifts in this sector.
• Systematically maps out current and potential business opportunities by identifying ‘white spots’ across our various geographies and service offerings.
• Works with the consultant to craft highly personalised strategies with client contacts that may eventually yield new business in the mid-long term.
• Develops in-depth understanding of ‘key’ and ‘strategic’ accounts including specific information regarding the “value proposition” (competitive landscape, strengths, and weaknesses). Regularly tracks all news and key performance indicators such as stock performance, market share, CAGR etc.
• Synthesises data and original research into visually compelling and client-ready documentation that could be a pitch, proposal, white paper or ongoing CRM strategy.
• Builds the personal brand and voice of the consultant in the external market through astute use of social media, convening events, conferences, trade and national press, and alliances with key market/sector bodies.
• Partners with the consultant to create a delightful client/candidate experience for those we engage with across the team’s entire portfolio of work. This could include triaging across assignments, connecting the dots between project teams, and assisting to effectively manage both internal and external expectations.
• Analyses each client project at launch and close to understand key themes, and ensures that the data and processes are critically examined to enable superior levels of efficiency in delivery and client satisfaction. At close, to leverage the work for other BD initiatives.
• Pilots new solutions, technologies, and frameworks to increase internal communication and teamwork.

Ideal experience

Successful candidates will be self-directed, collaborative, comfortable with ambiguity, and highly organised. In addition, they will demonstrate a passion and ability for performing critical research, communicating clearly and cogently, and piloting new tools and technologies to drive value for the business. They will be graceful under pressure, enjoy fast-paced environments, and be excellent multitaskers to partner directly with our consultants.

We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives and look for people who will embrace our DE&I strategy and incorporate that into their day-to-day work.

Specific experience should include:

• With excellent academics, likely to have 6 to 18 months business experience in a professional services company, information provider or executive search firm.
• Has previous experience of conducting research in new areas, has demonstrated an innate ability to synthesise varied and complex sources of information to create a compelling argument.
• Displays a strong sense of curiosity for people and businesses, can offer a cogent point of view on what strategic issues are happening in a market/industry.
• Excellent written communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• High levels of proficiency in MS Office applications, especially in Excel and PowerPoint.
• International mindset or background preferred, however must have a ‘pre-settled’ status work visa or UK passport.

Project Management

Plans, manages, and drives own efforts in support of new business development and search assignment support as measured by timely completion of project tasks and feedback from project team members. The successful candidate will do this while handling multiple projects with competing deadlines, working with individuals who have differing styles, and managing challenging expectations by:

• Providing accurate and timely research information about executives, organisations, markets or other relevant sectors.
• Taking ownership of the project by doing what is needed at all phases of the research process, anticipating next steps and not waiting to be told what to do.
• Regularly reassessing priorities to align resources where/when needed and proactively reprioritising own workload to provide additional support to assignment team where/when needed.
• Delivering on commitments on-time or notifying as early as possible if problems occur or deadlines will slip.

Problem Solving

Synthesises research for business development initiatives, search assignments or intellectual capital initiatives and provides a succinct and accurate point of view as measured by quality and timeliness of contribution to assignment/project objectives. The successful candidate will do this while dealing with short timelines and limited information by:

• Listening and asking insightful questions.
• Leveraging knowledge of an industry/function/sector and appropriate resources to gather relevant information.
• Subjecting researched facts to extensive analysis and interpretation before drawing conclusions.
• Making inferential leaps in thinking to reach a solution despite incomplete or ambiguous information.
• Making decisions rapidly, despite the complexity of the issues or pressures involved.
• Using effective business writing skills to create succinct, client-ready analyses and documenting information in Firm databases.

Impact and Effectiveness

Contributes to the efficiency and quality of teams to successfully meet project objectives as measured by Consultant, Associate and peer feedback while working with individuals who have differing styles by: Interacts with a range of internal and external stakeholders and candidates with differing styles and egos, understanding and appreciating what is important to each.

• Being authentic.
• Listening and asking questions to clarify understanding and demonstrate knowledge.
• Placing team goals ahead of individual goals.
• Considering the needs of colleagues and adapting own communication style accordingly.
• Setting expectations and clarifying tasks to avoid wasting time and resources.
• Offering to work outside areas of responsibility when needed.
• Raising issues early and finding solutions collaboratively.
• Remaining poised when under pressure or handling unexpected challenges.
• Proactively sharing information with those who would benefit while being discreet with confidential information.

Industry and Functional Knowledge

Obtains and incorporates knowledge to enhance client work in a meaningful way. Knows how to get information, effectively uses the available firm resources, developing and sharing industry/functional knowledge:

• Identifies executive movements in the market and updates Quest (ideally in real time) and colleagues.
• Has a genuine interest in/curiosity about people and businesses; actively building a personal awareness and team knowledge around the marketplace and the ecosystem of critical influencers and key agents.
• Understands how to identify and navigate the various relevant sources available (Quest, Capital IQ, D&B Hoovers, BoardEx, LinkedIn, etc.), as well as key people, leveraging both internal and external content and networks to drive distinct and unique insights and outcomes.

Development Self and Others

Develops self and others; seeks and provides feedback, modifies own performance or behavior based on feedback. A successful Associate is constantly growing, learning and enhancing his/her skills and capabilities:

• Seeks and is open to feedback from colleagues, placing value on self-development efforts; seeks opportunities for growth.
• Is self-aware and open to changing one’s own behaviour.

Firm Values

Champions the Firm’s values, culture and Code of Conduct; engages, participates and collaborates with others. A successful Associate, who people like working with and who may over time also have a leadership role:

• Accepts others’ opinions and encourages teamwork.
• Is inclusive. Brings cultural awareness and sensitivity to each interaction with colleagues.
• Participates actively and contributes to internal activities; engages with office and practice.
• Represents Spencer Stuart well by speaking positively about the Firm and aligning behaviour to Firm values.
• Conducts themselves in a way that is consistent with the Firm’s values.